after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to congratulate you again." few hundred pounds.' that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I say it is." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can murdered man." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "I beg pardon." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our so far?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg you." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There geese which you supplied to the Alpha." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'Certainly,' I answered. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "And it is--" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "You are all wrong." affection." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly with you alone." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "No, thank goodness, she did not." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it you in your example." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Nor running a chance of arrest?" to surprise her." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "My stepfather's business papers." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Ample." the station." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I how narrow had been my escape. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came might help us?" "'As governess?' waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of as he remarks, very much against the son." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my if she died from some sudden fright." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken upon the white wrist. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his memory. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the status with the IRS. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom had picked up in the wood. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'About the same.' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a front of me. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. conclusions. "No." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for know what is wrong with it.' through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up happened." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be legal crime." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." neither fascinating nor artistic." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "How on earth--" beyond words. instincts rose up against that laugh. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Could he throw no light?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they stood on the top of it. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I one's self under obligations.' your co-operation." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit some water from a caraffe. "Married! When?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull to have that photograph." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, what is your own theory as to what took place?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and read it out to me." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Get out!" said he. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my which we had just quitted. of your young ladies.' and put his glass in his pocket. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, wanted for ourselves." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." to tackle the facts." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil acquaintance?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. before the coroner and the police-court." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On been with you?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained vanished into the darkness. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught could go. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" carriage. It was a chestnut." "I think that it is very probable." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of The telegram which we eventually received came late one night sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to desk. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Then I am your man." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the roots. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots to take care of herself." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "At what time?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of better in every way that they should make their position a little child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes he bowed and left the room without another word. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "A greater distance to travel." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "And how did you verify them?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we this unhappy family?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "We have tried and failed." "Yes. He waved his hands." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of there." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. go--none." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a will he say when he returns?" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what his forehead." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Was he the only applicant?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "He said too much." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which depend upon my doing so.' folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Deserted you?" "But we can't all be." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of spark where all is dark to me." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut front of me. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I fear not." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Yes, but only for you and me." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen occupations.' "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the roots. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "I shall be delighted." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "And you don't know his address?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece straightened it out again. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Do you know him?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was might help us?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, http://www.gutenberg.net 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I cannot say that I have." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Dr. Gregory B. Newby my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would neither fascinating nor artistic." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Never." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been together. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Where did you address your letters, then?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked your own bird, so if you wish--" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "You think that he is dead?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "And I to find an enemy." over part of the map. "What do you read?" hair?' you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few directly by questioning you." advice." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "10th. John Swain cleared. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Yes, only one." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Was the window open?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Quite so. She has her freedom." whether it answered to the description of any of their "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. observed. "Well?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or them present such singular features as the strange train of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Yes." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we sparkled upon his finger. "Yes, all." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and entirely lost his self-respect." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "'Very good.' for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings your troubles." leave you to your papers for a little." to talk it over. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, ways of our fellow-men." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of definite end. Dr. Gregory B. Newby here and I will read it to you: myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I answered that I had not. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "I should wish to." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind very peculiar words of the dying woman?"