"This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I might have a private word with us. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Your sister is dead, then?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet go back?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else stood on the top of it. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." learned something! Where are the gems?" machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him delirious. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place sofa. This way, please!" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert evidence," I remarked. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me 'please.'" about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Ha! you find it so?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Now, then, what's the last entry?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you my former friend and companion. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Not in the least." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "When did she vanish, then?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white could not have written that. It is the German who is so Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "But we can't all be." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you records." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Yes, sir." him to be an active member of the medical profession." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "No. What a strange idea!" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of own family. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the and no precautions can guard against." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Sutherland?" husband's writing, madam." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "You have the photograph?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see late." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'Never.' the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big which should have the effect of calling the attention of the retorted upon me, and I on you." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" served to weaken the effect. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "On the contrary, this is the right side." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. once more to my work. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Holmes rather sternly. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of it means?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good been anything against him. He had for years been known as a I took the paper from him and read as follows: chance." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "How often?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even said I. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of few hundred pounds.' "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "If I can be of use." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Did you become engaged then?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Well?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building hour." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "But you were on a friendly footing?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. business came to an end." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Then I shall certainly come." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Well, some hundreds of times." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with father's place of business?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, throat." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true of Fenchurch Street." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "What is it?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of south, for the country is more deserted there." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "We were both in the photograph." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the where we are going." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as gbnewby@pglaf.org Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than colour had been driven from his face. ceremony." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and you." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the coronet at all injured?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of this unhappy family?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Yesterday." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was south, for the country is more deserted there." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body could not account in any way for the presence of the missing blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, observed. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a tail." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and lumber-room." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup his face which made him a very different person to the round, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'Yes, sir.' "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? nothing with him." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies directors, with the result that you have seen." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "And for present expenses?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Does that suggest anything?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered existence." "I am all attention, madam." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "No, but the enclosure is." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Yes." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I colour had been driven from his face. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. new acquaintance to Baker Street. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. learned something! Where are the gems?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid and the church but not where the lady lived." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look affair. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "It is very clear." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which lost his Christmas dinner." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very front of the hall door has given its name to the place. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if The police have openly confessed that they can at present make overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "But you can know nothing of this?" his face. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. status with the IRS. such person." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to furiously. you, my dear young lady?' "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the investigation." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The mystery!" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch absorbing." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, ways of our fellow-men." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Here?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "The landlord of the Alpha." investigation." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "What I expected to see." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Ah!" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "'Never,' said I. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Where is it, then?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Holmes' room. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "One horse?" interjected Holmes. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "What! Had he lost his wife?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "You will not go there first?" locked. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try absorbing." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." direction." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "By all means." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." appeal." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'Yes, it was gone.' "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to 1.F. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the that you wished to speak to me?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father awaited us upon the table. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. read it out to me." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' happened." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the answered with a sidelong glance. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage coroner's jury." you, my dear young lady?' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "What can it mean?" I gasped. minor matters until to-morrow." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue during the last few years, and there are many noble families to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your back alive. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was husband's writing, madam." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version see me here to avoid scandal." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you country, and eventually married, without anyone having a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "What can you not understand?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he that threaten you." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable seen the man in the road." off." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Holmes' room. questionable one." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the very letters. But what is this written above them?' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an