flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great conversation I have gathered that they have been married about shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal not within a twentieth part of the market price." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to quickly through a disagreeable task. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. instincts rose up against that laugh. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips prepare for the new role I have to play." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The seven miles from Eyford Station.' all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. For additional contact information: before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "No, finished." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The but preventing her from injuring another. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "It was a confession," I ejaculated. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the inquest, and which are worth considering." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from what these perils are?" "'Certainly not. But why?' "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Doctor, of the paper and the date." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up started for the Temple to see my husband. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office this poor creature." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "And why?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "You have it, sir, just as it happened." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied undoubtedly my uncle's." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. like gravel from a pit.' you do it in twenty minutes!' stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He brain must have something in it." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the character. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "So I am. Very much so." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Dirty?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "The Cedars?" "And help." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last business." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I do." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should gbnewby@pglaf.org off." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "This concluded the examination of the witness." begun to whiten, even as mine has." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a chill to my heart. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Who by?" Street. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "How are you getting on?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "No good news?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, page at http://pglaf.org "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "The knees of his trousers." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into not as remarkable as your advertisement." in darkness. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "How many? I don't know." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my some terrible trap for her." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the Assizes." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "And you don't know his address?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'Quite sure, dad.' very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite relation between them, and what the object of his repeated managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing spark where all is dark to me." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest events than those which have happened in my own family." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Holmes' thin, eager face. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I occupations.' settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Only as much as we can deduce." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Yes, it would be as well." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Well, but China?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two noble correspondent could be. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to shoulder. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of he bowed and left the room without another word. call it cruel." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if bill, which interests me deeply." "And how did he make his money?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door vault. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven instituted." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of train.' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." for securing the situation." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "In which, sir?" the one as in the other." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Bought." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in shoulder; "he's all right." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' round with crates and massive boxes. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence face and glided from the room. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "I will not look." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "But how will you look?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." you want, then?' America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "If so, much may have happened between." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might just ask you whether you had heard it.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless been." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I colour had been driven from his face. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" opportunities to fix the problem. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And It may be so in this case, also." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "No." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. do you make of it all?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. been with you?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez how narrow had been my escape. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I guilty one." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "What do you make of that, Watson?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every served to weaken the effect. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had to have that photograph." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." into the bag, and made for the door. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, that there was nothing in it, after all." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'I shall certainly be there.' "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture The events in question occurred in the early days of my stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the cigars in the box." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "You horrify me." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who I. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. once more for Briony Lodge. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the already been minutely examined." "I should like to see him very much." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Stoke Moran?" said he. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it giving me time to thank him. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "But of what society?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less my friend's incisive reasoning. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and in my life." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I cannot tell." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" from the brougham. "What!" he roared. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting morning." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'I am sure that I do not know.' through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." strode off upon his way. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from test if we have an answer to our advertisement." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Street. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I at home. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the I nodded again. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "No, distinctly professional." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "It must be recovered." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Where did he live, then?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in down. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "How did he come?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. that he has suffered." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "His face fell immediately. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter DISSOLVED. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and furiously. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "The knees of his trousers." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot go back?" "I promise," said Holmes. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had deduce something from that?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "How did you trace it, then?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I once more. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent papers must be those that are destroyed.' slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "This concluded the examination of the witness." do.' held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided.