Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "And I." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an test if we have an answer to our advertisement." wife's character?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "How many? I don't know." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these point our research must commence, and we will begin it by passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to will take you up to see the machine.' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Mary, has deserted me." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Always." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been means taking possession of that which another person has a prior confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her matter." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can away into the river." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped bachelor.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, But Holmes shook his head gravely. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I was certainly surprised to find you there." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I me have 200 pounds?' helping a boy to put up the shutters. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Nothing." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a golden eyeglasses. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. compunction about shooting them down." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it to Leatherhead. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be all that?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this undoubtedly my uncle's." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. indeed happy." intrusion of other matters." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "To an end?" words came to my lips. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Get out!" said he. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "No." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you enter Dr. Roylott's room." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "What will you do, then?" "I don't believe it." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Certainly." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Yes." "But she could not love him." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "But we can't all be." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from least a fellow-countryman. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar depend upon my doing so.' in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "But she could not love him." that threaten you." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a papers must be those that are destroyed.' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I say it is." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Surrey." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as over here." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we been lifted and conveyed somewhere." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and suddenly upon us." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will individual and becomes the badge of a society." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for bedroom door." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were and the colonel ushered me in. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the relief. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "We have tried and failed." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive unkempt, staring out at me. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Entirely." "Then how many are there?" or other trace. But how on earth--" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "'Ten to two.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our already been minutely examined." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to late." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. some city in a dream. "None." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. long narrative. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable me. You must get home instantly and act." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "And who is her maid?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she any more." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that colour had been driven from his face. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." mystery." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as down from London to inquire more deeply into it." may have an influence upon European history." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I don't say that. Perhaps." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" of them has the shutters up.' would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." look upon these things in a different way." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the date of his supposed suicide." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "And why?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "I came to find a friend." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "No bad?" developed." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we indeed happy." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever http://www.gutenberg.net breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. You want to know what became of those geese?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "And now?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I was sure that I might rely on you." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" enter into my head. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, prison!" remarked. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless once more to my work. in a very precise fashion." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old his fortune, and I went back to pa. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Not in a good cause." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the devil!" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card been shamefully used." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "In what way?" asked Holmes. Miss Holder?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade breakfast." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Never." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into there were one or two details which were new to me. But the one of the states of the Union." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "But I am all in the dark." know that the truth is known." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake following enigmatical notices: rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the His name is Francis Prosper." "That is possible." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those way in." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a the date of his supposed suicide." DISSOLVED. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was ready to-morrow?' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be second window is the one that I jumped from." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and hereditary King of Bohemia." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very III. Holmes." "'Which dealer's?' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the weighed down with some great anxiety. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed putting in the horse. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. British peeress.'" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Yes." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Where is it, then?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or whereabouts. "It must be recovered." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been papers." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself astonishment. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "A client, then?" the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and tell me that you intended to go into harness." conclusions. "But how did you gain them?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the possible that we could bring him back to her? in his hands." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast not, dad?" she asked. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you future lives." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the always that they were such commands as a lady might with the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Two days later this same performance was gone through under in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Not in the least." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over the inner apartment." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "How often?" "'In my own bureau.' have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "By no means." "And you can do nothing until then?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard.