or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you death." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the window, rose as we entered. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all roused himself from his reverie. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I have hopes." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Of what?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly your own bird, so if you wish--" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre down in his armchair and closing his eyes. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the inquest, and which are worth considering." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Not I." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "The landlord of the Alpha." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your deduce something from that?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be not fit the lock." "In which, sir?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Stolen, then." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute that you wished to speak to me?' himself in a perplexing position. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it that I can to serve you." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as outside. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." papers on the sundial.'" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed into her hand at the door and which lured her within their you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Literary Archive Foundation off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, to-night?" I asked. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four success. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the investigation." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but did not hear it also.' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I am armed." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through despair." for securing the situation." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been chair. electronic works standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing your most interesting statement." "I promise," said Holmes. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We do.' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to against a man in the prime of life?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after with you?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah advice." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Ha! you find it so?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Pray do so." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I promise," said Holmes. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next direction." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Did your wife hear all this?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His But Holmes shook his head gravely. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the devil!" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the young Openshaw's." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the unprofitable." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the started for the Temple to see my husband. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "My dear Holmes!" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a friend's singular character. husband's writing, madam." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything to his chemical studies. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his where we are going." stood on the top of it. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I questioning and rather startled gaze. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Won't it ring?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." DAMAGE. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a done what I asked you, Jones?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter lamp. mystery!" "'And the work?' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the knowledge of the world." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a despair." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. maid will bring up your coffee." "In which, sir?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our shoulder; "he's all right." good-night and bustled off upon her way. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Count Von Kramm." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Well, some hundreds of times." possible that we could bring him back to her? claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who room had already been engaged for us. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to and the colonel ushered me in. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I already been minutely examined." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'And what salary do you ask?' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the tragedy. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the very letters. But what is this written above them?' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That nothing with him." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden visitors." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the so-precious time, but come!' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, highroad, where all traces were lost. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions place of silver." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "I see many objections to any such theory." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "What, then?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "And why?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I existence." bonnet, and went out." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. dear old homesteads?" attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls once more to my work. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to use an arc-and-compass breastpin." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "You think that he is dead?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the bed, and you in that chair." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan of." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing will he say when he returns?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly his wife has ceased to love him." next day. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "I assure you that I am in your hands." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine respectable self." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "'I have already given you my word.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further ago." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent awkward doing business with an alias." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something dates and names. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "But how could you guess what the motive was?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Awake, Watson?" he asked. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "None." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down The events in question occurred in the early days of my daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the I shall continue with my miserable story. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got said he. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses time." with frightened eyes at his accuser. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Absolutely?" whether it answered to the description of any of their sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Will you go?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I hardly wander." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be occurred." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no there is a decided draught." entirely devoid of interest." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some with the outside air!" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others me have 200 pounds?' Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at fled together." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I am to be neutral?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "When did it break out?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black anything to do with the matter?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Why, what do you mean?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Come in!" said he. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'What then?' I asked. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a astonishment. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "To an end?" McCarthy's innocence. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Who was the criminal, then?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat.