contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "By all means." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Why did you beat the pavement?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had God! What an exposure! What can I do?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "To an English lawyer named Norton." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody London for the present?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely presented more singular features than that which was associated once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Of Friday, June 19th." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party hour?' "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel I took the paper from him and read as follows: carried out of court." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered 1.F. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Holmes' thin, eager face. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was foresight and the moral retrogression?" whether it answered to the description of any of their night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Farm upon the left." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I was afraid that you were engaged." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my dramatic, in fact." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused over his head with a sweet womanly caress. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the few hundred pounds.' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the devil!" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "One?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly your most interesting statement." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I have solved it." "Yes, the wine-cellar." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a that acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "One of his hands." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure is," said he presently: "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her For additional contact information: Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I am all attention, madam." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "But he might be a bachelor." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she touch that coronet?' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Where is it, then?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the stones. made his money." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "What, then?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It and it need not interfere very much with one's other "And now?" He raised his hand. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe seven miles from Eyford Station.' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us chair. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," business in the City. She little knew what. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "But how did you gain them?" "'Why that?' I asks. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Oh, the cause is excellent!" hurried by. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a woman." had this final quarrel? this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while of fine shops and stately business premises that they really an introduction to him?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose my little problems." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest his cane at the bell-pull. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar himself in a perplexing position. "One of his hands." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such posted to-day." was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." to change my dress. the date of his supposed suicide." carpenter." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Witness: I must still refuse. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door spare." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Come in!" said Holmes. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. go from here to the Strand." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry over part of the map. "What do you read?" connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you putting in the horse. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the very letters. But what is this written above them?' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I shall continue with my miserable story. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out stood on the top of it. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out be best to do. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and to surprise her." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "And how did you find out?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the his forehead." "Stolen, then." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that go back?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small up this clue while it is still hot." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Where did you address your letters, then?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not his forehead." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "At what time?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Munro.' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, quick march!" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "It is half-past ten now." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "To ruin me." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last emerged. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. populous neighbourhood." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and most important business. It is probable that he will be away all it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Holmes' room. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "My dear Holmes!" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Pope's Court. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to this remarkable episode. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "What then?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the what is your own theory as to what took place?" little adventures." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With it means?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Countess of Morcar's?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Very truly yours, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I have seen the police." better in every way that they should make their position a little "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs and looked back. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "'What then?' I asked. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for indiscretion." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "That also I could fathom." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "I assure you that I am in your hands." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, strength." habit of advancing money.' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Were they all fastened this morning?" one of them." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Nothing." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs foresight and the moral retrogression?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it charged with?" the warnings." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email is now desirous of getting those letters back." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between to talk it over. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards present." my secret was safe in his possession. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of instituted." "Where did he live, then?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Very. But will he see it?" gives a meaning to it." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I nothing of it?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "But she will refuse." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his away in different directions, and I went off to make my own station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I cannot tell." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own place, I think that there is good ground to think that the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that was a loud and authoritative tap. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran