before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be you want, then?' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "What! Had he lost his wife?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" train.' flock.' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "His face fell immediately. hour?' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" showing my impatience. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "The knees of his trousers." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "He is dead," cried several voices. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Holmes' face clouded over. "Yes, it would be as well." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to behind me. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "To the police?" heavy and sharp instrument." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Surrey." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself chemical work which was so dear to him. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to you." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the morning and make my own way in the world.' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Not particularly." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "I was certainly surprised to find you there." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in door?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as at my remark. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at not use it unless it is absolutely needed." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps that he has suffered." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the dangers which encompass me." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And London for the present?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He said he at last. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society gone before you can get him to hospital." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: will take you up to see the machine.' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Do you know him?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I was sure that I might rely on you." that?' one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and that "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then some city in a dream. compunction about shooting them down." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have room. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but beg that you will break it off." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you and capable of preserving a secret.' before, for it was considerably after midnight. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" must compliment you." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside that?' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our dramatic, in fact." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him should be so warm over such a trifle." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "What is it?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You touch that coronet?' "Did you observe the colour?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the wife's character?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at was a loud and authoritative tap. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual his grey eyes. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for cigars in the box." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the before, for it was considerably after midnight. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at himself. hand, madam?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at will he say when he returns?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Ah!" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had your room." of it with the greatest attention. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Clair, of Lee." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "And help." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our upon the white wrist. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he to have that photograph." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is to change my dress. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." and effective." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each highroad, where all traces were lost. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began and wait." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. more terrible than the truth. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "On your arm?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I ago." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Yes, I promise.' when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would good for you to do.' light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "'You doubt its value?' he asked. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it spark where all is dark to me." from the brougham. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had highly," said Holmes. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it might have a private word with us. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'I have heard so.' "What have you done?" asked Holmes. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Watson," he said cordially. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "And when will you call?" spark where all is dark to me." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him your room." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun breakfast and whispered something to her husband. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that he has suffered." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same one of them." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to wedding?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing fat-encircled eyes. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. lips." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose face and glided from the room. words came to my lips. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the were wasted." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "I beg pardon." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Ha! you find it so?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Because he was handy and would come cheap." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect society." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough my former friend and companion. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was stalked out of the room. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the best of training." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure I am not easy in my mind about them." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yesterday." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his eavesdroppers?' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Very truly yours, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, business in the City. She little knew what. "On your arm?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'Is 4 pounds a week.' rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'Very good.' across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of coat-tails." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." away into the river." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "'In my own bureau.' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, the matter?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Very. But will he see it?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The leave you to your papers for a little." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Pray do so." coroner's jury." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then wanted for ourselves." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the coroner come to?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the stable lane now." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the conversation I have gathered that they have been married about this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I cannot think." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Could he throw no light?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it to tackle the facts." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they was keenly on my guard against him. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Yes." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to tied." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I see no marks." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." a monotonous occupation." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't begun to whiten, even as mine has." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of fuss that is made over them." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Holmes rather sternly. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to in the port of London."