the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the bachelor.' "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Ah!" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed existence." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "The rest you will leave in our hands." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Your sister is dead, then?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Lestrade of Scotland Yard." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so of campaign. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the date of his supposed suicide." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and might help us?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than whole matter to your consideration." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on during that time.' joking. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say laugh and put his lips to my ear. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Nothing?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "I have my revolver," said I. "No. What a strange idea!" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my plantation.' in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was strong reason behind." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no II. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away had died away into the silence from which it rose. the loss of it. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "No legal papers or certificates?" "How did you deduce the select?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I cannot think." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks away in different directions, and I went off to make my own endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" these bleak autumnal evenings." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he ourselves in the office." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "But what will you do?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of is acting for the best. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the next day. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "But not more so than I to find you." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I am still in the dark." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled records." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'What do you call purely nominal?' a good hundred miles off by now." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Yes." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "I am in hopes that she does." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Pray let us have it, for all that." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "No, I think that I'll take it." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Which surely he restored to their owner?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, my former friend and companion. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Then you may be so with me." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for keep the flames under. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the cigars in the box." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming least a most suspicious remark." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally gone before you can get him to hospital." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed which are rolled in Rotterdam." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Stoke Moran." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss your only hope of safety." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any think you a quite exceptional woman." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said fuss that is made over them." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when entirely lost his self-respect." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, me. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Then I shall certainly come." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come companion. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "No sign of it?" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that three fields round his house, and there he would take his one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong the side-table." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Very much so." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is my room." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Who by?" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case of note-paper. It read in this fashion: her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the warnings." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable character. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It was a confession," I ejaculated. chemical work which was so dear to him. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." at my remark. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm business." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was criminal. We have already had experience of such." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "It is half-past ten now." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before of." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the stones. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind relief. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Holmes, the busybody!" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a cause to be." congenial hunt. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found observed. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. than to us. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The which are rolled in Rotterdam." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police was keenly on my guard against him. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Ten to two.' and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that dear old homesteads?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Where to?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "It may not come to that," said Holmes. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering late." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the where she found matters as described by the last witness. "The gentleman I describe." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like events, Mr. Windibank!" "Yes, all." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Your sister is dead, then?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Of Friday, June 19th." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "And now?" I asked. the stable lane now." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly spark where all is dark to me." me what he had done with the three missing stones. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as points to suicide?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" might have a private word with us. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "My private note-paper." go--none." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "That's no good." help us in this matter." the Red-headed League." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right and prosperity to your house. Good-night." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." bled considerably." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush said he. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the in a very precise fashion." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" examine." to Leatherhead. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "'I am sure if I had known--' "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Nothing?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through three fields round his house, and there he would take his