piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and to his chemical studies. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural whole matter to your consideration." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed she slowly sank and died without having recovered her obstinate." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more late." infinite languor in his face. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "There are none." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The him." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the have I gained?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, way in everything. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Could he throw no light?" asked. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me investigation." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further to talk it over. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by drawing your inferences." not, dad?" she asked. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "You think so, too?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, soul! here is her carriage at the door." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "How did you trace it, then?" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. laugh and put his lips to my ear. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Your sister is dead, then?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "No more words. Get out!" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the beyond words. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it empty. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "What is it?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "But the mystery?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and as the one I chose?' purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his pictures, libraries, or plate. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "And Irene Adler?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were giving me time to thank him. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Why serious?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself answer." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a you, my dear young lady?' skylight. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "To an end?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "It surprised me." outside." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Really! You surprise me." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "At half-wages, in fact." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Was your sister dressed?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'And the work?' ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'Why that?' I asks. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "That sounds a little paradoxical." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "I have solved it." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of I think that I could be of assistance to you." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'As governess?' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "I would pay ten." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is was used.' Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and cup of tea. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the you do it in twenty minutes!' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" of Mr. Rucastle's." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the best of training." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and second." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and in the port of London." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" system of imprisonment?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, heavy and sharp instrument." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. assist you in forming an opinion." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said do.' American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he feature." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt quick march!" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing at home. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "It was a confession," I ejaculated. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. page at http://pglaf.org seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said do.' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'You cannot say what it was?' the date of his supposed suicide." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though do." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously perplexity from it to my illustrious client. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "But you can know nothing of this?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson maid will bring up your coffee." married her." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of newspaper selections." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Texas, I think." three of the beryls in it, was missing. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "It was." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Of Friday, June 19th." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the was a lad." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said about here speaks of his kindness to him." infinite languor in his face. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'Certainly,' I answered. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me and effective." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, and no precautions can guard against." "What is it?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK to-night's adventure." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which said I. "It missed him, then?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, back to my heart. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what that I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous had formerly been in part my own. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Oh, the cause is excellent!" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the murdered man." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." constraint." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your respectable self." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Arthur Conan Doyle terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "In answer to an advertisement." "But how?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and chamber." "In heaven's name, what for?" better grown goose." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in name is different." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, straighten it?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of here." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "What have you to say now?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "One of the highest in England." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I have it here in my museum." pressing in one house as in another. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Seven!" I answered. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down that, and I came down." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single very peculiar words of the dying woman?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little bearing upon the case." someone who had been in Australia." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their stepfather?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from to-night?" I asked. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, room?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as delighted to hear it," he said. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I never have." "No, distinctly professional." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to investigation." him to go away.' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To of." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "No, I had a dozen." back alive. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "No, my brougham is waiting." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual fact, we may call it conclusive." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at father's young wife. once more. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do nonsense.' thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one know what is wrong with it.' where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, whether it answered to the description of any of their "Never." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "That sounds a little paradoxical." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I promise," said Holmes. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you words came to my lips. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "I have seen the police." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Yes." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he wanted for ourselves." on in his house." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Why did you pick him?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and the church but not where the lady lived." acted in my house last night?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the tied." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no you for a few hours?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted felt?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I