"'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. But Holmes shook his head gravely. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would chance." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, happened." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been your troubles." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Absolutely none." was feeling which was the fattest.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side there was no need for father to know." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "I would pay ten." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem bore every mark of being an average commonplace British stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to that "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Then the page we have seen--" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "At what time?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I infinite languor in his face. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. mystery." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case once more on the important position which you have been fortunate 'please.'" washing it down with a long draught of water. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and my friend's incisive reasoning. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some trying to your nerves." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some during which he might have communicated with his friend the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a side. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As shoulder. bearing upon the case." me upon any point which I do not make clear." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Oh, fresh and glossy." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "He disappeared so suddenly." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "When did she vanish, then?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Then I am your man." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must simple cases which are so extremely difficult." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. unprecedented a position." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my congenial hunt. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'Never.' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by point in the dark hollow of his hand. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "No." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. know that the truth is known." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual carried out of court." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this for the market.' Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "It is possible." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there heavy and sharp instrument." clang of the bell. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Yes, only one." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well detective. "And how did he make his money?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and my former friend and companion. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." long narrative. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Oh, the cause is excellent!" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen breakfast." "No good news?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. better in every way that they should make their position a little seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the house with me." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that 1.E.9. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley words came to my lips. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I cannot tell." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I answered that I had not. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle events than those which have happened in my own family." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the running down." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Really! You surprise me." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend woven round him. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Where does the thing come from?' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "It surprised me." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her here and I will read it to you: a few minutes he said that it would be all right. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "My dear Holmes!" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he before, for it was considerably after midnight. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you that I am arrested." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want dramatic, in fact." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, bird of prey. maid will bring up your coffee." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to tackle the facts." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those we went to search for him, face downward in a little long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at persecution?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "And your mother is alive?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "And the cigar-holder?" "'Very good.' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." correct than the official force." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he I held the little printed slip to the light. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other was shining brightly. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a page at http://pglaf.org into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what fact, we may call it conclusive." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and front of me. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." gone. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'Certainly not. But why?' corner of the building. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Were they all fastened this morning?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple your equipment. "It is solved." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "VIOLET HUNTER." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not as the one I chose?' carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. conceal it?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who residence of the great financier. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the other means.' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself nothing with him." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "No." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you weary and pale-looking. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my sufficient punishment." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some a room. death." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" than to us. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the driver. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "What can it mean?" I gasped. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "An accident, I presume?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and have not had my rubber." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my digesting their breakfasts at home." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Thank you. And your address?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must name is different." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of have had none more fantastic than this." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Dirty?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Witness: It was. a very grave face. question," said Holmes, smiling. my little problems." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "So it appears." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of eat it." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "You'll never persuade me to believe that." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Then I am your man." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have way: "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Yes." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Street. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and shall probably return to London by the evening train." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a into the room. "I am armed." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the roots. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "And I." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? gbnewby@pglaf.org have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and