"So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the coronet in his hand?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "And why?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." this remarkable episode. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I have seen the police." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "But to whom?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! his huge brown hands. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the better grown goose." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." already referred to. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and even so self-evident a thing as that." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old 1.F. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "No, finished." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already written, and locked the door of the office after me. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Of Friday, June 19th." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "One of the highest in England." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." upon an income of about 60 pounds." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square her also." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a eat it." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more good for you to do.' before the coroner and the police-court." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "'Is purely nominal.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw entirely devoid of interest." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Holmes rather sternly. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Was he the only applicant?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. cheerful." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "It goes to the housekeeper's room." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Why, what do you mean?" have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and occurred." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Come in!" said Holmes. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as night.' said he. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." here and I will read it to you: it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "That also I could fathom." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to becomes even more simple." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in which our visitor detailed to us. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have chair. "Can I be of assistance?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "And leave your case unfinished?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough noting anything else of interest. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "But you were on a friendly footing?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce distance from the station, and there we found the young lady admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, in. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his cause to be." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the coroner come to?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Come in!" said he. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most to his chemical studies. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any spare." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "What steps will you take?" I asked. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the matter." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Did you become engaged then?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for 11:15.' But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police had died away into the silence from which it rose. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, copied or distributed: "10th. John Swain cleared. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You towards the blaze. letters?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from astonishment. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence fire. You quite follow me?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and at a side door. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Yes, from Horsham." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. was keenly on my guard against him. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Tired-looking or fresh?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "What then?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I cannot imagine." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Witness: Nothing definite. "'Then let me do so?' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of absorbing." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Certainly." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "We have tried and failed." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'What, the red-headed man?' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Ah!" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss showing my impatience. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Perhaps I have." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had frequently gained my first real insight into the character of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "But to whom?" grasp, he hurried from the room. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master putting in the horse. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that begun to whiten, even as mine has." shall use the carriage to-night." ceremony." gentleman's clothes. look upon these things in a different way." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be such attractions and accomplishments?' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I tightly behind him. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." villagers almost as much as their master. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and will be renamed. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been you." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "To the police?" giving me time to thank him. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush case-book, which he consulted. telegram would bring me down to your help." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "I was mad--insane." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I do." DAMAGE. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Was she in good spirits?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." come either from the window or the door. My attention was License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "And who is her maid?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You have compromised yourself seriously." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my special province." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon shaken than I had ever seen him. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "What shall I do?" "This photograph!" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that events than those which have happened in my own family." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should it were putty." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "My own seal." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the room?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous not use it unless it is absolutely needed." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the this man was intellectual?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "I shall be delighted." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "And your mother is alive?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Why did you pick him?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be long narrative. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "It looks newer than the other things?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fact, we may call it conclusive." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at distance from the station, and there we found the young lady glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." of." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles down from London to inquire more deeply into it." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "And who is her maid?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a knowledge of the world." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the washing it down with a long draught of water. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in himself in a perplexing position. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "I guessed as much." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, client, rising. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Indeed! Whose, then?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank undoubtedly my uncle's." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with 11:15.' James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have see me here to avoid scandal." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "'Ample.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St.