all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter on in his house." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Very murderous indeed." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Yes, I have one waiting." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my here and I will read it to you: devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, key of the affair now." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, with you?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such right! Sit down and let us talk it over." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade to tell." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent fait accompli?" habit of advancing money.' "BALLARAT." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Nor running a chance of arrest?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I think that any burglar could have done. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine I shall communicate with you." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to bears upon the case?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the hereditary King of Bohemia." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just not fit the lock." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little made him keep the appointment." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "What shall I do?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day closely." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "'Quite sure, dad.' very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, question. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the chance." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." guilty one." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a done what I asked you, Jones?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "By train from Waterloo." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Yes." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "What is it?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking before the coroner and the police-court." for the market.' "'Yes, sir.' "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Yes, only one." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else bedroom door." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Count Von Kramm." "Texas, I think." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs I nodded again. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the drove away. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the devil!" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so made him keep the appointment." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I should wish to." your Highness to the police-station?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a as yours." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the occurred." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual respectable self." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of silent! Oh, he will be silent!' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was man. I know him from the photograph." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life be there in time for your coming." fluttered off among the others. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'Where to?' the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point trying to your nerves." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Then you may entirely rely on me." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." wife's character?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I not as remarkable as your advertisement." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "But I am all in the dark." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Look there!" said he. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "By no means." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up himself to tell his story. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Dirty?" "Yes." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been simple cases which are so extremely difficult." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "You have it, sir, just as it happened." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." outside. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "No, distinctly professional." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'Oh, no.' took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You think that he is dead?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "I was sure that I might rely on you." locked." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for You can understand that this register and diary may implicate from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just chamber." "Ten will be early enough." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and laid it on the table. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am not as remarkable as your advertisement." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, formed some opinion?" burst out into a roar of laughter. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me at my remark. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Look there!" said he. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no prepare for the new role I have to play." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an you want, then?' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Well, it is a possible supposition." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Come in!" said he. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "One of the highest in England." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he particular state visit http://pglaf.org laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the business at Coburg Square is serious." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry believe that I should never have any practice at all. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. have an American origin." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "And the cigar-holder?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Not in a good cause." the driver. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. of receipt of the work. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a dates and names. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed late!' question," said Holmes, smiling. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are shall use the carriage to-night." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "How did he come?" ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and stood on the top of it. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I was mad--insane." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, that?' however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and fluttered off among the others. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The annoyance, but no jest. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. joking. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is unprecedented a position." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "That's no good." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Game for a morning drive?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not here." "Ample." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Yes." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in at my remark. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "How can you tell that?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate one of the states of the Union." "So I am. Very much so." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "You are hungry," I remarked. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which reach." "Dr. Becher's." neither fascinating nor artistic." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: husband's writing, madam." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" fear." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending