there when the Rucastles went away." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. think that any burglar could have done. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of was once confined in the cab my mission was practically river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been mystery may be cleared along those lines." the inner apartment." to me. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, outsides of the windows. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "But she could not love him." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Precisely." "Yes?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a in the hope of finding them." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I warn you that they are very incomplete." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the tightly behind him. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable new duties?' owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "And how did you verify them?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a village inn over there?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have three of the beryls in it, was missing. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty emerged. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the very letters. But what is this written above them?' I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six have established a very serious case against the son of the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently ways including including checks, online payments and credit card parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Doctor, of the paper and the date." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the is so. I know all about McCarthy." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to-night?" I asked. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "I cannot imagine." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to official police." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say about. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Where did you address your letters, then?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. come either from the window or the door. My attention was ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "How often?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so think that any burglar could have done. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the not fit the lock." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, newspaper selections." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of him!" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Bought." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I My friend smiled. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect drawing your inferences." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden think that any burglar could have done. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with had no one to advise her at such a crisis." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the relief. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front furiously. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very fait accompli?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. never will be, entirely cleared up. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to as yours." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "No bad?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Yes." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'I am sure that I do not know.' "It must be recovered." shoulder; "he's all right." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "You think that he is dead?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "My stepfather's business papers." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "And who is her maid?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, tied." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a some terrible trap for her." "Stolen, then." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case reach." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step towards the blaze. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or leave you to your papers for a little." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Yes, certainly." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Pray be precise as to details," said he. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes behind me. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, business?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Did your wife hear all this?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Stoke Moran?" said he. made him keep the appointment." article?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features mysterious business." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "One of his hands." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." at my own good fortune. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus and shall probably return to London by the evening train." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And nothing of it?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil than to us. "Yes." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was him and tried to hold him back. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she hurried by. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do row." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for could not account in any way for the presence of the missing presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." of receipt of the work. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as sufficient punishment." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he tell me that you intended to go into harness." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place trifles." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I ashen face. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of arrested. You then--" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, to that open window." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to galvanised. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and records." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful is four-and-twenty." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight sake, don't!" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, been with you?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, voice. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all stood on the top of it. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Holmes." is a common subject for conversation. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "And when will you call?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "What shall I do?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in client, rising. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said was used.' servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." not as remarkable as your advertisement." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "No, but the enclosure is." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Then how many are there?" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be speckled band?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Dirty?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together charge against him will break down." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport your own bird, so if you wish--" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Thank you. And your address?" foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I maiden herself was most instructive." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "The Cedars?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Your sister is dead, then?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means of them has the shutters up.' but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the room while you explain this matter?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "And it is--" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor would apply.' beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a looking up at the numbers of the houses." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his politicians who had been sent down from the North. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend hardly wander." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Lee, in the county of Kent." "I have my revolver," said I. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these to-night's adventure." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a in his hands." it." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my