nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "We must have a cab." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring paper in the air. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & that he has suffered." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. see me here to avoid scandal." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "He disappeared so suddenly." "Not particularly." "You are hungry," I remarked. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "10th. John Swain cleared. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & gone. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put gone. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "'What then?' I asked. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, matters immensely." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out outsides of the windows. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is in the dead of the night?' "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb weighed down with some great anxiety. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'Certainly not. But why?' but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it again before evening." his forehead." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then one which it was hard to resist. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "It missed him, then?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" crowd. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face my room." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He that?' unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Then, as to money?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, photograph?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Look there!" said he. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "How did you trace it, then?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have floor. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Nor running a chance of arrest?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Is he quiet?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which should be taken.' firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with whole matter to your consideration." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "What! a murderous attack?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the your bag." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked assist you in forming an opinion." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended even of instruction." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the warnings." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. telegram would bring me down to your help." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, heavy and sharp instrument." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon tension within him. opened the door, and slipped through. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "That also I could fathom." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm back into the street. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the hour?' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and him." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own had picked up in the wood. the driver. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when you." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had away to you." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found when you have done it." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Just look it up, then." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do strength." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'About the same.' Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn think you a quite exceptional woman." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the such person." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "What! Had he lost his wife?" of your young ladies.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Stoke Moran?" said he. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife said he, "my real name is James Ryder." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, thought that she would have been so carried away." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "What I expected to see." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "The murder was done with it." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "No, but the enclosure is." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "And how did he make his money?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten me. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "That is possible." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to of." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your them?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "You think that he is dead?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "My Mary? Impossible!" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just information in his hands the value of which he did not himself of Fenchurch Street." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late rooms." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Certainly, madam." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and tied." handed it to him. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I ashen face. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, chill to my heart. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." undoubtedly my uncle's." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face next day. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. and looked back. have been better. It is all right." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his he. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, quick march!" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "We were both in the photograph." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'Then let me do so?' me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my questioning and rather startled gaze. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I say that I have solved it." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that into the room. me." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." second window is the one that I jumped from." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "9th. McCauley cleared. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see 1.E.9. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl system of imprisonment?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as morning." footfalls from the street. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "By no means." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both drove away. even so self-evident a thing as that." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Was he the only applicant?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" copied or distributed: warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting there in twenty minutes." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I cannot as yet see any connection." "None." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. shaken than I had ever seen him. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do hour?' low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'Why that?' I asks. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in vanished into the darkness. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Pope's Court, Fleet Street." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, License. You must require such a user to return or machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'I have already given you my word.' weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been that I may have something better before very many minutes are Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Here?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, room. "No, I think that I'll take it." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in ways of our fellow-men." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in my special province." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was conduct the inquiry." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser him and tried to hold him back. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The four million human beings all jostling each other within the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and a shock of very red hair. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman forecastle of an emigrant ship. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was was it brought him the coronet? see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I cannot tell." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts closing the door. important." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and whereabouts. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "That was it, sir." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if 1.E.9. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" spare." and capable of preserving a secret.' "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just