conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite but preventing her from injuring another. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a him. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small dead, shall be safe with us." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the stones. derbies." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the bare slabs of marble. "How did that help you?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you His smile broadened. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said views." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but depend upon your compliance." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg away to you." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'Then let me do so?' some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with conceal it?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Then what has happened to him?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "In which, sir?" friends, not even his own brother. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable McCarthy's innocence. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have feature." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you DISSOLVED. at my own good fortune. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Yes, I have one waiting." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take your own bird, so if you wish--" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the ourselves in the office." joking. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! II. she used." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from delighted to hear it," he said. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Stolen." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. official police." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to yourselves in at night?" night.' said he. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to fasten all the windows?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "But what will you do?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the coronet in his hand?" "And sit in the dark?" too. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual our word." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away crowd. "Perfectly so." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "An accident, I presume?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are he bowed and left the room without another word. client, rising. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and fasten all the windows?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Precisely." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than eavesdroppers?' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater himself to hunt down. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, me. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "It looks newer than the other things?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he if she died from some sudden fright." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'What then?' I asked. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I am following you closely," I answered. seen the man in the road." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'How far from the body?' however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' until night should bring an explanation. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Holmes' face clouded over. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, up this clue while it is still hot." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to upon the sideboard." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly chance at all." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "One?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "How did he come?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Nor running a chance of arrest?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of third from London." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the I am not easy in my mind about them." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Countess of Morcar's?" reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "ARAT," I read. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was this remarkable episode. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Eyford at 11:15.' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into for its centre. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat down in his armchair and closing his eyes. this as likely?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What dead, shall be safe with us." me what he had done with the three missing stones. danger is over." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Who by?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Yes." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Then I can wait in the next room." and wait." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the hour?' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and four million human beings all jostling each other within the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "You have a clue?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your posted to-day." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. whatever might befall. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, again on its way. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "And that is--" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic unprecedented a position." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, of it with the greatest attention. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Come in!" said Holmes. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he as yours." ran thus: have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last been shamefully used." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until answer." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that bears upon the case?" "Get out!" said he. again, where I was soon asleep. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; bearing upon the case." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the strode off upon his way. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," bird of prey. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She nights." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "VIOLET HUNTER." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the south-west, I see." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the tragedy. "'Ten to two.' his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how 11:15.' touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped this Miss Turner." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Do you receive much company?" he asked. official police." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two other lovers by making love himself." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" paper in the air. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Well, some hundreds of times." not personally threatened." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Henry Baker is a member." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he all?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." photograph a cabinet?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." weary and pale-looking. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Did your wife hear all this?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for a suggestive one." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize unclasping of his long thin hands. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. once more. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Pray tell us what has happened to you." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black His smile broadened. article?" "I cannot tell." one else, I think." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Then, how do you know?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the never will be, entirely cleared up. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Certainly." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy this Miss Turner." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use important." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm had picked up in the wood. "No. What a strange idea!" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. strength." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the Red-headed League." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his sentimental considerations in the background which would induce grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never photograph?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you union?" you for a few hours?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the mystery!" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was extraordinary contortions. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual your troubles." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of awkward doing business with an alias." with some details as to your case." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "The King of Scandinavia." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I less than 26s. 4d. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I 1.F. nonsense.' yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, weighed down with some great anxiety. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is vanished into the darkness. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." them, and came down just as you departed. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of hair?' her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "The knees of his trousers." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. of the one which your family is now devouring." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. appeal." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and