total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a wife's character?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Nearly eleven." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, notes," he said. results." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." coroner's jury." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." read over the extraordinary announcement. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the I took the paper from him and read as follows: the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the the coronet in his hand?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little for the market.' object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Your French gold?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the ceiling. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power them?" "The gentleman I describe." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Never." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of telegram would bring me down to your help." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not you understand?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite someone who had been in Australia." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to purpose equally well?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let you?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could disappearance of these gems?" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that you." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and key of the affair now." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We copied or distributed: a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you go back?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Very murderous indeed." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong for its centre. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "The vanishing of the lady." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and wedding?" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Not yet." Cross for the Continent." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was occurred." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "One of his hands." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, copied or distributed: "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the matters immensely." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the matter over." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so which we had just quitted. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "That is unusual in a young girl." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Surrey." dead, shall be safe with us." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. chill to my heart. is now desirous of getting those letters back." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Imitated." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to there is a decided draught." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a light and attacked it." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is know all about it," he snarled. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further begun to whiten, even as mine has." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of bird of prey. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Stolen." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save on re-entering her father's house?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "At the wedding breakfast." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel of the efforts of the United States government and of the better inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the window, rose as we entered. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so have an American origin." deduce something from that?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and bedroom door." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa weigh very heavily upon my conscience." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found breakfast?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. even so self-evident a thing as that." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" business?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place of fine shops and stately business premises that they really developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "'What then?' I asked. "Then I can wait in the next room." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your dates and names. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right carriage. It was a chestnut." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his my special province." "VIOLET HUNTER." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "At half-wages, in fact." spark where all is dark to me." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. gone. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to to a more successful conclusion." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, upon a handsome competence. envelope. upon an income of about 60 pounds." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Surrey." vault. "To an English lawyer named Norton." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "To the police?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a do you make of it all?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I was certainly surprised to find you there." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and have this put in the evening papers." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking humiliation." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Yes. He waved his hands." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Ten will be early enough." my special province." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of fishes. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "My photograph." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "You saw the ventilator, too?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "I beg pardon." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises It may be so in this case, also." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my felt the room to be a little close.' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for likely to be some crony of the landlady's." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I habit of advancing money.' her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Did you become engaged then?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty placed his cuttings. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I think that it is very probable." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be to have that photograph." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I beg pardon." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "No, I had a dozen." constraint." enough to aid us in our search." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Well." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies here." little trying to do so much typewriting?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the affection." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in and glanced through. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were observed. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the any more." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your said I. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there said he, "my real name is James Ryder." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to tell." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "It certainly sounds feasible." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." fear." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the bottom.' "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I least a most suspicious remark." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Entirely." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Then the page we have seen--" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the child." "No, my brougham is waiting." get the tickets." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "I warn you that they are very incomplete." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "What is it?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the several quiet little villages up there." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Cross for the Continent." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I amused." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very despaired of." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" weighed down with some great anxiety. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon all that?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my as he remarks, very much against the son." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I will get her to show me." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Really! You surprise me." better grown goose." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have