Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Does that suggest anything?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this investigation." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent closely." "Then how many are there?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. for and were ordered to this address. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven for and were ordered to this address. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left success. went to the Alpha were town bred." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable people in all walks of life. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He rat could hardly pass through." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an pierced for earrings?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy one's self under obligations.' cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Then the page we have seen--" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next your Highness to the police-station?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the window, rose as we entered. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "You have a clue?" "Nearly eleven." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt upon an income of about 60 pounds." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. good for you to do.' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'I have heard so.' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the said I. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and I was concerned in it." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, experiences." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the time." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was you." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "About a month then." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said place, I think that there is good ground to think that the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I cannot tell." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" noting anything else of interest. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "You are all wrong." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Street. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and your relations to her." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Mrs. Toller serenely. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my do." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found American. Then who could this American be, and why should he closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. opened the door, and slipped through. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Yes." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Could he throw no light?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Dark enough and sinister enough." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Sutherland?" to affect your life." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he appointment with me for six o'clock?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You thought that she would have been so carried away." fact, we may call it conclusive." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which round with crates and massive boxes. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a without a word or a look. that I can to serve you." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion I shall continue with my miserable story. have I gained?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small begin with, and I had not got mine yet." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of I am not easy in my mind about them." "What!" he roared. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the status with the IRS. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the out of this horrible affair." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! front of me. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "You are hungry," I remarked. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Ten will be early enough." room. up this clue while it is still hot." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on round and wave him away like that.' "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the stones. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I have it here in my museum." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "But how could you guess what the motive was?" awkward doing business with an alias." but preventing her from injuring another. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan girl said." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between outside. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. anything to do with the matter?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she there were so many in the whole country as were brought together thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I have solved it." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Munro.' followed. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Ah!" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "And how?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin pound a week." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Witness: It was. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear where Mr. Fordham shows you.' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the the King without delay." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "I cannot imagine." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor do you make of it all?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Married! When?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his bonnet, and went out." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Thank you. Pray proceed." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of to Leatherhead. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and direction." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "You were travelling in the States?" "The Coroner: What do you mean? fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day all-comprehensive glances. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the room while you explain this matter?" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "I guessed as much." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Texas, I think." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "What have you done?" asked Holmes. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and tassel actually lying upon the pillow. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was formed some opinion?" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, John Swain, of St. Augustine. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "About a month then." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' spark where all is dark to me." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could with frightened eyes at his accuser. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at records." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out posted to-day." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my wedding?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Chief Executive and Director Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business despair." legal crime." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He extraordinary contortions. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his burst out into a roar of laughter. writer." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, bird I ate is country bred." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a of the one which your family is now devouring." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the gone. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in man. I know him from the photograph." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Witness: It was. closely." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most lamp in his hand. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were situation." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Yes, certainly." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "And why?" man. we went to search for him, face downward in a little outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or a monotonous occupation." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Never." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I will, Miss Turner." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Because he was handy and would come cheap." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant floor. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle said I. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper said he. second." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning fuss that is made over them." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate cheerful." "Not particularly." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. where we are going." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "But she will refuse." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door."