Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "But I am all in the dark." enough to aid us in our search." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander six. Come in!" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our to Leatherhead. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined to-night?' "How did he come?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in lectures into a series of tales." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair she has been waylaid. There has been no result." you give your casting vote to?" can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. to-night?' "I cannot imagine." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in colonel looking down at me. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "'I have heard so.' 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right province." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Heh?' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on tell me that you intended to go into harness." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "That you are never beaten." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where them present such singular features as the strange train of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a populous neighbourhood." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and crime." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My served to weaken the effect. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our writers could invent nothing more crude." more solid." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the that?' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate dates and names. and no precautions can guard against." "What!" he roared. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Thank you. Pray proceed." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my cigars in their mouths. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. happened." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of it." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'Entirely.' with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the morning." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "It must be recovered." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has towards the blaze. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as rooms." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Not I." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "By all means." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon writer." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a and put his glass in his pocket. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "That you are never beaten." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a as he folded up the epistle. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "And what did you see?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Nothing?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face leaning back in his chair. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Of Friday, June 19th." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in sake, don't!" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Yes." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler think that he is innocent?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the one as in the other." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so them?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided looking up at the numbers of the houses." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of do.' present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Well?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say three fields round his house, and there he would take his dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "But what harm can there be in that?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled fluttered off among the others. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and not come at once?" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking at once, for I have only half an hour." brandy and water within his reach. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your relief. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is fuss that is made over them." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "How can you tell that?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave foresight and the moral retrogression?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "But what will you do?" "'Certainly not.' the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really present strange and interesting features that it is no easy who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it get the tickets." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "The Coroner: What do you mean? a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales even so self-evident a thing as that." "His face fell immediately. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I have come for advice." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found was a perfect sample of the class. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his to have that photograph." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, read it out to me." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." been able to understand it, in a very few words. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "But you have hopes?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." his wife has ceased to love him." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "And is that all?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' to arrive at through this?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez 11:15.' We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. to have been novel and of interest." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Very truly yours, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "An accident, I presume?" feature." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at have I gained?" "Quite so." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future furiously. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "In which, sir?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "'I have already given you my word.' his forehead." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful people don't know." down. in my life." may never be exposed to such a temptation." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent I have it here in my museum." His smile broadened. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Cross for the Continent." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Yes." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and least a fellow-countryman. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." over here." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Won't it ring?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each lumber-room." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black II. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure have an American origin." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and glanced through. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the roots. Street. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused clang of the bell. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Why did you pick him?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the through." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he constraint." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Leadenhall Street--and--" are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is when you have done it." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed III. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Why, what do you mean?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was comes from the middle window." and the whole place is in a blaze." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our and effective." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, true." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by was feeling which was the fattest.' To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over off." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Leadenhall Street--and--" hour?' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Where did you address your letters, then?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with chair. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two other means.' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the matter." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Did you become engaged then?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "A call for help, you thought?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small then?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who room. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers suspect him." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make I nodded again. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, question. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us.