this poor creature." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that lumber-room." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. any little problem which you may submit to me." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Entirely." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the chamber." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "An accident, I presume?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were fact, we may call it conclusive." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "It was." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, himself. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "'Most admirably.' was it brought him the coronet? that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Arthur Conan Doyle streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I tapping his fingers upon the table. again, where I was soon asleep. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I cannot say that I have." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "What office?" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this friend's singular character. said he. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "This photograph!" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, you came in." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "It is a murder, then?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in not come at once?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking to me. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, are, I think, all that we need." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church had picked up in the wood. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Yes, sir." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, DAMAGE. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "To ruin me." "Certainly." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, upon the white wrist. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Most admirably.' "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "That you are never beaten." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "It's nothing of the kind." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "'Why that?' I asks. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Yes, sir." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very a very grave face. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into cigars in their mouths. "To ruin me." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the of it with the greatest attention. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her away in different directions, and I went off to make my own same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken From what you have told me I think that it is possible that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Not particularly." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the child?' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons astonishment. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the situation." one which it was hard to resist. nights." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up 'please.'" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of it with the greatest attention. "'Quite sure, dad.' "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. it with his own hands." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's McCarthy." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Do you go out much in society?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off eat it." row." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "'Certainly not.' "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the stable lane now." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the shaken than I had ever seen him. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that gone before you can get him to hospital." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Never." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Munro.' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Can I be of assistance?" ago." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of dear old homesteads?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my get her out of the way." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple passage and a tap at the door. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "'Is purely nominal.' horse could go." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman be best to do. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white some water from a caraffe. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Nothing?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was walking." happened." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is than to us. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at My friend smiled. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, room?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of page at http://pglaf.org "That also I could fathom." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is the devil!" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Again Holmes raved in the air. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman it." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had not, dad?" she asked. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." to take care of herself." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a good for you to do.' was a lad." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "None." upon the white wrist. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a distinguish the words: constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Of Friday, June 19th." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It certainly sounds feasible." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting unkempt, staring out at me. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "No good news?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "'I am sure if I had known--' fashion which was peculiar to him. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down there in twenty minutes." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." will take you up to see the machine.' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Pool. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the colour had been driven from his face. "One of the highest in England." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "And how did you verify them?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off that you can jump it.' "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "You'll never persuade me to believe that." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "I am in hopes that she does." papers." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a most interesting one." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather suddenly upon us." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or which should have the effect of calling the attention of the companion. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "No, but the enclosure is." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side writers could invent nothing more crude." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Precisely so. But how--" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection lids now and glanced across at his visitor. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, John Swain, of St. Augustine. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the nursery. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would wedding?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is of the way of danger. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the cigar and let me expound." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not garden below. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable not as remarkable as your advertisement." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the his forehead." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but sneer upon his pale face. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "An accident, I presume?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was be. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, some terrible trap for her." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight,