of a light. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I excitement. "I promise," said Holmes. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. see me here to avoid scandal." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be instituted." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was instincts rose up against that laugh. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was with her." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Yes, the wine-cellar." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. skylight. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah His name is Francis Prosper." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," meanly of me." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Clair, of Lee." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Not him." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. is so. I know all about McCarthy." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "ARAT," I read. him to go away.' "I think that I had better go, Holmes." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore about here speaks of his kindness to him." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of way in everything. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas humiliation." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." weary and pale-looking. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "That is it on the dressing-table." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "And the murderer?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Your sister is dead, then?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as your bag." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his was feeling which was the fattest.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost developed." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was sneer upon his pale face. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the you, my dear young lady?' "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Where to?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his companion quietly. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against hurried away. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "And why?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and take the flies, but not before." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have is entirely a question of barometric pressure." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four photograph a cabinet?" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the arrested. You then--" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is system of imprisonment?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I don't say that. Perhaps." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, could gather together that I was able to avert another public outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this breakfast." only touch the interest." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to his face which made him a very different person to the round, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be my little problems." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in ourselves in the office." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Where did he live, then?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. strong and stiff." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'Where to?' kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You occupations.' conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and DAMAGE. acquaintance?" fluttered off among the others. "Come in!" said he. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Dirty?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his of fine shops and stately business premises that they really arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Precisely so. But how--" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, of his shoulders. few hundred pounds.' details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind the King without delay." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a information in his hands the value of which he did not himself as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since security.' coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "My stepfather's business papers." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies detective. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "By no means." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms might have a private word with us. forecastle of an emigrant ship. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had before the coroner and the police-court." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Did your wife hear all this?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Look there!" said he. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the roused himself from his reverie. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He had formerly been in part my own. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property whatever might befall. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered lips." points to suicide?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. his wife has ceased to love him." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when feature." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, which are rolled in Rotterdam." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old guilty parties." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "And I." "You have a clue?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' speckled band?" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his villagers almost as much as their master. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "ARAT," I read. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, some city in a dream. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking already referred to. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the think you a quite exceptional woman." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "You horrify me." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the roots. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely not personally threatened." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Where did he live, then?" like that before?" "And is that all?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater in the hope of finding them." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. and I shall be with you presently." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about waste of energy." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me to-night's adventure." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'What, the red-headed man?' Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." was keenly on my guard against him. "And Irene Adler?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "My Mary? Impossible!" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming look upon these things in a different way." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." might have a private word with us. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the whatever might befall. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the trying to your nerves." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, father's place of business?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "I do." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to I approached. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "You will not go there first?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed remarked. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Yes." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has threw himself down with his face to the pillow. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known been shamefully used." thirty. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion with her." looking up at the numbers of the houses." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over have not had my rubber." imbecility!" he cried. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "About a month then." papers diligently of late, have you not?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "'Very good.' plantation.' Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "And you can do nothing until then?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Have you it here?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, outbreak?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it your sleep?' were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my astonishment. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little she used." "I don't believe it." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Seven!" I answered. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "But what is it you wish?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so a suggestive one." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It missed him, then?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "What then?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face