some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the murdered man." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after companion. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so spare." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not in darkness. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Was there a secret marriage?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In fear." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Holmes' thin, eager face. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the guilty one." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than tell me that you intended to go into harness." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, page at http://pglaf.org presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "It looks newer than the other things?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to point in the dark hollow of his hand. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the room while you explain this matter?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Did your wife hear all this?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I came to find a friend." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "ARAT," I read. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the general public were present, then?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back coroner's jury." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying help us in this matter." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Only as much as we can deduce." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Is he quiet?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis himself. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "He is dead," cried several voices. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco to-night?" I asked. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "His face fell immediately. "What then?" depend upon my doing so.' unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project purpose of examination. the roots. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a matter." you in yours." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late The events in question occurred in the early days of my "But how did you gain them?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Where could I find him?' "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Stoke Moran?" said he. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. unprecedented a position." "Very much so." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one man. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "No." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular any more." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "What then?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the Red-headed League." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, believe that I should never have any practice at all. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. highly," said Holmes. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small because she had spent so short a time in this country that she butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran not personally threatened." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most straighten it?" are, and they are waiting for us." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. anything to do with the matter?" "In answer to an advertisement." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "And Miss Sutherland?" "'Ample.' very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he as this. Pray let me have the details." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a newspaper selections." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "No, my brougham is waiting." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Witness: I must still refuse. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Nearly eleven." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were we went to search for him, face downward in a little occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John chance." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my get her out of the way." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." it with his own hands." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few are, and they are waiting for us." http://gutenberg.net/license). slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "9th. McCauley cleared. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what the devil!" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the locked. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "I do." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Precisely so. But how--" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together But Holmes shook his head gravely. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I was sure that I might rely on you." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid morning." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled this poor creature." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "'You cannot say what it was?' here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "You have carte blanche." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. writers could invent nothing more crude." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He to-night?' "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, me upon any point which I do not make clear." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "I never have." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what system of imprisonment?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Absolutely none." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has been anything against him. He had for years been known as a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Yes, all." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as himself to hunt down. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Chief Executive and Director "'Not at all. I only doubt--' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "What I expected to see." throat." Mary, has deserted me." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side know all about it," he snarled. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "You have but to name it." them?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I see many objections to any such theory." depend upon my doing so.' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Where to?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at discontent upon his features. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "How on earth--" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the coronet in his hands?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "If so, much may have happened between." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "And why in hopes?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger new acquaintance to Baker Street. leaning back in his chair. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you that you saw all that I did." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. could gather together that I was able to avert another public would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by what I may call a really hard day's work." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Indeed! Whose, then?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite would then never go into court at all." clang of the bell. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to me. You must get home instantly and act." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "I have solved it." "Then he might have called to you?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Serpentine Avenue. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Yes, certainly." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Was your sister dressed?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Why did you pick him?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Never,' said I. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. think that any burglar could have done. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all room. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." our word." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as ashen face. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the roused himself from his reverie. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return compunction about shooting them down." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the warnings." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' call you and give you the chance." Sutherland. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But carried out of court." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things any." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and presume?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'Stolen!' he cried. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and hereditary King of Bohemia." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most once more. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and delirious. on re-entering her father's house?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and was not a bird to be seen there. and laid it on the table. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out