had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the again before evening." "She will not sell." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "ARAT," I read. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon retorted upon me, and I on you." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Never,' said I. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four indeed happy." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small British peeress.'" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been that the gas is not laid on in his house?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Were they all fastened this morning?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which business in the City. She little knew what. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common very peculiar words of the dying woman?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my recall any case within my experience which looked at the first mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Not in a good cause." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the that threaten you." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his new duties?' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with 'I should be able to look after that for you.' became a certainty. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our to a light-house. You want to know what became of those geese?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Precisely so. But how--" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw own family. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Have you her photograph?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished spark where all is dark to me." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "No, I had a dozen." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I cannot imagine." appeal." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside legal crime." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." better grown goose." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." hands. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary strong and stiff." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Perfectly so." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Really! You surprise me." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the him!" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't danger is over." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Doctor, of the paper and the date." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic together. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the dangers which encompass me." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the him to be an active member of the medical profession." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Never." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "My Mary? Impossible!" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide returning from some small jollification and was making his way glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "And on what day did he meet his death?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "What office?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "You think that he is dead?" "Yes, sir." "I cannot tell." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you to tell." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the married her." "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "When did it break out?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the This is what he says: feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the generous with you in money matters.' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his of Fenchurch Street." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in affair. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Certainly,' I answered. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate with you alone." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before situation." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "What have you to say now?" "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "One of his hands." prisoner's face. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's this poor creature." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "But who is he?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. touch that coronet?' "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "And how did you find out?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you corner of the building. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had made his money." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Witness: I must still refuse. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to who was a member of your goose club." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, of receipt of the work. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "What! Had he lost his wife?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a possible that we could bring him back to her? but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but key of the affair now." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side acquaintance?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are points to suicide?" "And the cigar-holder?" "Certainly." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into digesting their breakfasts at home." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "One of the highest in England." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I used to be." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "No." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "What office?" Street. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Ah, but I was recommended to you." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found a little more before I quite committed myself. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. helping a boy to put up the shutters. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would call the police, let the police find what they can.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of them?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the go from here to the Strand." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. was not a bird to be seen there. papers on the sundial.'" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the you." a little more before I quite committed myself. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'Yes.' over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Clair, of Lee." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'Yes.' you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Where, then?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the I leave." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Well?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four crackling voice. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Oh, fresh and glossy." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Yesterday." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no you." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the child." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, posted to-day." Holmes." occupations.' "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." other, as fresh and trim as possible. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, than to us. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive golden eyeglasses. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I am armed." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a of Fenchurch Street." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very just ask you whether you had heard it.' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' get her out of the way." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson off." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up other lovers by making love himself." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington status with the IRS. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Breckinridge is his name." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were purpose of examination. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Why did you beat the pavement?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean that he has suffered." my special province." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to fuss that is made over them." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this assist you in forming an opinion." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us I was concerned in it." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "What do you make of that, Watson?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Absolutely?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of campaign. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without call it cruel." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "You know me, then?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the