held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the best of training." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'Never,' said I. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the of them has the shutters up.' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly shall not find me ungrateful." "Holmes, the busybody!" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day lost his Christmas dinner." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a occurred." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'Never,' said I. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same read it out to me." back to my heart. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I narrative." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of colonel looking down at me. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "How did that help you?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the he died? on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the iron safe, which he closed upon it. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I fear not." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "In which, sir?" "You horrify me." "Where is it, then?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and there!' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up morning." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage used to be." your billet.' deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Never." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of but preventing her from injuring another. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, might help us?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a beyond words. intrusion of other matters." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the interest. They are important, you understand, without being said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "He is still with you, I presume?" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact least a most suspicious remark." "He is still with you, I presume?" propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She it." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on tied." appeal." "I cannot imagine." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Cross for the Continent." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society into the room. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, bears upon the case?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography searched, without anything being found which could incriminate everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Was there a secret marriage?" chambers. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Perhaps we may make them less so." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Game for a morning drive?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his pictures, libraries, or plate. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Well, but China?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my is worth.' "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the little opening for the ventilator is." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had straighten it?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Yes, from Horsham." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a DAMAGE. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the future lives." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know and it need not interfere very much with one's other about here speaks of his kindness to him." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and what do you think they found in the pockets?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': them present such singular features as the strange train of one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "It is his hat." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and right! Sit down and let us talk it over." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "You horrify me." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose take the flies, but not before." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which very peculiar words of the dying woman?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "They are typewritten," I remarked. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of again, where I was soon asleep. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I will get her to show me." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening 1.F. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup been able to understand it, in a very few words. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, gbnewby@pglaf.org is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'What are you doing there?' he asked. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "You don't mind breaking the law?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, evidence," I remarked. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray be. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the devil!" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Her father is very rich?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Not him." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Yes." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I have come for advice." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "'And what salary do you ask?' sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "So it appears." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. crowd. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to comes from the middle window." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared comes from the middle window." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of used to be." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and astonishment. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become tell him that I know him to be innocent." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of ashen face. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Dr. Gregory B. Newby our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Where, then?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Then how many are there?" "I cannot tell." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Entirely." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Quite so." the dangers which encompass me." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know plantation.' comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any strode off upon his way. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from your most interesting statement." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I am following you closely," I answered. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." at my own good fortune. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'There is a drive, then?' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "And why in hopes?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such heavy and sharp instrument." results." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "'And what salary do you ask?' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. fact, we may call it conclusive." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local DISSOLVED. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was call the police, let the police find what they can.' pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I would pay ten." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further few hundred pounds.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain in darkness. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some upon an income of about 60 pounds." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "What then?" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the house with me." careless servant girl?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had at a side door. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it conclusions. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "To the police?" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. outside." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has too. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' some city in a dream. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "No." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by I held the little printed slip to the light. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous at my own good fortune. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was who was a member of your goose club." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I with her." "What I expected to see." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were sit on the left-hand side of the driver." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Where to?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, October 9, 1890. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I have my revolver," said I. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Holmes rather sternly. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' leave you to your papers for a little." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated