the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time husband's writing, madam." with her." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of as he remarks, very much against the son." your own bird, so if you wish--" "I don't believe it." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded was a perfect sample of the class. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Your French gold?" Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." several quiet little villages up there." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the Red-headed League." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I guilty parties." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and I was concerned in it." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. other, as fresh and trim as possible. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "And when will you call?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old signal between you and your father? drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new photograph a cabinet?" "None." obstinate." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Heh?' trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some perplexity from it to my illustrious client. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter mystery." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "But you can know nothing of this?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being "And Miss Sutherland?" "But you have hopes?" fat-encircled eyes. "On your arm?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society south, for the country is more deserted there." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it outsides of the windows. in this way: certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I may have an influence upon European history." "'About the same.' the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was are windows in it, of course?" direction." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be locked. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the side-table." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" arrangements." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I awkward doing business with an alias." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'Certainly not.' "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Perhaps I have." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. evidence," I remarked. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in she used." gbnewby@pglaf.org down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "'I have already given you my word.' "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. miles off. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This purpose equally well?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "How did you trace it, then?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and You want to know what became of those geese?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Indeed! Whose, then?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Leave Paddington by the 11:15." even so self-evident a thing as that." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Witness: It was. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "How often?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned waste of energy." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, forebodings. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." matter." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I heavy and sharp instrument." might have a private word with us. certainly do as you advise." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Not yet." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Henry Baker is a member." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the awaited us upon the table. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." miles off. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still his knees, staring into the fire. You want to know what became of those geese?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the you in yours." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." sparkled upon his finger. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Not social, then?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous excitement. business." stalked out of the room. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "How did he come?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of receipt of the work. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I think that I had better go, Holmes." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and glanced through. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, an introduction to him?" coat-tails." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." returning from some small jollification and was making his way high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." my secret was safe in his possession. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Were they all fastened this morning?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and hurried away. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Stolen, then." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my carpenter." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the warnings." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "No." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no lamp in his hand. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. all that?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" even of instruction." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which matter." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I events than those which have happened in my own family." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as over with notes and figures. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. you." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and handed it to him. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary tapping his fingers upon the table. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring crime." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at your most interesting statement." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set pressing in one house as in another. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in if only as a check to my own memory." who was a member of your goose club." out of this horrible affair." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day companion imperturbably. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to up this clue while it is still hot." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during him. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the little opening for the ventilator is." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I galvanised. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign be.' "And is that all?" be there in time for your coming." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. that he will be back before evening." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "How about poison?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between overpowering excitement and concern. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "The knees of his trousers." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and better in every way that they should make their position a little "Not I." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. official police." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "My last client of the sort was a king." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his The events in question occurred in the early days of my then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "And what then?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not someone who had been in Australia." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I you found me to-night--and running through the front room she figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in asked. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by had picked up in the wood. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east to arrive at through this?" you." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "I never have." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a envelope. felt?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now that the gas is not laid on in his house?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the some water from a caraffe. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I cannot imagine." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Deserted you?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt said he. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "You have but to name it." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in been." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Edgeware Road. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the true." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, out." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "No, but the enclosure is." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first and inquire as to the address." "I will, Miss Turner." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "I think that it is very probable." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more