nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection criminal. We have already had experience of such." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "How do you know, then?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place I held the little printed slip to the light. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Do you know him?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them strength." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the matter." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "But not more so than I to find you." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, excitement. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, fatally injured? Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which golden eyeglasses. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." my former friend and companion. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, confronted him. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and my special province." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be fled together." "You have carte blanche." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too that he has suffered." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel strength in the others." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Perhaps we may make them less so." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down foot. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I have hopes." "Your sister is dead, then?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout congenial hunt. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where quick march!" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager The summons was a brief and urgent one. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and to arrive at through this?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Then he might have called to you?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may purpose of examination. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Have you her photograph?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." McCarthy." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had confronted him. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you hour." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not IS arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "I would give my fortune to have them back." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that geese which you supplied to the Alpha." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both cheerful." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "I have solved it." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I shall most certainly do so." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear prison!" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, overpowering excitement and concern. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the if she died from some sudden fright." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "No. What a strange idea!" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'Stolen!' he cried. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Yes, sir." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Where did you address your letters, then?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." golden eyeglasses. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I like that before?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were strength." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it him nearly every evening." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, that I can to serve you." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "'Where could I find him?' distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I cannot as yet see any connection." his eyes and forehead. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and tension within him. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, II. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we his face. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we I took the paper from him and read as follows: course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From nothing of it?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp figure." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp said he. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "My Mary? Impossible!" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst and looked back. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It is a murder, then?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "To ruin me." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Certainly, madam." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I mysterious end." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'Never,' said I. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and despair." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where these bleak autumnal evenings." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I perplexity from it to my illustrious client. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's at once, for I have only half an hour." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the one else, I think." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to crime. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Then you may be so with me." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an dead, shall be safe with us." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. said I. companion imperturbably. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a in the dead of the night?' meant." "Yes, that is the Crown." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Yes, sir.' mystery may be cleared along those lines." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "No sign of it?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "No more words. Get out!" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He cigars in the box." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "May I see it?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "And now?" I asked. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can a room. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "No, my brougham is waiting." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing a very grave face. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the running down." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door disappearance of these gems?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to was keenly on my guard against him. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. better grown goose." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "10th. John Swain cleared. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed weapon." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I bedroom door." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "A client, then?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the stepfather?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from present strange and interesting features that it is no easy until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to lost his Christmas dinner." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting overpowering excitement and concern. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the You want to know what became of those geese?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "She told me to ask you." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion noting anything else of interest. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his there has been an enclosure here!" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "What!" he roared. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "It's nothing of the kind." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Precisely so. But how--" be there in time for your coming." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Never." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Holmes rather sternly. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution himself. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely at my own good fortune. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "'You doubt its value?' he asked. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, yourselves in at night?" not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that detective. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned