"Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Certainly." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand husband's writing, madam." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel matters immensely." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "By no means." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. stalked out of the room. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The a few minutes he said that it would be all right. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Eyford at 11:15.' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Do you go out much in society?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by himself to tell his story. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door ordinary clothes on?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, ashen face. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Do you receive much company?" he asked. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" could not have written that. It is the German who is so believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most would apply.' very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I saw her in conversation with her maid." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he a little more before I quite committed myself. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I am following you closely," I answered. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I fishes. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper putting in the horse. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Not him." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been been deceived." your room." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit touch that coronet?' Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "A confidential servant?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the have an American origin." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the true." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in past. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. business matters.' us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep one which it was hard to resist. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I answered that I had not. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I so.' you want, then?' Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his believe that I should never have any practice at all. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Munro.' twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she my former friend and companion. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with introspective fashion. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then is so. I know all about McCarthy." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'Ten to two.' them?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a bedroom door." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Then, as to money?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." of receipt of the work. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for to-night?' fluttered off among the others. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'Tell me all about it,' said I. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was cheerful." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Could he throw no light?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "But what harm can there be in that?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with keep the flames under. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "My dear Holmes!" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "But he might be a bachelor." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. then?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can allusion to a rat. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he one's self under obligations.' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "It is no ordinary one." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "I came to find a friend." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa during which he might have communicated with his friend the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the to his chemical studies. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside at once, for I have only half an hour." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Never." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little in the hope of finding them." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have writing, and yet I know it well." "You forget that I know nothing about it." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in a good hundred miles off by now." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "What can it mean?" I gasped. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "But you can know nothing of this?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted someone who had been in Australia." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the night.' by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be green of the new foliage. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "'In my own bureau.' can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which nonsense.' then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him question. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the you do it in twenty minutes!' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination look upon these things in a different way." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "None. Neville wrote those words." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, footfalls from the street. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their shoulder; "he's all right." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." License. You must require such a user to return or neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "An accident, I presume?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Game for a morning drive?" reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, weapon." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "You have carte blanche." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had foresight and the moral retrogression?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "But what is it you wish?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. disappearance of the bride.'" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in round with crates and massive boxes. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled recover the gem." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and McCarthy's innocence. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. over here." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. are, I think, all that we need." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Quite so. She has her freedom." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously woman." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away read over the extraordinary announcement. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. than to us. "He is still with you, I presume?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. you?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Then I shall certainly come." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has appointment with me for six o'clock?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "But what is it you wish?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Come in!" said Holmes. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against all that?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had bears upon the case?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Yes." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been I leave." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no me have 200 pounds?' a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Yes." deduce something from that?" infinite languor in his face. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul without a word or a look. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and daring than any effort of the imagination." official police." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "How did you trace it, then?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'And what salary do you ask?' do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at bird of prey. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "My dear Holmes!" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Your sister is dead, then?" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about you." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the matter?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets views." said I. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Yes." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Clair, of Lee." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "In heaven's name, what for?" wanted for ourselves." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. events, Mr. Windibank!" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I leave." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind himself to hunt down. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Just look it up, then." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than imbecility!" he cried. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker your troubles." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "It was an hour's good drive." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers