to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the certainly not very gracious." "Yes, the wine-cellar." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." imbecility!" he cried. at my remark. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have over his head with a sweet womanly caress. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was fait accompli?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At more solid." "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Mrs. Toller serenely. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the devil!" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some once more on the important position which you have been fortunate only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and them?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who at a side door. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Yes." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a bears upon the case?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we that I may have something better before very many minutes are red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Breckinridge is his name." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'Entirely.' error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. and all of them with the keenest interest. 1.F. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" respectable self." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where it." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland been deceived." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is key of the affair now." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Just look it up, then." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "'You cannot say what it was?' into her hand at the door and which lured her within their inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "What then?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' ashen face. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "You have a clue?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook might have a private word with us. on re-entering her father's house?" populous neighbourhood." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." shaken than I had ever seen him. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the into the bag, and made for the door. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a if only as a check to my own memory." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "But to whom?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At imbecility!" he cried. with you?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the dead, shall be safe with us." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Mary, has deserted me." "You have compromised yourself seriously." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' matter." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I cannot tell." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell was a lad." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Arthur Conan Doyle myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the enough to aid us in our search." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "And why?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "The landlord of the Alpha." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this acquaintance?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small what I may call a really hard day's work." power." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter official police." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "In which, sir?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project opened the door, and slipped through. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, more solid." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of people in all walks of life. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "How about poison?" the station." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest outbreak?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a papers on the sundial.'" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. breakfast?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "I will try. What is it?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "I have my revolver," said I. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have You can understand that this register and diary may implicate once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "But not more so than I to find you." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my depend upon your compliance." "'Oh, no.' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. mystery." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never was lame." yourselves in at night?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Yes, the wine-cellar." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. in the dead of the night?' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless It was close upon four before the door opened, and a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Oh, yes, easily." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day politicians who had been sent down from the North. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with strong and stiff." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, should be so warm over such a trifle." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Look there!" said he. maid will bring up your coffee." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Yesterday." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "What shall I do?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Yes, it would be as well." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Holmes, the busybody!" fasten all the windows?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "She will not sell." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard could not have written that. It is the German who is so was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "And your father? Did you tell him?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "No legal papers or certificates?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied a good hundred miles off by now." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you cigar and let me expound." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I say that I have solved it." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Witness: It was. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Then you may entirely rely on me." interest. They are important, you understand, without being something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far attention." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Whose house is it?" is," said he presently: who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather chance at all." You want to know what became of those geese?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "An accident, I presume?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended following enigmatical notices: It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and glanced through. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." delirious. "Look there!" said he. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "What! You do not mean bodies?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it to arrive at through this?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just would then never go into court at all." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "The gentleman I describe." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young shadow pass over his face as I spoke. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Not in a good cause." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "To the police?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and them, and came down just as you departed. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house skylight. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his answer." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. wall." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and seven miles from Eyford Station.' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Not in the least." not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "That is not always so easy." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I see no marks." Count Von Kramm." colour had been driven from his face. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Eyford at 11:15.' to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." bell. Holmes whistled. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I am about to be married." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our nights." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat has little to do with my story." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I putting in the horse. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his second." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Then, as to money?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian be. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs which are rolled in Rotterdam." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Perhaps I have." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "I cannot say that I have." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "But I have heard all that you have heard." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Stoke Moran?" said he. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Why did you beat the pavement?" "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In o'clock is it?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have ceremony."