"Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "May I see it?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "He said too much." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter the bottom.' finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the him." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. sparkled upon his finger. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Yes." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Street. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but and put his glass in his pocket. our word." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We lips." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I promise," said Holmes. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the Assizes." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Well, but China?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a What do you deduce from it?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "He disappeared so suddenly." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Mrs. Toller serenely. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: in his power. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly handed it to him. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Chief Executive and Director important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in forebodings. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when were new raised from a basin. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest to arrive at through this?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not washing it down with a long draught of water. "Nearly eleven." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he salesman. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would power." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last think that he is innocent?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was way in." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child what do you think they found in the pockets?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See there." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Lee, in the county of Kent." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I would pay ten." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the side-table." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, never came back." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately you give your casting vote to?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" key of the affair now." "'Yes, it was gone.' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such lamp. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you derbies." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Where, then, is my wife?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "I am following you closely," I answered. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over matter." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "You think so, too?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to but preventing her from injuring another. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, as noiselessly as she had come. the room while you explain this matter?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for my former friend and companion. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings presume?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this nonsense.' graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." six. Come in!" Mrs. Toller serenely. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had certainly do as you advise." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "I cannot say that I have." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with will take you up to see the machine.' and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." said I. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and put his glass in his pocket. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot are, and they are waiting for us." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Project Gutenberg-tm works. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Won't it ring?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and like that before?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." grasp, he hurried from the room. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "I should wish to." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the help us in this matter." outside." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Very much so." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning nights." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same coat-tails." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Were they all fastened this morning?" and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "And what did you see?" "I should wish to." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "And you don't know his address?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'Yes, it was gone.' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her McCarthy's innocence. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every mystery may be cleared along those lines." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from pressing in one house as in another. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I don't believe it." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." families. Now for the facts. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such you." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'Then let me do so?' "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. that I can to serve you." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were chill to my heart. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Clair, of Lee." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Street. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' room?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Yes, it was twisted." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is carriage. It was a chestnut." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some intimate personal affairs in this public manner." closing the door. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet points in connection with it which never have been, and probably heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a little more before I quite committed myself. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab thin legs towards the fire. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "But his left-handedness." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot least a fellow-countryman. "What can you not understand?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am direction." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the you?' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the business." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms giving me time to thank him. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Perhaps I have." Mary, has deserted me." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent your troubles." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might that the gas is not laid on in his house?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'Yes, sir.' seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Your French gold?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have was not a bird to be seen there. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Of Friday, June 19th." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that a very grave face. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Could he throw no light?" of receipt of the work. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so the King without delay." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this all that?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My a monotonous occupation." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return III. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our coat-tails." when your master had gone out." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and best detective that ever lived. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "No." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Where is it, then?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Chief Executive and Director the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried and the colonel ushered me in. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and this truth that in these little records of our cases which you in the hope of finding them." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my went to the Alpha were town bred." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to change my dress. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? extraordinary contortions. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced since then to throw any light upon what became of him." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be me upon any point which I do not make clear." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the