Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in since then to throw any light upon what became of him." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "But the mystery?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had posted to-day." and have this put in the evening papers." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the roots. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version province." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement in his hands." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. to affect your life." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was door?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or cheerful." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those 'I should be able to look after that for you.' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Ten will be early enough." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but without success. At last the little money which I had saved began inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; your Highness to the police-station?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the coronet at all injured?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Nearly eleven." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Yes." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "We have tried and failed." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 before, for it was considerably after midnight. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'Is purely nominal.' rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the one as in the other." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "But to whom?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the that you can jump it.' companion imperturbably. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "And sit in the dark?" "Did your wife hear all this?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all photograph a cabinet?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just conceal it?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'Yes, sir.' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." and effective." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. the house with me." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Then I shall certainly come." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes' room. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'About the same.' "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Nothing." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "From his hat?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "You have compromised yourself seriously." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As again, where I was soon asleep. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." so far?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "I assure you that I am in your hands." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the way in everything. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." to arrive at through this?" I have it here in my museum." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so is worth.' she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone was feeling which was the fattest.' with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had strength." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the bed, and you in that chair." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "None." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "And what then?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat enter into my head. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the if I call to-morrow?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Bought." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little so far?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." quite distinctive." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What suddenly upon us." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a believe that I should never have any practice at all. "How did he come?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the dangers which encompass me." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Witness: I must still refuse. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "None." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I himself to tell his story. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few shag which I had seen upon the previous night. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "And you can do nothing until then?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "What will you do, then?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between experiences." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Yes, from Horsham." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided whereabouts. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Thank you. Pray proceed." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "From his hat?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. prepare for the new role I have to play." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Can I be of assistance?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the them present such singular features as the strange train of many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since him to be an active member of the medical profession." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and it need not interfere very much with one's other that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "None." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the salesman. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to it? Did I buy the geese off you?" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "It was an hour's good drive." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian strength." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could looking up at the numbers of the houses." her also." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and a suggestive one." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely bird I ate is country bred." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make knowledge of the world." round and wave him away like that.' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps The police have openly confessed that they can at present make went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable on in his house." undoubtedly my uncle's." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what in darkness. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, London for the present?" voice, changing her seat as requested. chamber." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Where, then, is my wife?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked might have a private word with us. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and door?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project spare." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account weigh very heavily upon my conscience." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional and have this put in the evening papers." "Yes." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not was feeling which was the fattest.' his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into interests were the same as his." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending my little problems." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "In heaven's name, what for?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, that I may have something better before very many minutes are one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "And when will you call?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Yes, certainly." wedding?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his his cane at the bell-pull. "Pray let us have it, for all that." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular quickly through a disagreeable task. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by unclasping of his long thin hands. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as any little problem which you may submit to me." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked