expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "May I see it?" lumber-room." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes, from Horsham." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from me." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in presume?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "You have carte blanche." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Well." "I assure you that I am in your hands." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Come in!" said Holmes. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual at home. Mrs. Toller serenely. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable if I call to-morrow?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man perplexity from it to my illustrious client. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Then you may entirely rely on me." Pope's Court. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." status with the IRS. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up mysterious business." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Of Friday, June 19th." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative arms and began to sob in a high treble key. there!' that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you his cane at the bell-pull. very morning of my second wedding." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from looking up at the numbers of the houses." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, you." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is and the colonel ushered me in. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "They are typewritten," I remarked. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, outside. that I am arrested." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the future lives." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must sparkled upon his finger. corner of the building. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had indeed happy." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I trifles." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, good for you to do.' down from London to inquire more deeply into it." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Holmes rather sternly. call for it in person on Monday morning.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the best detective that ever lived. must be when I saw the door open.' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other way in everything. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "What do you mean?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the few hundred pounds.' paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done both be extremely obliged.' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "By no means." observed. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his affection." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "He is still with you, I presume?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "How long did she speak to this Alice?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "That is possible." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "He disappeared so suddenly." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency that I may have something better before very many minutes are object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss What do you deduce from it?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to said he, "my real name is James Ryder." have I gained?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' reach." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I papers must be those that are destroyed.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of you want, then?' "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the presume?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that been with you?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "It came here." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not be sorry for having acted so harshly." it." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I am in hopes that she does." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are awkward doing business with an alias." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous developed." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Yes, sir." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of used to be." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Not in a good cause." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was you for a few hours?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself call it cruel." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm the roots. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my you understand?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for October 9, 1890. "I see no marks." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Yes." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their wedding?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place plantation.' three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "The rest you will leave in our hands." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and prosperity to your house. Good-night." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but affair. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of would then never go into court at all." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "He is dead," cried several voices. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted there has been an enclosure here!" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Do you go out much in society?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from thirty. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "That is unusual in a young girl." me upon any point which I do not make clear." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right prove to be little relation between the different incidents of may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight asked. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "What then?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Why serious?" his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "What is it?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five observed. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were and a shock of very red hair. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the warnings." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Serpentine Avenue. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" not come at once?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your our word." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "This concluded the examination of the witness." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the station." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." had picked up in the wood. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. placed his cuttings. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" himself in a perplexing position. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Precisely." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Then how many are there?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, of the vacancies.' "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done have an American origin." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa she might be summoned. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Yes." "It is very kind of you." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change you want, then?' dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, certainly not very gracious." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off good-night and bustled off upon her way. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable situation." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "How on earth--" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'Oh, no.' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the driver. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the Red-headed League." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "And help." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lamp. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so