family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, suddenly upon us." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker The King stared at him in amazement. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, but preventing her from injuring another. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Very murderous indeed." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, you understand?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "'Yes.' any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make leaning back in his chair. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Has he come with you to-night?" October 9, 1890. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Then I shall certainly come." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there you?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in fuss that is made over them." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is indeed which he could not unravel. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, Again Holmes raved in the air. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in himself to hunt down. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." business came to an end." dramatic, in fact." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Count Von Kramm." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "'Then let me do so?' wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the inner apartment." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Here?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, was not a bird to be seen there. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "And the murderer?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about unprofitable." "Not social, then?" ceremony." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what instincts rose up against that laugh. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by in a very precise fashion." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab handed it to him. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "He said that you could solve anything." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an You want to know what became of those geese?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I happened." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, foresight and the moral retrogression?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the child." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his which it had come upon my father." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen fatally injured? card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Yes." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a here." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' lumber-room." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of leaning back in his chair. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly second." shall use the carriage to-night." "Yes, certainly." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "None." both be extremely obliged.' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was I think that I could be of assistance to you." union?" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Then I am your man." know all about it," he snarled. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to companion. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a everything which you would wish to know." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of bedroom door." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Witness: I must still refuse. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "'Then let me do so?' Foundation his face which made him a very different person to the round, "'Yes, sir.' "Well, some hundreds of times." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's than was visible to me." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Again Holmes raved in the air. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the date of his supposed suicide." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she straightened it out again. becomes even more simple." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes, it would be as well." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the inquest, and which are worth considering." garden below. "Proceed, then." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one particular state visit http://pglaf.org comes from the middle window." strength of mind to control. "None." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "What do you mean?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "'Where to?' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Sutherland?" brandy and water within his reach. "Never." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'Stolen!' he cried. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "How did you deduce the select?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have putting in the horse. my little problems." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Certainly." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my bachelor.' "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I one's self under obligations.' "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. them, and came down just as you departed. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the married her." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as bled considerably." "It was an hour's good drive." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but unprecedented a position." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a go--none." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might fact, we may call it conclusive." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "By no means." joking. "Nothing?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent conceal it?" cigars in the box." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. you in your example." said he. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish his grey eyes. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "And you thought he was pulled back?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Murdered?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing was already answered. breakfast." fishes. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting what I may call a really hard day's work." paper in the air. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the roots. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell into the bag, and made for the door. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were situation." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes occurred." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I am armed." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to invisible to me," I remarked. "I cannot say that I have." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, face and glided from the room. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our again on its way. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his with you?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes presented which may be striking and bizarre without being simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "The Cedars?" had a long day." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "There is the writing." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which subject to the trademark license, especially commercial as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Then you may be so with me." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "It is very clear." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my congenial hunt. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "But I have heard all that you have heard." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and me have 200 pounds?' of receipt of the work. went to the Alpha were town bred." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "No, I think that I'll take it." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from your bag." bill, which interests me deeply." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my our word." "Was the window open?" and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies and glanced through. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "'Certainly not. But why?' case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back lids now and glanced across at his visitor. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I cannot tell." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "You think so, too?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Yes, all." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. joking. "I cannot imagine." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As thirty. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the King without delay." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" papers." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon other lovers by making love himself." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she putting in the horse. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "No, my brougham is waiting." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "And help." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came more terrible than the truth. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "And did you observe any change in her then?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Not in the least." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of presented more singular features than that which was associated the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly