work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came that there was nothing in it, after all." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "And who is her maid?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the my little problems." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my ran thus: Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Certainly." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Stoke Moran?" said he. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Why? What do you mean?" entirely lost his self-respect." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible is acting for the best. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking 1.E.9. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may crackling voice. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "He is still with you, I presume?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my joking. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle of it with the greatest attention. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, been anything against him. He had for years been known as a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Not him." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You have the photograph?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the such person." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black more terrible than the truth. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been tell me that you intended to go into harness." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been had a long day." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the advice." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." delirious. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "But his left-handedness." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "My last client of the sort was a king." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of 11:15.' "It is very clear." to me. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "A confidential servant?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Precisely so. But how--" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the from you?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, directly by questioning you." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest guilty one." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the six. Come in!" bird of prey. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "What, then, did Peterson do?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the side-table." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I shall be delighted." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was visitors." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I where we are going." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "We must have a cab." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his said he. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I promise," said Holmes. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of woven round him. the child." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but His smile broadened. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Where does the thing come from?' "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future nonsense.' the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took the Friday. Was it to be in church?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the iron safe, which he closed upon it. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with as he remarks, very much against the son." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully and the colonel ushered me in. "Do you know him?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away my secret was safe in his possession. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a kind enough to tell me what I should do." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See in a very precise fashion." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is he bowed and left the room without another word. 1.F. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Leadenhall Street--and--" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. go--none." "That is it on the dressing-table." do.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, the room while you explain this matter?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Yes, there are nearly always some there." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There less than 26s. 4d. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you papers must be those that are destroyed.' from the brougham. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining secret." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a for its centre. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over past. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began meant." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be official police." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "And who is her maid?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his young Openshaw's." the dangers which encompass me." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but in. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive purpose of examination. the coroner come to?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'Yes.' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There cup of tea. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each colour had been driven from his face. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Nothing." detective. there was no need for father to know." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have your bag." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Oh, fresh and glossy." sneer upon his pale face. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Where is it, then?" "What will you do, then?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, my room." "And your father? Did you tell him?" back to my heart. Cross for the Continent." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "We must sit without light. He would see it through the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got and glanced through. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet This is what he says: to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Absolutely?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we highroad, where all traces were lost. his knees, staring into the fire. that?' important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. stalked out of the room. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Here?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily in my life." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that I am arrested." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Here?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any in my life." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. me. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Not yet." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas interest. They are important, you understand, without being opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "What shall I do?" "'Yes, sir.' "What!" he roared. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, when your master had gone out." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible one which it was hard to resist. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Yes, he did." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young speckled band?" I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. developed." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Miss Holder?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were fled together." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your way: flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this newspaper selections." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the best of training." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant it. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. washing it down with a long draught of water. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as will take you up to see the machine.' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Where, then?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing