of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I cigar and let me expound." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new look dissatisfied." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced points to suicide?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming walking." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards asked. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "The rest you will leave in our hands." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "No, thank goodness, she did not." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the tragedy. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There This is what he says: "Nearly eleven." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great visitors." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual I leave." felt?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they minor matters until to-morrow." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My once more to my work. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "You have carte blanche." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and when your master had gone out." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "One of the highest in England." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight lectures into a series of tales." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "And how in the world did you find them?" highly," said Holmes. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was security.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think I am not easy in my mind about them." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Well." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "The decline of his fortunes, then?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that morning." "'Yes, sir.' sake, don't!" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Was your sister dressed?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Henry Baker is a member." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "And the cigar-holder?" what these perils are?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had to-morrow." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two ready to-morrow?' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that page at http://pglaf.org outside." own family. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he never will be, entirely cleared up. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "But how did you gain them?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "And Irene Adler?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' compunction about shooting them down." "Certainly." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else late!' his eyes and forehead. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," there has been an enclosure here!" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but of this gang." "At what time?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive window when the police appeared." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face him. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the tragedy. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY which are rolled in Rotterdam." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his pound a week." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Very truly yours, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the ordinary clothes on?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I shall most certainly do so." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "It was an hour's good drive." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the King without delay." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "On Monday." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I becomes even more simple." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So hardly wander." Sholtos." "Has he come with you to-night?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a telegram would bring me down to your help." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. absorbing." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Married! When?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had this unhappy family?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm vanished into the darkness. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been she used." was lame." strength in the others." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting crowd. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "How many? I don't know." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "'As governess?' The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Witness: I must still refuse. so far?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a into the bag, and made for the door. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the status with the IRS. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Surrey." observed. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for shadow pass over his face as I spoke. in a very precise fashion." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Frequently." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I will get her to show me." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know little trying to do so much typewriting?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at instincts rose up against that laugh. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." with you?" October 9, 1890. "To ruin me." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and morning." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man conversation I have gathered that they have been married about fluttered off among the others. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for could gather together that I was able to avert another public "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "'About the same.' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Bought." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' promised to bring home. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one he died? which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she any more." forbidden door. "Then, as to money?" set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "ARAT," I read. "Married! When?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might few hundred pounds.' "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said and no precautions can guard against." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I cannot imagine." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Count Von Kramm." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he said I. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "That is it on the dressing-table." least a most suspicious remark." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to business at Coburg Square is serious." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side himself to tell his story. that you saw all that I did." "No." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, of campaign. "No, my brougham is waiting." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending himself in a perplexing position. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'A dozen yards or so.' "My last client of the sort was a king." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly several quiet little villages up there." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "What then?" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "What then?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign not interfere, come what may. You understand?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the warnings." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It an introduction to him?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain salesman. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Yes, sir." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "So it appears." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. several quiet little villages up there." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Yesterday." excitement. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with upon a handsome competence. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Certainly." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." whole matter to your consideration." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock