leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their writing, and yet I know it well." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Why, what do you mean?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "But who is he?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." detained." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, begun to whiten, even as mine has." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "And for present expenses?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Certainly." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Was the window open?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "At what time?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes. He waved his hands." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind article?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the door?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "So it appears." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "It surprised me." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband at home. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had this unhappy family?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the results." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I see many objections to any such theory." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather been shamefully used." dates and names. "My dear Holmes!" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of through." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Murdered?" depend upon your compliance." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." copied or distributed: over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our hereditary King of Bohemia." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the Assizes." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'What, the red-headed man?' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' friends, not even his own brother. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "When did she vanish, then?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" late." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'Certainly not.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, bell. Holmes whistled. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "So it appears." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they 11:15.' neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "When did she vanish, then?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly definite end. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "What steps will you take?" I asked. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "In answer to an advertisement." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Witness: I must still refuse. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the appointment with me for six o'clock?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud yet." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "The vanishing of the lady." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I fluttered off among the others. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to empty. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered cigars in their mouths. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the help us in this matter." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." to-night?" I asked. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "You were travelling in the States?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of roused himself from his reverie. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "9th. McCauley cleared. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few very old mansion. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "It is to him that this trophy belongs." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the emerged. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "You saw the ventilator, too?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have with some details as to your case." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird brandy and water within his reach. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he locked. "So I heard. You have him here?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "We were both in the photograph." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "No." "Breckinridge is his name." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. said I. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Murdered?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "No, I am descending." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Sutherland. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Not him." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and here." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was returning from some small jollification and was making his way "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these note?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. works. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. But Holmes shook his head gravely. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to anything to do with the matter?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son which are rolled in Rotterdam." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "But I have heard all that you have heard." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' of note-paper. It read in this fashion: returning from some small jollification and was making his way and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who voice. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out your most interesting statement." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "And you thought he was pulled back?" are windows in it, of course?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, photograph a cabinet?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the someone who had been in Australia." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "'About the same.' pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by populous neighbourhood." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to What do you deduce from it?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope been shamefully used." used to be." "He might." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was This is what he says: who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "In what way?" asked Holmes. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the nursery. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for national property. I was determined that the law should have its at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than started for the Temple to see my husband. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly orange pips. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be murdered man." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Your French gold?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause approach us with offers to donate. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my should be so warm over such a trifle." these bleak autumnal evenings." "Thank you. Pray proceed." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly gone. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken not come at once?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "I have my revolver," said I. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? You can understand that this register and diary may implicate observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it wife's character?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Have you good authority for what you say?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was deduce something from that?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "And you can do nothing until then?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, mystery." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Can I be of assistance?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, tail." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" bonnet, and went out." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a closely." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "One of the highest in England." like gravel from a pit.' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that been lifted and conveyed somewhere." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "You have carte blanche." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let vague figure huddled up in the darkness. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "No, thank goodness, she did not." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Pray let us have it, for all that." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the roots. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet respectable self." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." out." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "It was." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "'Never.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the occurred." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, out of this horrible affair." conduct the inquiry." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the in my life." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was likely to be some crony of the landlady's." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even occurred." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Watson," he said cordially. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is people don't know." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Ah!" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had fire. You quite follow me?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and dear old homesteads?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire