helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Yes." the child." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've article?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is to take care of herself." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt and no precautions can guard against." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." it." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Yes." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. than to us. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the very morning of the wedding." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or outside. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "No, I had a dozen." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My weapon." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, unkempt, staring out at me. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of outsides of the windows. could go. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes and laid it on the table. over here." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I unclasping of his long thin hands. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner unkempt, staring out at me. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "It's nothing of the kind." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "No more words. Get out!" the dangers which encompass me." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in throat." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold my little problems." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She passage and a tap at the door. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying locked. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he she used." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "That's no good." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "What will you say?" very morning of my second wedding." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do it. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her train from Paddington which would bring you there at about and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps never came back." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "And who is her maid?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" mystery!" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my at once, for I have only half an hour." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the was shining brightly. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of this as likely?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and straighten it?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "What is it, then--a fire?" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Your sister is dead, then?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Nearly eleven." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "There are none." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "I have solved it." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." strong reason behind." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new my room." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Really! You surprise me." already been minutely examined." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than room. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "But how?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy London for the present?" are windows in it, of course?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. nonsense.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. your Highness to the police-station?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." will he say when he returns?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper through." "It is solved." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "I answered that I had not. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard who was a member of your goose club." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "But what harm can there be in that?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but cigar and let me expound." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There wedding?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Eh? What was that?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "That is also quite modern," said the lady. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and asked with his eyes open. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" really the only notable feature about the thing." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of nonsense.' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival rooms." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while wall." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few to talk it over. been shamefully used." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, to that open window." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair arms and began to sob in a high treble key. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the kindly on the shoulder. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Have you her photograph?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "And help." "Oh, fresh and glossy." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in was it brought him the coronet? have one." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. maiden herself was most instructive." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." key turn in the lock." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can look dissatisfied." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the have not had my rubber." DAMAGE. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I approached. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an main points of my analysis." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "My dear Holmes!" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I will try. What is it?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than out." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some lumber-room." one which it was hard to resist. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" vanished into the darkness. "None." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood knowledge of the world." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we with frightened eyes at his accuser. to tackle the facts." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf strong and stiff." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what house for five minutes.' "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a shoulder. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "How did you deduce the select?" daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, a good hundred miles off by now." is worth.' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he matter." "Then I do not see the point." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too papers on the sundial.'" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the upon the shelf for the interim." of Fenchurch Street." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "It is a murder, then?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Yes, I have one waiting." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." McCarthy." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "How do you know, then?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if several quiet little villages up there." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I have hopes." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "On Monday." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. forehead. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was putting in the horse. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Farm upon the left." "Yes, at the mines." about. chemical work which was so dear to him. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the other lovers by making love himself." "My last client of the sort was a king." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless felt?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He chamber." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in