written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "No." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you village inn over there?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I should like to see him very much." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. families. Now for the facts. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after where we are going." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out 'please.'" there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what Eyford at 11:15.' at a side door. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered investigation." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." you." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "By no means." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. strength in the others." Surrey." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an McCarthy's innocence. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the loss of it. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway hardly wander." his forehead." in darkness. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "You have compromised yourself seriously." chair. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Then, how do you know?" "I shall be delighted." "I will not look." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "You have a clue?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have this truth that in these little records of our cases which you wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "About a month then." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they eat it." six. Come in!" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "When did she vanish, then?" felt?" "How do you know, then?" straightened it out again. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than might help us?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Yes, it was twisted." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, kind enough to tell me what I should do." "It looks newer than the other things?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, definite end. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the stable lane now." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, a suggestive one." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you that threaten you." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." that threaten you." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or do.' belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, new duties?' "'I shall certainly be there.' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an there." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple might have a private word with us. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big so far?" little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "But you have hopes?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but unprecedented a position." bird of prey. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in learned something! Where are the gems?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man hour." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "That also I could fathom." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my mysterious business." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "BALLARAT." one of the states of the Union." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "But of what society?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "No." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you disturbance in my wife." key of the affair now." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable strong and stiff." father's young wife. the stable lane now." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side of note-paper. It read in this fashion: at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of with frightened eyes at his accuser. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "No sign of it?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Leadenhall Street--and--" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and outbreak?" you understand?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and your own bird, so if you wish--" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one woman." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the matter." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered chill to my heart. "Where to?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will three of the beryls in it, was missing. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You have compromised yourself seriously." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite DAMAGE. several quiet little villages up there." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face lost his Christmas dinner." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before bird of prey. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs despaired of." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You him. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was completely overtopped every other consideration that we both was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to address. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to new duties?' "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were your equipment. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then stepfather?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I cannot imagine." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking of them has the shutters up.' Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he beyond words. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was foresight and the moral retrogression?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when weighed down with some great anxiety. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night peculiar to him. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' side. me where it went to?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he carpenter." to talk it over. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free place of silver." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "But you would not advise me to refuse?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "It's nothing of the kind." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "I came to find a friend." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Precisely so. But how--" tell him that I know him to be innocent." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "'Never.' introspective fashion. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry from the brougham. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike situation." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known bearing upon the case." "No legal papers or certificates?" chill to my heart. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike nothing with him." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Yes." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Cross for the Continent." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their you." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very awkward doing business with an alias." better in every way that they should make their position a little "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking sneer upon his pale face. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'Yes, it was gone.' fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so which it had come upon my father." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "You horrify me!" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies was a lad." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to laugh and put his lips to my ear. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant felt?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "No legal papers or certificates?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be said I. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "ARAT," I read. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Holmes rather sternly. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save we went to search for him, face downward in a little Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "You horrify me!" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I said he at last. straighten it?" was feeling which was the fattest.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes manager. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of night.' said he. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "No, I had a dozen." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your look upon these things in a different way." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "It is true that I have been generally successful." Farm upon the left." what I may call a really hard day's work." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a little more before I quite committed myself. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this indeed which he could not unravel. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "She told me to ask you." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the sound at heart." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock would then never go into court at all." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "That also I could fathom." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which matter over." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It politicians who had been sent down from the North. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "It is solved." "Why serious?" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "You saw the ventilator, too?" States. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he think, you have already met." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Seven!" I answered. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and the colonel ushered me in. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few compunction about shooting them down." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the station." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Yes." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting