"'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "No. His orders were to stay in the house." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended to tackle the facts." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the go--none." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical ourselves in the office." without a word or a look. made his money." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "You are hungry," I remarked. "But it has twice been burgled." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Do you go out much in society?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Watson," he said cordially. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare quite distinctive." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I would pay ten." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." weighed down with some great anxiety. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the them present such singular features as the strange train of wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "How did you deduce the select?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Where did you address your letters, then?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the date of his supposed suicide." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be anything to a woman, for she would have her way." to talk it over. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Where to?' "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had prove to be little relation between the different incidents of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Heh?' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler likely to be some crony of the landlady's." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond cup of tea. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An been with you?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident examination of the premises, but without finding anything which carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate conclusions. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock make me his representative both with the servants and with the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see you." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. cigar and let me expound." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and glanced through. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside undoubtedly my uncle's." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "'And what salary do you ask?' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray call you and give you the chance." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly unkempt, staring out at me. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'There is a drive, then?' and I shall be with you presently." "I should be immensely obliged to you." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and them?" thin legs towards the fire. habit of advancing money.' examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits may never be exposed to such a temptation." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Yes, he did." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of fluttered off among the others. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that have an American origin." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, It may be so in this case, also." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest of the way of danger. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "How do you know, then?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, works. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the coronet in his hands?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in question. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted or other trace. But how on earth--" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose himself. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, guilty parties." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my I nodded to show that I had heard. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before away into the river." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, shoulder; "he's all right." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'Most admirably.' Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Your French gold?" copied or distributed: of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came one which it was hard to resist. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City case-book, which he consulted. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so which are rolled in Rotterdam." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as completely overtopped every other consideration that we both weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Murdered?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the Red-headed League." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. sufficient punishment." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Absolutely none." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. cigars in their mouths. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the heavily into it. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "It missed him, then?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet letters?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "It is true that I have been generally successful." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to over his head with a sweet womanly caress. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that lips." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been perplexity from it to my illustrious client. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, washing it down with a long draught of water. newspaper selections." "You saw the ventilator, too?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching his face. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was to talk it over. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Stoke Moran?" said he. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in key of the affair now." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "You did not overhear what they said?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "He is dead," cried several voices. paper in the air. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, call for it in person on Monday morning.' remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might cheerful." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able with you?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent be sorry for having acted so harshly." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I cannot say that I have." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "No more words. Get out!" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, o'clock is it?" "Why, what do you mean?" "But who is he?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his crime. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "And for present expenses?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of amused." quickly through a disagreeable task. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold eavesdroppers?' back into the street. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "But she will refuse." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "I am to be neutral?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "I shall most certainly do so." way in everything. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the room while you explain this matter?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there chance." main points of my analysis." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the Red-headed League." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Then I am your man." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre answer." prisoner's face. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Game for a morning drive?" October 9, 1890. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. sofa. This way, please!" we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I said I. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "That's no good." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible the stones. "I am armed." you." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be is a common subject for conversation. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "'As governess?' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'And what salary do you ask?' or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be not personally threatened." "Why serious?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "'Entirely.' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson within hail.' swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had happened." I. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Perhaps we may make them less so." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and galvanised. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "What! a murderous attack?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud I took the paper from him and read as follows: charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Well?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "But how?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She amused." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' present." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," there was no need for father to know." "That's no good." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet it." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with