called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out business came to an end." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an some terrible trap for her." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "The King of Scandinavia." "No?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while thought that she would have been so carried away." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Yes. He waved his hands." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good there in twenty minutes." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Who by?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "To an end?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "At half-wages, in fact." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast was not a bird to be seen there. "'Certainly not. But why?' "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking quite distinctive." made him keep the appointment." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." stepfather?" and laid it on the table. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the to affect your life." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "But his left-handedness." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Thank you. And your address?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made unkempt, staring out at me. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." kindly on the shoulder. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a your sleep?' "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, fluttered off among the others. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck about here speaks of his kindness to him." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" your room." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "How do you know, then?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let quick march!" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double character. lost his Christmas dinner." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the never to learn it at all." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with from you?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which It may be so in this case, also." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a lamp. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness McCarthy's innocence. "My photograph." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and note?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any the very morning of the wedding." copied or distributed: of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "What! a murderous attack?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "And what did you see?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the coronet in his hand?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the pierced for earrings?" "We have tried and failed." it." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually developed." sparkled upon his finger. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I in this way: Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. she used." to arrive at through this?" which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'Most admirably.' "I will, Miss Turner." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That awaited us upon the table. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Yes." matter." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. will not take me long to tell. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! fasten all the windows?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of before, for it was considerably after midnight. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place criminal. We have already had experience of such." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, round with crates and massive boxes. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Certainly." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" crime. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." crime." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to formed some opinion?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door your sleep?' father's young wife. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to change my dress. to-night." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. ordinary clothes on?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I happened." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an to some other building. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the iron safe, which he closed upon it. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On may never be exposed to such a temptation." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and three of the beryls in it, was missing. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a thirty. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a where we are going." respectable self." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Farm upon the left." "Never to return." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible instincts rose up against that laugh. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him fattened it expressly for you.' Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had unkempt, staring out at me. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" For additional contact information: Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where gone. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "No more words. Get out!" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." in this note: long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and always that they were such commands as a lady might with should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried unprofitable." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, and it need not interfere very much with one's other Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' lectures into a series of tales." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Of what?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek obstinate." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of maiden herself was most instructive." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR nonsense.' reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Come in!" said he. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I have seen the police." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in danger is over." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a dear old homesteads?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "In which, sir?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen when your master had gone out." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Then you may be so with me." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'I have already given you my word.' red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his derbies." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong walking." other, as fresh and trim as possible. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man his eyes and forehead. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "At half-wages, in fact." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The furiously. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "It is very kind of you." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Then how many are there?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "And it is--" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" writing, and yet I know it well." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "And leave your case unfinished?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the call it cruel." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "I will do it." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to sofa. This way, please!" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "No. What a strange idea!" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "What is it, then--a fire?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it seen the man in the road." Again Holmes raved in the air. companion quietly. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Pope's Court, Fleet Street." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my I approached. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some face and glided from the room. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel trifles." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and she might be summoned. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch