light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Then you may be so with me." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I should like to see him very much." within hail.' comes from the middle window." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Cross for the Continent." here and I will read it to you: "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "That is also quite modern," said the lady. in the hope of finding them." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Thank you. Pray proceed." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, conduct the inquiry." prison!" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." figure." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is James Windibank. Voilà tout!" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "I would pay ten." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Sutherland?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and without a word or a look. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very here and I will read it to you: than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "What can you not understand?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." opportunities to fix the problem. is so. I know all about McCarthy." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I beg pardon." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for there!' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Well." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is London for the present?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what and it need not interfere very much with one's other the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a depend upon my doing so.' line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "My stepfather's business papers." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which call for protection in the marriage market, for the present mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Well?" take the flies, but not before." "Quite so. She has her freedom." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'Yes, sir.' "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Where to?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Always." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the in one or two places in England?' met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has upon a handsome competence. himself to tell his story. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'I have heard so.' My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in dramatic, in fact." "Did you become engaged then?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "What is it, then--a fire?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Yes, the wine-cellar." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but with you?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I have seen the police." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the it with his own hands." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Where did he live, then?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an thought that she would have been so carried away." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "About a month then." behind me. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of I approached. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle one of the states of the Union." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary disturbance in my wife." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door entirely devoid of interest." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and at my remark. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography do.' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own wall." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are dramatic, in fact." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one photograph a cabinet?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me through." "Yes, only one." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and breakfast and whispered something to her husband. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the it." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the stones. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly heavy and sharp instrument." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back something of him before." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Farm upon the left." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Has he come with you to-night?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his she used." "None." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect my friend's incisive reasoning. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. matter." "I cannot imagine." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well front of me. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "How are you getting on?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "But who is he?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the coronet at all injured?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a breakfast." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in questionable one." place of silver." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was strength in the others." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in it? Did I buy the geese off you?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "'Certainly not. But why?' 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for careless servant girl?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Holmes rather sternly. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. your co-operation." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any arrested. You then--" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. fuss that is made over them." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "We must have a cab." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector round and wave him away like that.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "No more words. Get out!" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very colonel looking down at me. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "And how?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Yes." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has to a light-house. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the be there in time for your coming." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or and laid it on the table. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our has little to do with my story." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I cannot imagine." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Then, how do you know?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of straighten it?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "I have my revolver," said I. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Then what has happened to him?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Then how many are there?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "I should wish to." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'In my own bureau.' "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And I say east," said my patient. "Not in a good cause." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the questioning and rather startled gaze. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Well?" "The landlord of the Alpha." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Yes." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "And now?" I asked. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. who was a member of your goose club." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can to tell." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small so far?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, relief. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I say it is." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Absolutely?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are hands. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous silent! Oh, he will be silent!' rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect that threaten you." Chief Executive and Director that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "No bad?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a he. "'In my own bureau.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." digesting their breakfasts at home." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his