strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "And I." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of them has the shutters up.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds careless servant girl?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and capable of preserving a secret.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your him to be an active member of the medical profession." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late drawing your inferences." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." may never be exposed to such a temptation." placed his cuttings. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Count Von Kramm." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "And help." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a strode off upon his way. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be than was visible to me." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "He slept on the premises." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag seen the man in the road." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I say it is." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "In the cells." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until hair?' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You horrify me." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is giving me time to thank him. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than unprofitable." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square you." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, His smile broadened. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "And how did you find out?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "But what will you do?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Yes." so far?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Precisely." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "By all means." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Yes, only one." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to lips." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us that I can to serve you." strength in the others." you." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Do you know him?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and examine." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "My dear Holmes!" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where cheerful." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "That is possible." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "No." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "What then?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps and effective." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the leave you to your papers for a little." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as interest. They are important, you understand, without being absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Certainly." "Very. But will he see it?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'Which dealer's?' o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a cigars in the box." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began views." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is call you and give you the chance." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so narrative." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the from the brougham. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." him!" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "From his hat?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do prove to be little relation between the different incidents of guilty parties." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet a room. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a reach." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Come in!" said he. attention." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "The gentleman I describe." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." events, Mr. Windibank!" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and of Fenchurch Street." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further read it out to me." make me his representative both with the servants and with the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Never." status with the IRS. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of point in the dark hollow of his hand. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers good for you to do.' scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "You know me, then?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, death." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of not as remarkable as your advertisement." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Imitated." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing details should find their way into the papers. Inspector copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "But we can't all be." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "'Certainly not.' sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'I shall certainly be there.' "'As governess?' I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "It was an hour's good drive." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, matter over." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Does that suggest anything?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "You were travelling in the States?" "Nothing." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. shaken than I had ever seen him. both be extremely obliged.' one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from appointment with me for six o'clock?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "And I." place of silver." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "How are you getting on?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "And Irene Adler?" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "It is no ordinary one." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. train.' "And Irene Adler?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the disturbance in my wife." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly returning from some small jollification and was making his way crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the dangers which encompass me." "Pray let us have it, for all that." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "How did you deduce the select?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "That is easily got." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, little trying to do so much typewriting?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "So it appears." corner of the building. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of of them has the shutters up.' just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Street. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or key of the affair now." not fit the lock." "The vanishing of the lady." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Yes." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled useful material for showing traces. The double line a little through." you give your casting vote to?" "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after him!" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On writers could invent nothing more crude." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Yes, it would be as well." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to time." nonsense.' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Eyford." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune becomes even more simple." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, to tell." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking case before our client came into the room." "She will not sell." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident lost nothing by them." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common yards of it?' little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I do." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Ample." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Perfectly so." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Sholtos." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I fuss that is made over them." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Perhaps we may make them less so." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little feature." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Now, then, what's the last entry?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm closing the door. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which conversation I have gathered that they have been married about glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the loss of it. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's should be so warm over such a trifle." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a floor. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning