whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until true." people in all walks of life. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a past. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor of the vacancies.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents whole matter to your consideration." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an business." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has villagers almost as much as their master. the ceiling. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "But it has twice been burgled." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the do.' "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned constraint." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I article?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "In San Francisco, a year ago." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a over here." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather place, I think that there is good ground to think that the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and least a fellow-countryman. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to where he stood hid behind the curtain. telegram would bring me down to your help." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the voice. "Nothing?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is you, my dear young lady?' "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen closing the door. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his leave you to your papers for a little." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience I nodded again. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he very peculiar words of the dying woman?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "It is a murder, then?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and had this final quarrel? course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Not in a good cause." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "But I have heard all that you have heard." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "In answer to an advertisement." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was awaited us upon the table. carried out of court." "I am still in the dark." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the devil!" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Then what has happened to him?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." do you make of it all?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I do." affection." "I am all attention, madam." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be key of the affair now." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the at once, for I have only half an hour." on in his house." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "And from a noble client?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Was he the only applicant?" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "You saw the ventilator, too?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "It is no ordinary one." "Of what?" "But she will refuse." papers on the sundial.'" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident you in your example." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass taking in every detail of the apartment. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "'Tell me all about it,' said I. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in chill to my heart. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and conduct the inquiry." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "And how did you verify them?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. too. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after gone. tightly behind him. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose tension within him. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, IS his huge brown hands. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, II. "'About the same.' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has of it with the greatest attention. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, I. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his main points of my analysis." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "I cannot tell." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Arthur Conan Doyle my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I shall most certainly do so." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently must compliment you." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this stepfather?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are your Highness to the police-station?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, absorbing." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that laugh and put his lips to my ear. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "I am sure." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for rat could hardly pass through." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing that you wished to speak to me?' bore every mark of being an average commonplace British much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. awaited us upon the table. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Holmes. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "I am still in the dark." posted to-day." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Eyford at 11:15.' Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for least a fellow-countryman. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my read over the extraordinary announcement. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. bird of prey. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he started for the Temple to see my husband. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face the little opening for the ventilator is." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." following enigmatical notices: "'Oh, no.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." a suggestive one." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "And sit in the dark?" province." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in green of the new foliage. "Never to return." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door death." his wife has ceased to love him." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "No sign of it?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be relief. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they my secret was safe in his possession. companion quietly. "Yes, sir." "Tired-looking or fresh?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "But you can know nothing of this?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "My opinion is in no way altered." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, said he. "Yes, sir." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I am sure." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "None." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three you understand?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "To ruin me." minor matters until to-morrow." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is envelope. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I will get her to show me." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, side. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But that threaten you." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "By all means." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my a little more before I quite committed myself. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "My opinion is in no way altered." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "10th. John Swain cleared. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" on in his house." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we man.