wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Who by?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Does that suggest anything?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the nonsense.' "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried observed. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Nearly eleven." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such shall use the carriage to-night." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has of Mr. Rucastle's." business at Coburg Square is serious." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Eyford." "And what did you learn from him?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this should be taken.' attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "A thing like a cleaver," said he. not, dad?" she asked. "A greater distance to travel." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a wall." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, have an American origin." you?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "She will not sell." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "And help." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Eh? What was that?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly outsides of the windows. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the have established a very serious case against the son of the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the enough to aid us in our search." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even events than those which have happened in my own family." to talk it over. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "And it is--" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. wedding?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "I should like to see him very much." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you a few minutes he said that it would be all right. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him breakfast and whispered something to her husband. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are nights." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own tell me that you intended to go into harness." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'Certainly not.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "What steps will you take?" I asked. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "The vanishing of the lady." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Yes. He waved his hands." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror straighten it?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, garden below. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, that you wished to speak to me?' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it III. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "I will do it." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Did you observe the colour?" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "His face fell immediately. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the in the port of London." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "How on earth--" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Won't it ring?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Munro.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic returned to France?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "That sounds a little paradoxical." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his presume?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Have you her photograph?" asked. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend three fields round his house, and there he would take his the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, gbnewby@pglaf.org away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then works. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and client, rising. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick think that he is innocent?" is now desirous of getting those letters back." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Foundation our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "And how in the world did you find them?" lamp in his hand. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "He is still with you, I presume?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his people don't know." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for next day. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, companion. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! electronic works and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless was a perfect sample of the class. one of them." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and had picked up in the wood. call you and give you the chance." "And the cigar-holder?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "I cannot as yet see any connection." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I cannot think." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. of a light. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I am all attention, madam." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled get her out of the way." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "What will you say?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The nothing of it?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' chance at all." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the nursery. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, have accepted such a situation. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had breakfast." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere gbnewby@pglaf.org the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I have hopes." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, views." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, peculiar to him. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "And you thought he was pulled back?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another her also." vault. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "It surprised me." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "'Certainly not. But why?' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed arrangements." me. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was one else, I think." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I writing, and yet I know it well." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch in a friendly supper." I shall continue with my miserable story. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, bedroom door." advice." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling of the vacancies.' "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'Ten to two.' "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of astonishment. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all straighten it?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. child?' It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I cannot think." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "What then?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I walking." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a and wait." evidence," I remarked. father's young wife. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and inquire as to the address." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Why did you pick him?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square man. empty. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be during the last few years, and there are many noble families to which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Very truly yours, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he maid will bring up your coffee." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Not I." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a