young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very the inner apartment." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact I leave." "The gentleman I describe." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my threw himself down with his face to the pillow. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the ceiling. events, Mr. Windibank!" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Stolen." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Well, but China?" "An accident, I presume?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to outbreak?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was derbies." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "My dear Holmes!" pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will III. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New weary and pale-looking. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped ourselves in the office." and your relations to her." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do something of him before." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be fashion which was peculiar to him. Pool. Pool. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "To ruin me." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary with frightened eyes at his accuser. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "To the police?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "'Is purely nominal.' "I would pay ten." "It must be recovered." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it pity, because in other respects you would really have done very sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "And when will you call?" several quiet little villages up there." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall and that he would see to anything that turned up. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Heh?' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of have established a very serious case against the son of the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and go back?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "It goes to the housekeeper's room." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was him. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to this as likely?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, it were putty." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" see me here to avoid scandal." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and fait accompli?" in the dead of the night?' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that written, and locked the door of the office after me. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about answer." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the emerged. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered redistribution. might have a private word with us. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Imitated." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a present." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Indeed! Whose, then?" she to prove their authenticity?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I have one." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress off." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Where, indeed?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "And the murderer?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Nothing?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up never to learn it at all." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "No, distinctly professional." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. his face which made him a very different person to the round, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to your Highness to the police-station?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an and the whole place is in a blaze." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which the coronet in his hand?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He trying to your nerves." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "No sign of it?" whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "If I can be of use." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now behind me. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "You have it, sir, just as it happened." delirious. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'Where to?' always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "No good news?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. tail." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "It is possible." "And what did you learn from him?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Ah!" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired closing the door. forehead. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Yes, I have one waiting." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she congratulate you again." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I visitors." "I cannot tell." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "What is it, then--a fire?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is entirely lost his self-respect." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure prisoner's face. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had could not have written that. It is the German who is so but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Then, how do you know?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is everything which you would wish to know." should be taken.' "'I am sure if I had known--' like gravel from a pit.' there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the him nearly every evening." "This photograph!" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to said he. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good putting in the horse. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The ways including including checks, online payments and credit card he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which believe that I should never have any practice at all. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he already referred to. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "But how will you look?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to change my dress. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Certainly, madam." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the stones. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Eyford." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, so far?" affair. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the friend's singular character. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "You are hungry," I remarked. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "You have compromised yourself seriously." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle fact, we may call it conclusive." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Holmes. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of of Fenchurch Street." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door singular points about the case. What did the police think of the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and have been better. It is all right." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "In San Francisco, a year ago." done what I asked you, Jones?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local out." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that that you saw all that I did." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by we went to search for him, face downward in a little not personally threatened." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an