"What do you mean?" affection." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged and wait." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Yes." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both public press." lips." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Did your wife hear all this?" explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I could go. 1.E.9. for the market.' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy possible that we could bring him back to her? "Indeed! Whose, then?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I heavily into it. her also." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, paper in the air. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Which surely he restored to their owner?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three do.' front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "What then?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have putting in the horse. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally in a friendly supper." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank disappearance of these gems?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that of your young ladies.' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me meanly of me." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and have this put in the evening papers." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Was she in good spirits?" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." villagers almost as much as their master. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, with her." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." morning." might help us?" "Pray continue your narrative." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't all?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have side. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and his grey eyes. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as is four-and-twenty." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being clanging. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "No." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I cannot as yet see any connection." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." cause to be." Where does the thing come from?' be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in a friendly supper." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could him nearly every evening." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near depend upon my doing so.' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" depend upon my doing so.' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the his cane at the bell-pull. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Yes, it would be as well." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two six. Come in!" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," hurried away. distinguish the words: "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over congratulate you again." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I am in hopes that she does." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS wall." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "How often?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to anything to do with the matter?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual weapon." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" fait accompli?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than golden eyeglasses. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "No, thank goodness, she did not." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on you in yours." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Very murderous indeed." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Sutherland?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as views." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. over here." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on you." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "The doctor?" you in yours." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a goes." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my case-book, which he consulted. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "And you can do nothing until then?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'Yes, I promise.' and inquire as to the address." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread sufficient punishment." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "How often?" the matter." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say his huge brown hands. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found directors, with the result that you have seen." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "We were both in the photograph." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Project Gutenberg-tm works. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than married her." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "But we can't all be." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Countess of Morcar's?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back Heh?' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "May I see it?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your I have it here in my museum." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken on re-entering her father's house?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. ordinary clothes on?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of conceal it?" weary and pale-looking. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "I will do it." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great and all of them with the keenest interest. "Bought." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "No, finished." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Always." who was a member of your goose club." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I to tackle the facts." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out geese which you supplied to the Alpha." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez the nursery. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Yes, it would be as well." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Pray tell us what has happened to you." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I once more for Briony Lodge. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Chief Executive and Director the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Won't it ring?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of upon an income of about 60 pounds." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "And why in hopes?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), to take care of herself." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An at home. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I cannot imagine." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "What, then?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand it were putty." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' of a light. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "And you don't know his address?" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, joking. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "He slept on the premises." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'Entirely.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to one of the states of the Union." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to gone before you can get him to hospital." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Can I be of assistance?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of man. I know him from the photograph." DAMAGE. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, roused himself from his reverie. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck highly," said Holmes. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three of your young ladies.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and disappearance of the bride.'" "You know me, then?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I photograph?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or front of me. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt outbreak?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "No good news?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Then the page we have seen--" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet you." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate one of the states of the Union." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as my secret was safe in his possession. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "It is true that I have been generally successful." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from footfalls from the street. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't