her also." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers himself. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'Ten to two.' "I see many objections to any such theory." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the roots. "'Is purely nominal.' 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss pity, because in other respects you would really have done very with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had point our research must commence, and we will begin it by the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "How often?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I would pay ten." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "But she will refuse." Farm upon the left." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Young McCarthy must be got off, however." not fit the lock." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 business." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Where, then?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of works. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It is true that I have been generally successful." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "'It is locked up,' I answered. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "BALLARAT." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "But we can't all be." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had people in all walks of life. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "What is it?" questionable one." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "It must be recovered." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. politicians who had been sent down from the North. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "No bad?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay interests were the same as his." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed from you?" the side-table." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Very. But will he see it?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." had died away into the silence from which it rose. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts are windows in it, of course?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Why did you beat the pavement?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "He might." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Clair, of Lee." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Because he was handy and would come cheap." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of an introduction to him?" nonsense.' "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Of Friday, June 19th." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little companion imperturbably. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." nothing of it?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It McCarthy's innocence. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "You saw the ventilator, too?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "But how?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We exactly what you advise." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "That is possible." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some young Openshaw's." "I cannot say that I have." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see evidence," I remarked. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our of Fenchurch Street." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." tail." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a man. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this galvanised. indeed happy." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He I have it here in my museum." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "And the murderer?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case yet." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, here." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "One of the highest in England." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO enough to aid us in our search." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the Friday. Was it to be in church?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both in one or two places in England?' "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." depend upon your compliance." I nodded to show that I had heard. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Yes." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but the warnings." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, promised to bring home. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." been deceived." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." kindly on the shoulder. "Very murderous indeed." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for ago." to have that photograph." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With quickly through a disagreeable task. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our empty. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Edgeware Road. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "'Ample.' Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "The landlord of the Alpha." people don't know." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Cross for the Continent." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A strong reason behind." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every noise which awoke you from your sleep?" posted to-day." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a vanished into the darkness. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or wife's character?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should past. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the roots. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "How can you tell that?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such and inquire as to the address." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, weapon." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm crowd. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round quick march!" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the inner apartment." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat and the whole place is in a blaze." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering or other trace. But how on earth--" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." room?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Then I can wait in the next room." But Holmes shook his head gravely. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "No." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Yes." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where was a perfect sample of the class. politicians who had been sent down from the North. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Why, what do you mean?" not come at once?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and the church but not where the lady lived." felt?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." taking in every detail of the apartment. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Very truly yours, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; I shall continue with my miserable story. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said it." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who was once confined in the cab my mission was practically occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about delighted to hear it," he said. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. congratulate you again." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads be there in time for your coming." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." any more." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have nothing with him." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the so-precious time, but come!' undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "But who is he?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Yes, but only for you and me." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Have you good authority for what you say?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of