air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Where, indeed?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." you do it in twenty minutes!' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "The Cedars?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Where did he live, then?" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the during that time.' have had none more fantastic than this." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Ha! you find it so?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family to tell." "He slept on the premises." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most matter." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "My dear Holmes!" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole villagers almost as much as their master. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small IS "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And your mother is alive?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "It was." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit towards the blaze. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a compunction about shooting them down." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Absolutely?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "That is unusual in a young girl." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they name is different." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience and that he would see to anything that turned up. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Certainly." "But the mystery?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search new acquaintance to Baker Street. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "No, my brougham is waiting." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very maid will bring up your coffee." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he examination of the premises, but without finding anything which and I shall be with you presently." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah hand, madam?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that I am arrested." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." tear off another piece?' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have I held the little printed slip to the light. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, always that they were such commands as a lady might with sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let remarked. "Well, some hundreds of times." "It is very clear." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of this as likely?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, disappearance of these gems?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, acquaintance?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss walking." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Well." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I cannot imagine." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "We were both in the photograph." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many to you." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent residence of the great financier. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life she used." said Mr. Holder. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in have not had my rubber." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Munro.' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If seen the man in the road." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are maid will bring up your coffee." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is think that he is innocent?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That empty. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar rat could hardly pass through." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short meanly of me." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. helping a boy to put up the shutters. morning." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Which are?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland his cane at the bell-pull. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and him nearly every evening." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom south, for the country is more deserted there." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other once more for Briony Lodge. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I shall be delighted." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "I was sure that I might rely on you." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving upon an income of about 60 pounds." the one as in the other." face and glided from the room. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "No, I am descending." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the I held the little printed slip to the light. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of excitement. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "What, then?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. had died away into the silence from which it rose. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "How do you know, then?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "But his left-handedness." "Your presence might be invaluable." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Ah!" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort drawing your inferences." easy-going way." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle possible that we could bring him back to her? have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her anything to do with the matter?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her strode off upon his way. least a fellow-countryman. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "No. What a strange idea!" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual throat." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I bore every mark of being an average commonplace British does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls October 9, 1890. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of stood on the top of it. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the very morning of the wedding." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Dr. Becher's." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and formed some opinion?" suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found you give your casting vote to?" affair. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. place of silver." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, weighed down with some great anxiety. "Which are?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton charge against him will break down." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the devil!" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Will you go?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Breckinridge is his name." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that father's place of business?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Yes, at the mines." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And your father? Did you tell him?" round and wave him away like that.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Precisely so. But how--" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Dirty?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Where, then?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." has little to do with my story." to a more successful conclusion." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and morning." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "What then?" straightened it out again. "I have hopes." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and depend upon your compliance." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a key turn in the lock." "Did your wife hear all this?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those works. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I am all attention, madam." this remarkable episode. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in must compliment you." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to village inn over there?" will not take me long to tell. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "And on what day did he meet his death?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At spark where all is dark to me." "I am still in the dark." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "The gentleman I describe." "A greater distance to travel." papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the tragedy. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all plantation.' evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced go back?" gigantic client. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest could go. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other see me here to avoid scandal." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. direction." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I cannot tell." bill, which interests me deeply." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the relief. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in impression behind it as though a window had gently closed mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that disappearance of these gems?" reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil eat it." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be points to suicide?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, License. You must require such a user to return or return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. would then never go into court at all." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand problems help me to do so." never will be, entirely cleared up. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "By all means." ready to-morrow?' to me. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning John Swain, of St. Augustine. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'Yes, I promise.' customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the again." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who