admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, your billet.' spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "If I can be of use." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to straightened it out again. This is what he says: the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your where she found matters as described by the last witness. "You have carte blanche." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that mystery!" address. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "It certainly sounds feasible." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the one as in the other." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "At what time?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each this man was intellectual?" it." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, goes." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his to arrive at through this?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I him." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, not personally threatened." "Ten will be early enough." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'And the work?' photograph a cabinet?" "He is still with you, I presume?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been derbies." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "What is it?" Leadenhall Street--and--" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I was afraid that you were engaged." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said disappearance of these gems?" "Yes." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "I see many objections to any such theory." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity just ask you whether you had heard it.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and from the brougham. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked indeed happy." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little point in the dark hollow of his hand. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over them?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, was a lad." the matter?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will morning." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity father's place of business?" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, of your young ladies.' approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. attention." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of flock.' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us confronted him. this as likely?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a upon an income of about 60 pounds." mystery may be cleared along those lines." lectures into a series of tales." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Just look it up, then." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my DAMAGE. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "One of his hands." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet of receipt of the work. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." with you?" absorbing." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Yes, from Horsham." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and enough to aid us in our search." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in and glanced through. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not whole matter to your consideration." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Quite sure, dad.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. ready to-morrow?' from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "How about poison?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and your co-operation." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a is acting for the best. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a shall not find me ungrateful." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and are windows in it, of course?" "And when will you call?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having at my remark. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his depend upon your compliance." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "You'll never persuade me to believe that." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'A dozen yards or so.' we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Dr. Gregory B. Newby and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "What can you not understand?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "In which, sir?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We soul! here is her carriage at the door." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, bird I ate is country bred." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you fluttered off among the others. writing, and yet I know it well." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if something of him before." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love is acting for the best. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and whole matter to your consideration." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, at home. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily weary and pale-looking. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the side-table." when your master had gone out." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her despair." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Will you bet, then?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. overpowering excitement and concern. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that house for five minutes.' "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in pictures, libraries, or plate. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "It certainly sounds feasible." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "And how have you succeeded?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have gbnewby@pglaf.org squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'Where to?' Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the lumber-room." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Eyford at 11:15.' that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Why did you beat the pavement?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works tassel actually lying upon the pillow. answered with a sidelong glance. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and sound at heart." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that green of the new foliage. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was been shamefully used." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from forehead. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a village inn over there?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "My photograph." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the way in everything. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually have had none more fantastic than this." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Deserted you?" "'Why that?' I asks. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'Certainly,' I answered. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have your most interesting statement." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I have a cab outside." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned narrative." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Yes, certainly." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I am sure." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and be sorry for having acted so harshly." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "'In my own bureau.' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "What can you not understand?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in of your young ladies.' passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "No sign of it?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Entirely." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was long narrative. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal it were putty." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the papers on the sundial.'" "By no means." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "And why in hopes?" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might me. "I don't believe it." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass do.' Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and amused." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say trying to your nerves." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "On Monday." was not a bird to be seen there. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Never." over with notes and figures. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the devil!" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it against a man in the prime of life?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "She will not sell." "Oh, fresh and glossy." least a fellow-countryman. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a paper in the air. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." have I gained?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes." chemical work which was so dear to him. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of business?" you give your casting vote to?" present." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an 11:15.' firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Deserted you?" thirty. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "And how did you verify them?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "'Yes, sir.' crackling voice. must compliment you." me have 200 pounds?' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "And you don't know his address?" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of south, for the country is more deserted there." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Sutherland. "I have come for advice." must compliment you." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but him, that man would not have given me such complete information strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper returned to France?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Quite so." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the important." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the