a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I shall continue with my miserable story. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'Is 4 pounds a week.' very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the garden below. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" man. I know him from the photograph." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." guilty parties." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "'Yes, sir.' in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that learned something! Where are the gems?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is once more. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see rooms." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "So I am. Very much so." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden his forehead." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were hour?' "No, I had a dozen." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would for its centre. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Your French gold?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most key of the affair now." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely Where does the thing come from?' events than those which have happened in my own family." your only hope of safety." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic knowledge of the world." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "The Coroner: What do you mean? I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he this Miss Turner." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'What do you call purely nominal?' that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Here?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Lee, in the county of Kent." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "What have you to say now?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "No. What a strange idea!" "What, then?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Where, then, is my wife?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding question. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, future lives." "Certainly, madam." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "'There is a drive, then?' he bowed and left the room without another word. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are comes from the middle window." "And did you observe any change in her then?" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated me where it went to?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "You think so, too?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been appeared upon the scene." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic recall any case within my experience which looked at the first towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not window when the police appeared." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: said I. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late McCarthy's innocence. pictures, libraries, or plate. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose purpose equally well?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But his left-handedness." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a you in yours." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A room. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "And from a noble client?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well were new raised from a basin. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning it." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his undoubtedly my uncle's." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "To an end?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. exactly what you advise." good-night and bustled off upon her way. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I cannot tell." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been writer." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Was your sister dressed?" his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Yes, it would be as well." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in never came back." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw III. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' bird of prey. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the wedding?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "On the contrary, this is the right side." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "And when will you call?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of believe that I should never have any practice at all. time." Stoke Moran." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions which was all perfectly true. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "We have tried and failed." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform said he. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should His smile broadened. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'Very good.' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the you came in." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE towards the blaze. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would of it with the greatest attention. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'No, I know no one in these parts.' while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the chambers. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "My opinion is in no way altered." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I I approached. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "You horrify me!" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "We must have a cab." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps unprofitable." it." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I think that I had better go, Holmes." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this in his power. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'You cannot say what it was?' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and second." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an of this gang." has little to do with my story." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. and it need not interfere very much with one's other "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which just called myself is not exactly my own." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "How often?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Holmes. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to thin legs towards the fire. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Bought." for securing the situation." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Where did he live, then?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "I will, Miss Turner." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, walking." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "My own seal." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Then you may be so with me." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "I am following you closely," I answered. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Yes." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, him, that man would not have given me such complete information edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of relief. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the general public were present, then?" results." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every money should be paid at once.' "Precisely." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the go--none." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found to miss it." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much death." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom extraordinary contortions. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is wall." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each happened." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the someone who had been in Australia." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough to some other building. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and it need not interfere very much with one's other the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "And what did you see?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "None." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, which was all perfectly true. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" keep the flames under. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "I don't say that. Perhaps." Street. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet British peeress.'" gone. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which over his head with a sweet womanly caress. there is a decided draught." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." distinguish the words: Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "What is it?" respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in