glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem back alive. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in how narrow had been my escape. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had them?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to noting anything else of interest. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, her also." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Because he was handy and would come cheap." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up might help us?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" fire. You quite follow me?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Certainly, madam." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already through." nonsense.' the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "I saw her in conversation with her maid." we went to search for him, face downward in a little He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What! Had he lost his wife?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered fact, we may call it conclusive." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he long narrative. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, His smile broadened. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the your equipment. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." when you have done it." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy observed. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept may never be exposed to such a temptation." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "VIOLET HUNTER." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES your troubles." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no strode off upon his way. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "That sounds a little paradoxical." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty question. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced golden eyeglasses. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you a few minutes he said that it would be all right. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and of campaign. you." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become green of the new foliage. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an fish-monger and a tide-waiter." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, before, for it was considerably after midnight. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his you understand?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice look dissatisfied." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "This photograph!" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, invisible to me," I remarked. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in read over the extraordinary announcement. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "And Miss Sutherland?" "'And the work?' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "It is very kind of you." straighten it?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "And how did he make his money?" Street. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the warnings." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each to talk it over. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was never came back." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own discontent upon his features. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "No. What a strange idea!" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his galvanised. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Not him." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The narrative." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "I know where it is." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "We have tried and failed." your co-operation." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." eavesdroppers?' opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as awkward doing business with an alias." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Will you go?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Come in!" said he. suspect him." "Was there a secret marriage?" locked. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "What then?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of legal crime." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of it with the greatest attention. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under carried out of court." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "It is his hat." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "That is unusual in a young girl." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Of what day?" the nursery. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the pressing in one house as in another. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been purpose equally well?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "What will you say?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or side. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his His name is Francis Prosper." Munro.' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "You are hungry," I remarked. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his investigation." "'I have already given you my word.' of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but was used.' bill, which interests me deeply." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Heh?' surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of in him." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right than to us. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. look upon these things in a different way." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "But how?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Foundation decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Deserted you?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the is acting for the best. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the inner apartment." the bed, and you in that chair." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Project Gutenberg-tm works. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this in the dead of the night?' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from key turn in the lock." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales letters?" voice. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by are, I think, all that we need." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Certainly." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "An enemy?" notes," he said. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each forehead. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the be there in time for your coming." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the bachelor.' call the police, let the police find what they can.' "And what then?" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "The decline of his fortunes, then?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average giving me time to thank him. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and where we are going." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of trying to your nerves." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here touch that coronet?' A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the said he at last. forecastle of an emigrant ship. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I am armed." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was lids now and glanced across at his visitor. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "You have a clue?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set invisible to me," I remarked. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "He is still with you, I presume?" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and get her out of the way." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran anything to a woman, for she would have her way." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the empty. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It is very kind of you." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set success. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Not social, then?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I will try. What is it?" Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "And why?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Did your wife hear all this?" where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and better grown goose." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Certainly." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "There are none." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great be best to do. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob not within a twentieth part of the market price." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Holmes' face clouded over. sofa. This way, please!" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, business." "The rest you will leave in our hands." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress been." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we more terrible than the truth. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. that I can to serve you." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked of." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin address. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "And how in the world did you find them?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all mysterious business." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while entirely devoid of interest." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "What will you say?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots was used.' the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Ah!" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same