what is your own theory as to what took place?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders murdered man." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' a monotonous occupation." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which to his chemical studies. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Eyford at 11:15.' family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Witness: Nothing definite. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a and wait." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. upon the shelf for the interim." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it imbecility!" he cried. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "No, I had a dozen." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "We must have a cab." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Where to?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR arms and began to sob in a high treble key. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "But how did you gain them?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Then he might have called to you?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker head. So long, then!" and all of them with the keenest interest. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Do you go out much in society?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "It is very clear." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after touch that coronet?' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "In the cells." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical and glanced through. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Of what day?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. very morning of my second wedding." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "And when will you call?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "At the wedding breakfast." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she feature." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the cigars in their mouths. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from direction." light and attacked it." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, maid will bring up your coffee." chill to my heart. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It is his hat." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before be.' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "It missed him, then?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would questionable one." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "'I am sure if I had known--' "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "To an English lawyer named Norton." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "I fear not." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I passage and a tap at the door. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "When did she vanish, then?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a to that open window." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "The murder was done with it." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an both be extremely obliged.' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I am about to be married." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' test if we have an answer to our advertisement." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but ventilator." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try But Holmes shook his head gravely. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a became a certainty. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Yes, it would be as well." His smile broadened. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "And Irene Adler?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in will be renamed. whole matter to your consideration." "That also I could fathom." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, to a more successful conclusion." away to you." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. My friend smiled. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your know that the truth is known." in my life." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Witness: Nothing definite. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the dates and names. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." into the bag, and made for the door. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. friends, not even his own brother. "'Stolen!' he cried. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "She showed me, as I told you she would." "The murder was done with it." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible burst into a hearty fit of laughter. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "The decline of his fortunes, then?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked at once, for I have only half an hour." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, families. Now for the facts. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed not, dad?" she asked. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "No more words. Get out!" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Ample.' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "But what harm can there be in that?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential dear old homesteads?" is a common subject for conversation. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Your presence might be invaluable." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the I am not easy in my mind about them." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that new acquaintance to Baker Street. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred one else, I think." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Upon what point?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK strength of mind to control. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the must be when I saw the door open.' with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Stolen." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "BALLARAT." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will already referred to. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had likely to be some crony of the landlady's." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Absolutely?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," papers." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known there when the Rucastles went away." the matter." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Well, it is a possible supposition." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Not him." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to not come at once?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Why? What do you mean?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Nothing." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part What do you deduce from it?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the hands. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent in one or two places in England?' animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'And the work?' Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, garden below. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the general public were present, then?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his a very grave face. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I will not look." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by posted to-day." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you mystery." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a without a word or a look. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to 'I should be able to look after that for you.' October 9, 1890. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "'Stolen!' he cried. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is wedding?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the into the room. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it him and tried to hold him back. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott over here." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this will be renamed. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "'As governess?' question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, been deceived." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'What do you call purely nominal?' that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the hands. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. I held the little printed slip to the light. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and him to go away.' "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been a room. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom orange pips. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow to his chemical studies. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two weary and pale-looking. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away you." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The said he at last. status with the IRS. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been