"No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Come in!" said Holmes. "Nothing?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of questionable one." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I posted to-day." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates likely to be some crony of the landlady's." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a you in yours." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when business." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you very morning of my second wedding." a room. "Perhaps we may make them less so." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "None." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Eyford at 11:15.' Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide possible that we could bring him back to her? was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and wait." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I hour?' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that are windows in it, of course?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, been anything against him. He had for years been known as a paper in the air. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. hour?' believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "And for present expenses?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'I am sure if I had known--' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "To an English lawyer named Norton." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up neither fascinating nor artistic." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, views." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office should be taken.' pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; upon an income of about 60 pounds." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand evidence," I remarked. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon new duties?' Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I should be immensely obliged to you." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Your presence might be invaluable." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Very truly yours, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "But of what society?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Why serious?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "The Coroner: What do you mean? course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed in his power. "'Never.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in awaited us upon the table. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "It's nothing of the kind." head. So long, then!" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this few hundred pounds.' get the tickets." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency I leave." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to surprise her." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House recall any case within my experience which looked at the first has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then are windows in it, of course?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Then you may be so with me." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "'Then let me do so?' the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found dead, shall be safe with us." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." whether it answered to the description of any of their gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his have been better. It is all right." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "And I." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Nothing." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence gone. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue your bag." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the very morning of the wedding." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the nursery. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I The events in question occurred in the early days of my pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'What do you call purely nominal?' heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect to-night." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the indeed which he could not unravel. gbnewby@pglaf.org and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'Quite sure, dad.' and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to village inn over there?" "'Quite sure, dad.' it were putty." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you writing, and yet I know it well." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from direction." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "The best possible." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a strong and stiff." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her new acquaintance to Baker Street. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. and I shall be with you presently." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" without a word or a look. your bag." a little more before I quite committed myself. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No sign of it?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "And you can do nothing until then?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see pity, because in other respects you would really have done very which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such visitors." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the best of training." leave you to your papers for a little." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the you in yours." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and annoyance, but no jest. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon there in twenty minutes." was feeling which was the fattest.' night.' said he. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "What, then?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "It is half-past ten now." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness them?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "What then?" his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Not in a good cause." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew considering the formidable letters which were received by himself them?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "You think so, too?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out leave you to your papers for a little." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as was keenly on my guard against him. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to fishes. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "We must have a cab." in this way: since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do in this way: to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. delighted to hear it," he said. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak so.' "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "We were both in the photograph." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Will you bet, then?" was keenly on my guard against him. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I presume?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm chance." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the gbnewby@pglaf.org "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted children over to America with him, so that I found myself without me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Pray let us have it, for all that." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "And how did you verify them?" him!" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "The knees of his trousers." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De your room." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Absolutely none." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'It is locked up,' I answered. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you overpowering excitement and concern. least a fellow-countryman. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Absolutely none." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his grey eyes. disappearance of these gems?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I cannot tell." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Get out!" said he. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Not I." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they and glanced through. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms sofa. This way, please!" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him south, for the country is more deserted there." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Doctor, of the paper and the date." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the murdered man." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I will, Miss Turner." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Yes, all." unprecedented a position." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Who by?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom at my remark. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "'I have already given you my word.' Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon