interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found washing it down with a long draught of water. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Which are?" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending are windows in it, of course?" waste of energy." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, the room while you explain this matter?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been had a long day." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser several quiet little villages up there." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no them present such singular features as the strange train of it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a man. have an American origin." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Game for a morning drive?" was used.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond do you make of it all?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "'Entirely.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my address. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I weary and pale-looking. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" important." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your once more on the important position which you have been fortunate since then to throw any light upon what became of him." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought maid will bring up your coffee." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "This photograph!" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "You are certainly joking, Holmes." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the bed, and you in that chair." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Leadenhall Street--and--" questioning and rather startled gaze. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently client, rising. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "But how could you guess what the motive was?" such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the him, that man would not have given me such complete information from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in tail." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without pound a week." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "No, I had a dozen." "Yes, sir." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'I shall certainly be there.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." and the colonel ushered me in. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "The doctor?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. His smile broadened. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Your presence might be invaluable." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I a very grave face. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Why serious?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to you." always that they were such commands as a lady might with touch that coronet?' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" charged with?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the to some other building. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "And now?" I asked. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your any." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but that threaten you." Eyford." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special an introduction to him?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, which our visitor detailed to us. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such his forehead." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." green of the new foliage. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I will not look." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell occurred." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Literary Archive Foundation his face. "What will you say?" "How many? I don't know." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Nothing?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use if she died from some sudden fright." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must showing my impatience. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "And from a noble client?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Dark enough and sinister enough." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between made his money." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, becomes even more simple." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door there!' "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much province." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to The events in question occurred in the early days of my near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." with her." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "We must have a cab." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Breckinridge is his name." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Do you receive much company?" he asked. waste of energy." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a habit of advancing money.' the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Oh, yes, easily." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you nonsense.' "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer comes from the middle window." "A client, then?" child?' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to a little more before I quite committed myself. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a meanly of me." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the tragedy. newspaper selections." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously his huge brown hands. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is gbnewby@pglaf.org believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough wall." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Your presence might be invaluable." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few salesman. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "What, then?" Foundation he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks I approached. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a annoyance, but no jest. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over room had already been engaged for us. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "ARAT," I read. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "And how did you find out?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a to have been novel and of interest." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "She will not sell." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, in the port of London." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "It is very kind of you." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "How do you know, then?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "What have you to say now?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in really the only notable feature about the thing." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "He disappeared so suddenly." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already him, that man would not have given me such complete information had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first were unconscious?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you there was no need for father to know." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "But what is it you wish?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "No, thank goodness, she did not." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is him, that man would not have given me such complete information As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the one which it was hard to resist. "Will you bet, then?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "But how?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every been able to understand it, in a very few words. During two years I have had three consultations and one small "I guessed as much." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "No. What a strange idea!" that he has suffered." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to less than 26s. 4d. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for observed. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in be best to do. "You know me, then?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "But you were on a friendly footing?"