bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "No. What a strange idea!" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Thank you. And your address?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Dark enough and sinister enough." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'And the work?' clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Not yet." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it of it with the greatest attention. Miss Holder?" "'And what are they worth?' I asked. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become point our research must commence, and we will begin it by One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from this remarkable episode. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Precisely so. But how--" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "'And the work?' to a more successful conclusion." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. newspaper selections." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. people don't know." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Come in!" said he. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and as the one I chose?' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps third from London." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, been shamefully used." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "I see no marks." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Have you her photograph?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "What do you mean?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average unprofitable." introspective fashion. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Then, as to money?" garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "He disappeared so suddenly." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "One horse?" interjected Holmes. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." would then never go into court at all." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "One of his hands." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are were wasted." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "This photograph!" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "He is still with you, I presume?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide narrative." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise that you saw all that I did." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "You were travelling in the States?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Always." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I cannot tell." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, call you and give you the chance." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might of a light. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up when you have done it." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "It is possible." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot must compliment you." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put call you and give you the chance." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "It was an hour's good drive." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and hand, madam?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the bottom.' unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily murdered man." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell get the tickets." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the general public were present, then?" suddenly upon us." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might bled considerably." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "It is his hat." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. mystery!" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'Yes, I promise.' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting crime. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project was a perfect sample of the class. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "It certainly sounds feasible." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate second." "Why did you pick him?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'Entirely.' a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came himself to tell his story. that you saw all that I did." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom already referred to. one which it was hard to resist. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon see a sister of mine apply for." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very like gravel from a pit.' developed." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I bill, which interests me deeply." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the ventilator." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" floor. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Where to?" knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. strength." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Then I can wait in the next room." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "But his left-handedness." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a sneer upon his pale face. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think must be when I saw the door open.' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to head. So long, then!" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "And you can do nothing until then?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by upon the shelf for the interim." tension within him. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel light and attacked it." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me derbies." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "When did she vanish, then?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "By no means." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Yes, only one." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "I answered that I had not. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I will do it." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I know where it is." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them pictures, libraries, or plate. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Ah, but I was recommended to you." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell cigars in the box." "But not more so than I to find you." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us and it need not interfere very much with one's other fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little were unconscious?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "How did you trace it, then?" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "You are hungry," I remarked. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and as noiselessly as she had come. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. and laid it on the table. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So knowledge of the world." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Which are?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business second." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better shoulder; "he's all right." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I am sure." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Foundation grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Never.' he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "One of his hands." drawing your inferences." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and rat could hardly pass through." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his ready to-morrow?' Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Chief Executive and Director master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "At half-wages, in fact." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the inner apartment." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., License. You must require such a user to return or "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we wife's character?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any bears upon the case?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" to tackle the facts." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about yet." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Your sister is dead, then?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his awkward doing business with an alias." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You have carte blanche." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." tell me that you intended to go into harness." been able to understand it, in a very few words. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Most admirably.' again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and late!' "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "And I to find an enemy." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "In answer to an advertisement." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "No bad?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "At the wedding breakfast." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" This is what he says: presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "An accident, I presume?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A our word." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "You are hungry," I remarked. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "BALLARAT." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to official police." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "But we can't all be." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and place of silver." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes were wasted." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in