This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "One of his hands." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and drawing your inferences." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was sound at heart." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which now. It seems that there had been some informality about their enter into my head. way in everything. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in few hundred pounds.' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used pressing in one house as in another. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and extraordinary contortions. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for from you?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss extraordinary contortions. towards the blaze. night.' said he. pierced for earrings?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your then?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over to have been novel and of interest." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "And you can do nothing until then?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few existence." "Was he the only applicant?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest know all about it," he snarled. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Stoke Moran?" said he. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly distance from the station, and there we found the young lady to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Precisely." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Now, then, what's the last entry?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An cost them two and thirty pounds." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. ways of our fellow-men." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated matter." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "And when will you call?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." mystery!" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying you." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "This photograph!" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon was a loud and authoritative tap. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the again, where I was soon asleep. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one their singular warning or token before them when starting upon of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that occurred." own family. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent to affect your life." friends, not even his own brother. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss highly," said Holmes. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I fear not." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, against a man in the prime of life?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of it." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. was a lad." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "It's nothing of the kind." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of maiden herself was most instructive." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn chamber." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never annoyance, but no jest. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get photograph?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding my special province." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do washing it down with a long draught of water. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "How did that help you?" waste of energy." the very morning of the wedding." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted was lame." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on of." "Your French gold?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall galvanised. shaken than I had ever seen him. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "It was an hour's good drive." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Holmes' face clouded over. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "I say that I have solved it." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "My Mary? Impossible!" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of of receipt of the work. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was tension within him. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in You want to know what became of those geese?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and this Miss Turner." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return gigantic client. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the guilty parties." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to unkempt, staring out at me. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. green of the new foliage. "Game for a morning drive?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "So I am. Very much so." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "'In my own bureau.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and present strange and interesting features that it is no easy good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Did you observe the colour?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Why, what do you mean?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the call it cruel." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Again Holmes raved in the air. nonsense.' helping a boy to put up the shutters. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm best detective that ever lived. his face which made him a very different person to the round, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'No, I know no one in these parts.' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in troubles have been weighing upon his mind. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but enough to aid us in our search." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Yes, from Horsham." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "But I have heard all that you have heard." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, seven miles from Eyford Station.' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Thank you. And your address?" to that open window." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Yes, it was twisted." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit get the tickets." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand bore every mark of being an average commonplace British insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with room. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Where did you address your letters, then?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a second window is the one that I jumped from." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "But to whom?" Where does the thing come from?' myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging window when the police appeared." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on brought there to personate someone, and the real person is of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon absorbing." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' wife's character?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. approach us with offers to donate. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over he bowed and left the room without another word. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my only touch the interest." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "And that is--" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "What! Had he lost his wife?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Street. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down down in his armchair and closing his eyes. him to go away.' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the stones. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been should be taken.' "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Deserted you?" "Witness: I must still refuse. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet room?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it right.' He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Chief Executive and Director "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" jewels which you have stolen?' Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the which was all perfectly true. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was that threaten you." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no amused." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Yes, they were peculiar boots." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "You did not overhear what they said?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning narrative." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have results." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Yes, that is the Crown." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "He disappeared so suddenly." "No, I had a dozen." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I took the paper from him and read as follows: cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my