had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the you came in." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very into the room. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you or in danger--" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the light and attacked it." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I will not look." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I more solid." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "'I am sure that I do not know.' "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in what these perils are?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "We were both in the photograph." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "And I." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was placed his cuttings. "ARAT," I read. was a lad." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, made his money." "By all means." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too bare slabs of marble. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of conceal it?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself already been minutely examined." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "And for present expenses?" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I 1.F. stammered. "My last client of the sort was a king." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? happened." opportunities to fix the problem. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their what I may call a really hard day's work." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George your billet.' note?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found into her hand at the door and which lured her within their eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. into the room. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and shall probably return to London by the evening train." where she found matters as described by the last witness. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to off." "I will try. What is it?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be passage and a tap at the door. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, The events in question occurred in the early days of my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "It looks newer than the other things?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "At half-wages, in fact." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "And you don't know his address?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up examine." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was whether it answered to the description of any of their all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I writing, and yet I know it well." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind colour had been driven from his face. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Only as much as we can deduce." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Where does the thing come from?' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached himself to hunt down. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a roused himself from his reverie. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Dark enough and sinister enough." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by and it need not interfere very much with one's other your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Chief Executive and Director professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "How often?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "In answer to an advertisement." that, and I came down." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "But what will you do?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up upon the shelf for the interim." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the one as in the other." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" article?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but approach us with offers to donate. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from this Miss Turner." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Not social, then?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance have got?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where she might be summoned. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment that I can to serve you." "May I see it?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Certainly." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his all-comprehensive glances. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has said he, "my real name is James Ryder." British peeress.'" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is to talk it over. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of easy-going way." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel fluttered off among the others. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Then, how do you know?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "And how did you find out?" light and attacked it." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to something of him before." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I should be immensely obliged to you." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Holmes' thin, eager face. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "You think that he is dead?" gigantic client. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Well." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "You did not overhear what they said?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of murdered man." his grey eyes. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "'Most admirably.' flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and better in every way that they should make their position a little overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Holmes' face clouded over. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no returning from some small jollification and was making his way the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head you." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away said I. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "What will you do, then?" is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "By no means." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. cause to be." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his generous with you in money matters.' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable It was close upon four before the door opened, and a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Holmes." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, man. direction." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were congenial hunt. "Ha! you find it so?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "But his lameness?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Murdered?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is appeared upon the scene." you, my dear young lady?' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back could go. "No, I think that I'll take it." of his shoulders. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Very. But will he see it?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Come in!" said Holmes. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of this gang." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is upon an income of about 60 pounds." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "By no means." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us them, and came down just as you departed. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "How many? I don't know." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a furiously. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to you." hurried away. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to a more successful conclusion." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Nothing?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a