thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of if I call to-morrow?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates business in the City. She little knew what. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern within hail.' "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "None." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little upon an income of about 60 pounds." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. here and I will read it to you: "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as was not a bird to be seen there. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I absorbing." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" carpenter." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged was not a bird to be seen there. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man it with his own hands." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and following enigmatical notices: to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my remarked. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she to that open window." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "An enemy?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope how narrow had been my escape. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales mysterious business." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of strength of mind to control. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have into her hand at the door and which lured her within their considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of client, rising. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Yes." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. questionable one." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" husband's writing, madam." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "She walked into the breakfast-room." instituted." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert once more to my work. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." sake, don't!" know that the truth is known." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn there has been an enclosure here!" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "'I shall certainly be there.' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and did not hear it also.' "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "But you can know nothing of this?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like him!" forebodings. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it skylight. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. call you and give you the chance." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. questionable one." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of directly by questioning you." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet to miss it." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had to Leatherhead. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the official police." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A of the vacancies.' "And how in the world did you find them?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got tightly behind him. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "It is a murder, then?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "And what then?" "Which are?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Yes, I have one waiting." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a as he folded up the epistle. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the spark where all is dark to me." "Can I be of assistance?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have works. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed of campaign. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf fuss that is made over them." "Stolen, then." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much important." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection wedding?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor 1.F. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Whose house is it?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed highly," said Holmes. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal detective. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of over here." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to business at Coburg Square is serious." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the cigars in their mouths. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we in him." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. joking. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. to Leatherhead. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to appeal." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "No sign of it?" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It's nothing of the kind." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A once more for Briony Lodge. me. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger highroad, where all traces were lost. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm again, where I was soon asleep. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "You don't mind breaking the law?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I have a cab outside." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "My dear Holmes!" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is me, and I could not think that his explanation of the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Your sister is dead, then?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "But you have hopes?" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Was there a secret marriage?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so purpose equally well?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Her father is very rich?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "But what harm can there be in that?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." during that time.' into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "You did not overhear what they said?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his this remarkable episode. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Edgeware Road. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just arms and began to sob in a high treble key. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. were new raised from a basin. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the amused." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Certainly." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his forehead." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I cannot tell." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the correct than the official force." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "'Yes, it was gone.' the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I am following you closely," I answered. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during during the last few years, and there are many noble families to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Yes, sir." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Why? What do you mean?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very joking. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come which are rolled in Rotterdam." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "From his hat?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the whether it answered to the description of any of their had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the so.' "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Holmes rather sternly. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of in the hope of finding them." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, shoulder. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any 11:15.' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but lips." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." shall not find me ungrateful." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "But we can't all be." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the coroner come to?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might how narrow had been my escape. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid room had already been engaged for us. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not hardly wander." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "She told me to ask you." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "The best possible." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The best detective that ever lived. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. not as remarkable as your advertisement." have one." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a London for the present?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent all that?" to-night's adventure." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco nonsense.' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so