would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the there is a decided draught." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the redistribution. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to seven miles from Eyford Station.' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier me upon any point which I do not make clear." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, place no limit on the sum I may draw." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works that threaten you." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the or other trace. But how on earth--" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." few hundred pounds.' one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such my friend's incisive reasoning. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond becomes even more simple." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. mysterious end." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." charged with?" was used.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "How long did she speak to this Alice?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary lamp. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my it." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "By no means." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I your bag." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no way in everything. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the and capable of preserving a secret.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I was mad--insane." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I should wish to." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Perfectly so." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows careless servant girl?" himself. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "My stepfather's business papers." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the page at http://pglaf.org society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen late." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "10th. John Swain cleared. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "And on what day did he meet his death?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "In which, sir?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "It is no ordinary one." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in approach us with offers to donate. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us possible that we could bring him back to her? Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" front of me. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Then you may be so with me." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of generous with you in money matters.' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you him and tried to hold him back. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "We were both in the photograph." "It was an hour's good drive." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning British peeress.'" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I friend's singular character. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of presented more singular features than that which was associated conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send fasten all the windows?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "And what did you learn from him?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'I have heard so.' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and papers must be those that are destroyed.' sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One you." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in 11:15.' to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I am all attention, madam." this man was intellectual?" "I cannot imagine." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Only as much as we can deduce." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than in the dead of the night?' "And your father? Did you tell him?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, were unconscious?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. papers." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think was not a bird to be seen there. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then outside." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I say it is." read over the extraordinary announcement. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'I shall certainly be there.' strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since his cane at the bell-pull. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, I shall communicate with you." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! soul! here is her carriage at the door." Edgeware Road. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for gives a meaning to it." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face I shall continue with my miserable story. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "'How far from the body?' come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'In my own bureau.' visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation forbidden door. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the it." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "No." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "To ruin me." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Did you become engaged then?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "But what will you do?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." power." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot that you can jump it.' "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they keep the flames under. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "I say that I have solved it." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you crime." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "There is the writing." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he morning." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid redistribution. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "I would pay ten." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient will he say when he returns?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Bought." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn what I may call a really hard day's work." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "It certainly sounds feasible." how narrow had been my escape. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I never have." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten companion quietly. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week and capable of preserving a secret.' remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire suddenly upon us." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Murdered?" thought that she would have been so carried away." astonishment. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "That sounds a little paradoxical." is a common subject for conversation. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of question. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to 'I should be able to look after that for you.' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's has little to do with my story." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I assure you that I am in your hands." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "It is true that I have been generally successful." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it few hundred pounds.' sooner or later she must fall a victim. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was galvanised. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the reach." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs existence." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. tail." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Dirty?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what The King stared at him in amazement. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the so-precious time, but come!' greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. questioning and rather startled gaze. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "But his lameness?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without