mystery may be cleared along those lines." a good hundred miles off by now." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Nothing." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking disappearance of these gems?" "And now?" He raised his hand. became a certainty. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had is worth.' chill to my heart. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "In what way?" asked Holmes. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you The summons was a brief and urgent one. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be before the coroner and the police-court." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "When did she vanish, then?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a there is a decided draught." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." will be renamed. remarked. "'Never,' said I. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and time." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I cost them two and thirty pounds." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into father's young wife. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I showing my impatience. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in obstinate." tell me that you intended to go into harness." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Yes, all." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "How do you know, then?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "That is easily got." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, morning." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since dramatic, in fact." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Indeed! Whose, then?" not personally threatened." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "You horrify me!" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. gentleman's clothes. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "An enemy?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and money should be paid at once.' "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, you." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from throat." which was all perfectly true. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that as the one I chose?' works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for The summons was a brief and urgent one. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Eyford at 11:15.' "Yes." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "And how did you find out?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low point our research must commence, and we will begin it by residence of the great financier. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez horse could go." in a very precise fashion." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I don't believe it." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would of note-paper. It read in this fashion: exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had DAMAGE. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." at my remark. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "My opinion is in no way altered." companion imperturbably. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted recall any case within my experience which looked at the first red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Where, then?" said I. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since room had already been engaged for us. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning mystery may be cleared along those lines." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I cannot imagine." that, and I came down." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns hair?' gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small your bag." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'Why that?' I asks. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his that the house with me." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. to have been novel and of interest." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. definite end. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put once more on the important position which you have been fortunate and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," written, and locked the door of the office after me. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a congratulate you again." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four sneer upon his pale face. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the heavily into it. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was later, upon the night of May 2nd." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "My dear Holmes!" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Very much so." it. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, purpose of examination. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "An enemy?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Of what?" awkward doing business with an alias." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do secret." that you saw all that I did." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt had formerly been in part my own. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "My own seal." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Pray be precise as to details," said he. was a loud and authoritative tap. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." telegram would bring me down to your help." "Yes, he did." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Leave Paddington by the 11:15." disturbance in my wife." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. once more for Briony Lodge. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a disturbance in my wife." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father closely." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is lumber-room." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis memory. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" happened." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be some city in a dream. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his business came to an end." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. get her out of the way." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would companion. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was never to learn it at all." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Very much so." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the or other trace. But how on earth--" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and them?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his careless servant girl?" of Fenchurch Street." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was as the one I chose?' "Then you may be so with me." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain you in yours." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him woman who has had her own way to make in the world. examine." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of way in everything. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "He is dead," cried several voices. I am not easy in my mind about them." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Certainly." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask chemical work which was so dear to him. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders any more." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." letters?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to what I may call a really hard day's work." "'What, the red-headed man?' "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he to-night's adventure." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in