"Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Yes." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident outside." status with the IRS. Cross for the Continent." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. crime. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "I guessed as much." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did were unconscious?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Witness: It was. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," It may be so in this case, also." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Ha! you find it so?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to quite distinctive." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, place of silver." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Texas, I think." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it miles off. "Yes." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "And what did you learn from him?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Yes. He waved his hands." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." brandy and water within his reach. "Is he quiet?" name is different." companion imperturbably. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Really! You surprise me." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at arrested. You then--" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your pictures, libraries, or plate. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy redistribution. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought mystery may be cleared along those lines." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by have an American origin." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs before, for it was considerably after midnight. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be him to go away.' and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I say that I have solved it." "What of the rat, then?" which was all perfectly true. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Serpentine Avenue. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon remarked. of this gang." "I am to be neutral?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long with some details as to your case." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "How on earth--" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "And you don't know his address?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "But you can know nothing of this?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. his face. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in carriage. It was a chestnut." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious present." character. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "What! You do not mean bodies?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Dr. Gregory B. Newby mystery." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come tell me that you intended to go into harness." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand manager. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, crime." "One of his hands." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots he bowed and left the room without another word. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you place no limit on the sum I may draw." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Ten will be early enough." "Won't it ring?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Have you her photograph?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'In my own bureau.' "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and the very letters. But what is this written above them?' during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to him." at my own good fortune. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 I was concerned in it." next day. so.' freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "I have come for advice." coat-tails." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you during the last few years, and there are many noble families to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and capable of preserving a secret.' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between it." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "What then?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I do." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "You were travelling in the States?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will official police." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I don't believe it." DAMAGE. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." to you." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, to-night?' Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and you give your casting vote to?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I obstinate." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of definite end. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question me, and I could not think that his explanation of the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was was lame." locked." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the asked. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big sooner or later she must fall a victim. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Then I can wait in the next room." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'You cannot say what it was?' peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever rose-bushes. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Was she in good spirits?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very business matters.' states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." round and wave him away like that.' zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest events, Mr. Windibank!" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the general public were present, then?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole second." interested in these little problems, and since you are good had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I am armed." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the was already answered. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "And what did you see?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." returned to France?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Do you go out much in society?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "You are all wrong." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for as this. Pray let me have the details." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, of campaign. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I little adventures." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. do.' a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon train from Paddington which would bring you there at about quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Well?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Why? What do you mean?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the you?" "'Is purely nominal.' are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Oh, fresh and glossy." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a noble correspondent could be. room had already been engaged for us. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction tightly behind him. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Holmes' room. paper in the air. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and beg that you will break it off." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "But of what society?" together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to cigars in their mouths. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and