License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. are, I think, all that we need." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "And now?" I asked. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage to Leatherhead. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Mary, has deserted me." from the brougham. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' your equipment. "But it has twice been burgled." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' horse could go." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It then?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most you understand?" young Openshaw's." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. that threaten you." of this gang." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "My dear Holmes!" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an were wasted." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Then how many are there?" "Where to?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was me, and I could not think that his explanation of the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "9th. McCauley cleared. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the that I am arrested." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "My Mary? Impossible!" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the to me. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Certainly." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought became a certainty. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the formed some opinion?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the arrangements." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the have not had my rubber." bill, which interests me deeply." room. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." dear old homesteads?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up morning." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Yes." the window, rose as we entered. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Not in a good cause." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common were new raised from a basin. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'Ten to two.' "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered remarked. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "None." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass mystery." shoulder. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the he bowed and left the room without another word. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "That you are never beaten." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until or in danger--" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to congratulate you again." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her shall not find me ungrateful." newspaper selections." again before evening." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "'In my own bureau.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me You want to know what became of those geese?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite you?' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. for the market.' or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this developed." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his used to be." other means.' every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court best detective that ever lived. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "'Ten to two.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "On your arm?" upon the white wrist. Miss Holder?" certainly do as you advise." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to gone. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of himself to hunt down. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Then he might have called to you?" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police mystery!" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and is worth.' go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a the salesman. allusion to a rat. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. have been better. It is all right." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "But how?" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "No." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Nothing." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was bird I ate is country bred." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'And the work?' bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should is four-and-twenty." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying nights." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built mysterious business." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see as the one I chose?' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm out." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the chance." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty empty. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, of it with the greatest attention. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has upon an income of about 60 pounds." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before impression behind it as though a window had gently closed can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the station." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "No bad?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his suspect him." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'Yes, sir.' and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. morning." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to other means.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "But his left-handedness." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Was your sister dressed?" "It must be recovered." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself than was visible to me." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All sparkled upon his finger. "But how?" "No." examine." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "That's no good." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had up this clue while it is still hot." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the as noiselessly as she had come. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "That is not always so easy." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "My own seal." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your bare slabs of marble. was a loud and authoritative tap. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two wall." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. me. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' of Fenchurch Street." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'Certainly not. But why?' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Her father is very rich?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. I nodded again. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek sofa. This way, please!" straighten it?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Have you it here?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my again on its way. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in I think that I could be of assistance to you." ways of our fellow-men." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into there is a decided draught." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at where she found matters as described by the last witness. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in returned to France?" touch that coronet?' connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your awkward doing business with an alias." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had