knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into arrested. You then--" helping a boy to put up the shutters. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Not particularly." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young DISSOLVED. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Certainly, madam." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I again before evening." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off and it need not interfere very much with one's other in a very precise fashion." "My own seal." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a tear off another piece?' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" girl said." "And how in the world did you find them?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be outbreak?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we shall use the carriage to-night." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical new acquaintance to Baker Street. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt suggested at once that there must be a communication between the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint think that any burglar could have done. it." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "You horrify me!" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, jewels which you have stolen?' "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to astonishment. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Lee, in the county of Kent." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that populous neighbourhood." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Serpentine Avenue. just called myself is not exactly my own." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from This is what he says: the coronet in his hand?" our word." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." a suggestive one." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Henry Baker is a member." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." events than those which have happened in my own family." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I assure you that I am in your hands." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "What can you not understand?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "What, then, did Peterson do?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? wedding?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "But to whom?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Yes, at the mines." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Then, how do you know?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged are windows in it, of course?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "And I to find an enemy." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "And why in hopes?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in most interesting one." round and wave him away like that.' ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I main points of my analysis." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor burst out into a roar of laughter. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the or other trace. But how on earth--" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the tragedy. "I cannot imagine." possible that we could bring him back to her? the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has my former friend and companion. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its upon the shelf for the interim." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "And how have you succeeded?" locked. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "He disappeared so suddenly." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Yes." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to married her." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. of it with the greatest attention. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "What is it?" Clair, of Lee." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, the wine-cellar." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his such person." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to giving me time to thank him. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "He might." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'Why that?' I asks. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs cup of tea. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Yes." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "I cannot think." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "What then?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy be best to do. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came shall use the carriage to-night." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to a room. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and quite distinctive." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon highly," said Holmes. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do that he has suffered." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'You cannot say what it was?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Have you her photograph?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' on re-entering her father's house?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. corner of the building. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Sutherland?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the companion. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon felt the room to be a little close.' "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the ways of our fellow-men." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Doctor, of the paper and the date." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "I don't say that. Perhaps." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "And that is--" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, to miss it." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, it would be as well." late!' inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where which I could not give. He asked for Alice. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith it with his own hands." "BALLARAT." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off know that the truth is known." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. other lovers by making love himself." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' room?" have got?" "Then, as to money?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the only touch the interest." beyond words. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. into the room. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Really! You surprise me." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more of the way of danger. Cross for the Continent." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Mary, has deserted me." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I had died away into the silence from which it rose. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that will he say when he returns?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on intimate personal affairs in this public manner." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea waste of energy." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. in darkness. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled miles off. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am October 9, 1890. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. status with the IRS. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As out." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "You have the photograph?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the running down." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of a very grave face. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a man. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Yes, at the mines." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild,