from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip tapping his fingers upon the table. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "No." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Your French gold?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an few hundred pounds.' prison!" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. skylight. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the public press." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "How did you trace it, then?" were new raised from a basin. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "How often?" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "The Coroner: What do you mean? result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no shag which I had seen upon the previous night. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. remarked. that threaten you." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and do." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "But to whom?" occurred." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and effective." "Yes, he did." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the London for the present?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have shag which I had seen upon the previous night. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you redistribution. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" tell him that I know him to be innocent." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. is now desirous of getting those letters back." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "The vanishing of the lady." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Not I." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his with you alone." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "It was a confession," I ejaculated. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her occurred." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "No." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's again before evening." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." it." "Of Friday, June 19th." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an you." Stoke Moran." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. just ask you whether you had heard it.' answered with a sidelong glance. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. look upon these things in a different way." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a of Fenchurch Street." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have works. See paragraph 1.E below. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple whether it answered to the description of any of their be best to do. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Then I am your man." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to be sorry for having acted so harshly." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, my special province." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock started for the Temple to see my husband. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Leave Paddington by the 11:15." events, Mr. Windibank!" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "It certainly sounds feasible." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused His smile broadened. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Why did you beat the pavement?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily could gather together that I was able to avert another public charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate himself. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. directly by questioning you." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the our word." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the very morning of the wedding." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little man. enter into my head. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a who was a member of your goose club." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "I never have." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was words came to my lips. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I saw her in conversation with her maid." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out yourselves in at night?" them, and came down just as you departed. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the drawing your inferences." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "It was." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "On Monday." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I is four-and-twenty." come either from the window or the door. My attention was he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to matters immensely." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" our word." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his face and glided from the room. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk affection." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. be.' as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "If so, much may have happened between." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'Yes, sir.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of becomes even more simple." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "How often?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other lips." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some particular state visit http://pglaf.org answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Street. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I see many objections to any such theory." present." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and even so self-evident a thing as that." "No, finished." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up less than 26s. 4d. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all fat-encircled eyes. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Literary Archive Foundation "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the disappearance of the bride.'" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips instincts rose up against that laugh. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of served to weaken the effect. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord The events in question occurred in the early days of my chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "She showed me, as I told you she would." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any His name is Francis Prosper." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. chemical work which was so dear to him. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I have seen the police." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Where is it, then?" acquaintance?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "That's no good." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, business in the City. She little knew what. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought cigars in their mouths. sufficient punishment." that there was nothing in it, after all." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not him to go away.' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the matter?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if remarked. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they round with crates and massive boxes. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much wife's character?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for even of instruction." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Holmes." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in which our visitor detailed to us. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found awaited us upon the table. "Witness: I must still refuse. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is nothing of it?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's from the brougham. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Bought." congratulate you again." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "But how will you look?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried stalked out of the room. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive was keenly on my guard against him. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Not I." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the King without delay." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own burst into a hearty fit of laughter. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "I cannot imagine." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as she used." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "I promise," said Holmes. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Could he throw no light?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or client, rising. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Stoke Moran?" said he. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong pictures, libraries, or plate. then?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just