air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off where she found matters as described by the last witness. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Project Gutenberg-tm works. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which know that the truth is known." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as that you saw all that I did." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As opened the door, and slipped through. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out undoubtedly my uncle's." point in the dark hollow of his hand. said I. quite distinctive." respectable self." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to their singular warning or token before them when starting upon effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and other, as fresh and trim as possible. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But away in different directions, and I went off to make my own at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Very truly yours, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shadow pass over his face as I spoke. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some come either from the window or the door. My attention was The summons was a brief and urgent one. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp during the last few years, and there are many noble families to line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this was not a bird to be seen there. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "What do you make of that, Watson?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "9th. McCauley cleared. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At himself to hunt down. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. you for a few hours?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Clair, of Lee." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then would apply.' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Yes." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions was the fact that his father should, according to his account, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. way in." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were any." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out beyond words. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, bled considerably." been shamefully used." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two fear." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in mysterious end." copied or distributed: "What then?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' father's place of business?" tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." clang of the bell. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so paper in the air. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "By train from Waterloo." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed likely to be some crony of the landlady's." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "'Yes, sir.' were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Have you it here?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass weary and pale-looking. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves me. You must get home instantly and act." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at villagers almost as much as their master. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as girl said." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may spare." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we himself in a perplexing position. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, salesman. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge for the market.' "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in roused himself from his reverie. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "That is easily got." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit himself to tell his story. had died away into the silence from which it rose. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "But she will refuse." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "And you don't know his address?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "But your client--" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Yes, I have one waiting." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Yes, at the mines." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in easy-going way." opened the door, and slipped through. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that when your master had gone out." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of any." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that hardly wander." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "Quite so. She has her freedom." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some one of the states of the Union." hard-headed British jury." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where foot. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "I was mad--insane." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Dr. Gregory B. Newby that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, bonnet, and went out." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may up this clue while it is still hot." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some has little to do with my story." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil better grown goose." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Why did you beat the pavement?" spare." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "My photograph." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Did he not advertise?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning intrusion of other matters." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as shall use the carriage to-night." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make of receipt of the work. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a husband's writing, madam." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Did he not advertise?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may this as likely?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Yes, it was twisted." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'Very good.' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Sutherland. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "I do." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" guilty parties." one which it was hard to resist. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On it were putty." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and directors, with the result that you have seen." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning to affect your life." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." case before our client came into the room." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I without success. At last the little money which I had saved began constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to the stones. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the station." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "This concluded the examination of the witness." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that drawing your inferences." John Swain, of St. Augustine. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose he died? get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name are windows in it, of course?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "10th. John Swain cleared. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to when your master had gone out." indeed happy." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up His smile broadened. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary round with crates and massive boxes. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Very well, sir. And this stone?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "9th. McCauley cleared. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in bled considerably." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very in his hands." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should arrested. You then--" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "But his left-handedness." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building in his hands." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was his cane at the bell-pull. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something she to prove their authenticity?" whatever might befall. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback bird of prey. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly