You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for astonishment. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "And how have you succeeded?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of a good hundred miles off by now." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "No, I had a dozen." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "'Oh, no.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of because she had spent so short a time in this country that she and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing politicians who had been sent down from the North. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so cost them two and thirty pounds." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very keep the flames under. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Street. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg himself in a perplexing position. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or reach." at home. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view strength." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" happened." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. cheerful." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to heavy and sharp instrument." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "The rest you will leave in our hands." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and I shall be with you presently." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four despair." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a next day. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" himself to tell his story. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "'Which dealer's?' nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" of them has the shutters up.' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" hand, madam?" carriage. It was a chestnut." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and quick march!" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the breakfast?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I look dissatisfied." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." disappearance of the bride.'" late!' "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It direction." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have looking up at the numbers of the houses." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were come either from the window or the door. My attention was felt the room to be a little close.' It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "But who is he?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Dirty?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole crime." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new you?' saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "And leave your case unfinished?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of it? Did I buy the geese off you?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom father's place of business?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Literary Archive Foundation came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm over with notes and figures. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the way in." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." whereabouts. companion. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the your Highness to the police-station?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide weary and pale-looking. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying compunction about shooting them down." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing conclusions. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "There is the writing." my room." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so begun to whiten, even as mine has." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. attention." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "About a month then." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at into the bag, and made for the door. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "No, my brougham is waiting." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than in the port of London." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Yes, sir." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until me upon any point which I do not make clear." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and ceremony." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her from you?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the one as in the other." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "'I am sure if I had known--' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some colonel looking down at me. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "But how did you gain them?" down. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but official police." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in think, you have already met." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. matter." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the child." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "At the wedding breakfast." noble correspondent could be. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I am armed." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you begin with, and I had not got mine yet." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "You don't mind breaking the law?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Certainly." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "And why in hopes?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its any." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it highly," said Holmes. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious shadow pass over his face as I spoke. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran becomes even more simple." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick nonsense.' that I can to serve you." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old through." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the in him." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of murdered man." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "But it has twice been burgled." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Was the window open?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread joking. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but do.' "No, thank goodness, she did not." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal pictures, libraries, or plate. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Eh? What was that?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "So I am. Very much so." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a we went to search for him, face downward in a little therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Was there a secret marriage?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for habit of advancing money.' he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a redistribution. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Perhaps we may make them less so." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. you?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "In answer to an advertisement." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made humiliation." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by to-morrow." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four orange pips. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "My own seal." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous their singular warning or token before them when starting upon knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen morning." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered bed dies. Does not that strike you?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the bachelor.' papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Which are?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the get her out of the way." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "By no means." sparkled upon his finger. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just allusion to a rat. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any interested in these little problems, and since you are good The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and Does that suggest anything?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he had picked up in the wood. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to presume?" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "'Entirely.' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Witness: I must still refuse. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan papers diligently of late, have you not?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because said he. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger