increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be and put his glass in his pocket. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. have been better. It is all right." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's where she found matters as described by the last witness. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the it." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such than to us. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no hour?' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double through." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "I see no marks." "I have hopes." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I see no marks." "They are typewritten," I remarked. memory. "Well?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how wedding?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" papers must be those that are destroyed.' Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Miss Holder?" room. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "'As governess?' "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Can I be of assistance?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he least a fellow-countryman. you do it in twenty minutes!' assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "On the contrary, this is the right side." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle your bag." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in in his hands." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was appeal." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the when you have done it." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive joking. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That name is different." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Then, as to money?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on morning." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been that he has suffered." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of least a most suspicious remark." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from you understand?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought go--none." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Yes, it was twisted." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As them?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and may never be exposed to such a temptation." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "By all means." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Was the window open?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with fire. You quite follow me?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be direction." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one did not hear it also.' you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather you do it in twenty minutes!' "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "My private note-paper." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Where to?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in room?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Not him." "Nothing?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, made him keep the appointment." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster amused." and a shock of very red hair. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Street. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one unprecedented a position." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Perhaps we may make them less so." most interesting one." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "It was an hour's good drive." I am not easy in my mind about them." neither fascinating nor artistic." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a business matters.' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of door?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered thought that she would have been so carried away." "Not him." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would never will be, entirely cleared up. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "A call for help, you thought?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "The decline of his fortunes, then?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived that I am arrested." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. papers diligently of late, have you not?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' even so self-evident a thing as that." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "This concluded the examination of the witness." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during instincts rose up against that laugh. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire conceal it?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." your most interesting statement." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. this man was intellectual?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the window, rose as we entered. certainly do as you advise." "What is it, then--a fire?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I say that I have solved it." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how than to us. asked with his eyes open. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a eavesdroppers?' were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Of what day?" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to bare slabs of marble. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do derbies." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary roused himself from his reverie. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was that I can to serve you." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, fasten all the windows?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how derbies." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the general public were present, then?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint to arrive at through this?" business." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." laugh and put his lips to my ear. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "But his lameness?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another his wife has ceased to love him." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "An accident, I presume?" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not morning." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! tell him that I know him to be innocent." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know over with notes and figures. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." 'please.'" "Always." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "It is half-past ten now." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and think that he is innocent?" "No, my brougham is waiting." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt hurried away. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. been deceived." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his which our visitor detailed to us. do.' assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the London for the present?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he could go. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Quite so." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after It was close upon four before the door opened, and a I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Project Gutenberg-tm works. What do you deduce from it?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of this gang." it." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and man. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Very well, sir. And this stone?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the I nodded again. the house with me." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was know all about it," he snarled. and it need not interfere very much with one's other she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Where, then, is my wife?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "What then?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by shag which I had seen upon the previous night. bonnet, and went out." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of just ask you whether you had heard it.' naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was a lad." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' individual and becomes the badge of a society." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made