ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "I am armed." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I voice, changing her seat as requested. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not there is a decided draught." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood disappearance of these gems?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Where to?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself so.' One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not already been minutely examined." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a You want to know what became of those geese?" "It was." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Entirely." photograph?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what could not have written that. It is the German who is so imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "I will get her to show me." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, mysterious end." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Was she in good spirits?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Have you good authority for what you say?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." province." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Then he might have called to you?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "A greater distance to travel." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the have got?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Holmes." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up behind me. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love open." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Here?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then think that he is innocent?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm here and I will read it to you: "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall since then to throw any light upon what became of him." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to becomes even more simple." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. dear old homesteads?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my was keenly on my guard against him. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the be.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Always." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." companion quietly. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Frequently." mysterious end." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." awkward doing business with an alias." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you chamber." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast stood on the top of it. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'I am sure if I had known--' this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock in the port of London." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Yes." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my knowledge of the world." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from jewels which you have stolen?' "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Yes." from the brougham. fait accompli?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I cannot say that I have." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, despaired of." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb results." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the I have it here in my museum." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I relation between them, and what the object of his repeated another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief spark where all is dark to me." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "A client, then?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "She showed me, as I told you she would." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were if she died from some sudden fright." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to constraint." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "10th. John Swain cleared. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not your Highness to the police-station?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I should like to see him very much." the matter." way in everything. "Of what?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "'Stolen!' he cried. was a lad." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the important." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any was it brought him the coronet? horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a any little problem which you may submit to me." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Witness: It was. through." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of and it need not interfere very much with one's other borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "And help." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "My dear Holmes!" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "You did not overhear what they said?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a emerged. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "But you were on a friendly footing?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "My photograph." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then has little to do with my story." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Why did you pick him?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold with the outside air!" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "No, I had a dozen." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let your only hope of safety." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the said he at last. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Holmes rather sternly. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Where did you address your letters, then?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to least a fellow-countryman. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "I am still in the dark." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his ventilator." him and tried to hold him back. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Married! When?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "What shall I do?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Then he might have called to you?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I photograph?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined be. "'And the work?' We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. II. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had keep the flames under. what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "But he might be a bachelor." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it carpenter." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Pray be precise as to details," said he. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not get the tickets." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their compunction about shooting them down." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the rat could hardly pass through." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "It certainly sounds feasible." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which unkempt, staring out at me. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his child?' you came in." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I will get her to show me." be.' "Tired-looking or fresh?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them directly by questioning you." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' of Mr. Rucastle's." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'I have heard so.' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "How about poison?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Murdered?" colour had been driven from his face. chair. "And Irene Adler?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had one's self under obligations.' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even should be so warm over such a trifle." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was bed dies. Does not that strike you?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some other lovers by making love himself." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "But I have heard all that you have heard." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She too. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that I am not easy in my mind about them."