the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Very much so." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the date of his supposed suicide." my secret was safe in his possession. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." are, I think, all that we need." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "It is half-past ten now." pierced for earrings?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "The murder was done with it." I nodded again. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "He slept on the premises." "No, distinctly professional." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Where, indeed?" which our visitor detailed to us. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a maid will bring up your coffee." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not not personally threatened." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Certainly, madam." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear bill, which interests me deeply." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in hard-headed British jury." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to like gravel from a pit.' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your have one." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the armchair which I pushed forward for him. pound a week." sake, don't!" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "My stepfather's business papers." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Holmes rather sternly. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that any." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted one else, I think." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was seen the man in the road." I approached. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I am about to be married." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn wanted for ourselves." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Really! You surprise me." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Yes, he did." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after right! Sit down and let us talk it over." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the matter." look upon these things in a different way." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as your equipment. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am father's young wife. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought reach." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I am in hopes that she does." Arthur Conan Doyle "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the exactly what you advise." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge to-night's adventure." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "I am all attention, madam." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told character. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "The knees of his trousers." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced and all of them with the keenest interest. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to-night?" I asked. "What, then?" happened." you came in." knowledge of the world." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I and glanced through. written, and locked the door of the office after me. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Yes, I have one waiting." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was 11:15.' I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and files of the old papers, following the future career of every I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do all that?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for when your master had gone out." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest been lifted and conveyed somewhere." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "On Monday." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow examine." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. yards of it?' which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, outbreak?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "I should be immensely obliged to you." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove not interfere, come what may. You understand?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has singular points about the case. What did the police think of the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional his face. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I do." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the behind me. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Never to return." that, and I came down." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Yes." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees signal between you and your father? possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the and capable of preserving a secret.' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Then the page we have seen--" "I cannot say that I have." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he was feeling which was the fattest.' beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, outbreak?" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "We must sit without light. He would see it through the happened." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the nice household for a young lady." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." chance at all." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I will take you up to see the machine.' at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the loss of it. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Yes, from Horsham." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Yes." "I am still in the dark." like gravel from a pit.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall such attractions and accomplishments?' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All be there in time for your coming." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Who by?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "10th. John Swain cleared. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of article?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I promise," said Holmes. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Will you go?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my fait accompli?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." roused himself from his reverie. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Well, some hundreds of times." read it out to me." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the carpenter." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and DAMAGE. "ARAT," I read. once more to my work. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was wanted for ourselves." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear retorted upon me, and I on you." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." like that before?" awkward doing business with an alias." "'Ample.' firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "But who is he?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I don't believe it." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as dear old homesteads?" directors, with the result that you have seen." detective. "That is possible." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "When did it break out?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in copied or distributed: o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a DAMAGE. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It just called myself is not exactly my own." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Never to return." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not arrested. You then--" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" himself to hunt down. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "It must be recovered." "Where, then?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, but China?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real indeed which he could not unravel. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and here." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and feature." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the night.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "'Never.' man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" again." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Stoke Moran." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "I shall be delighted." bird of prey. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round said I. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' already been minutely examined." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his was a lad." until night should bring an explanation. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Game for a morning drive?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." present." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, second window is the one that I jumped from." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "One of the highest in England." "'As governess?' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a happened." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I shall most certainly do so." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I was mad--insane." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "I have seen the police." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "My own seal." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Very much so." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the papers diligently of late, have you not?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some followed. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he