happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I don't believe it." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second will take you up to see the machine.' "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "How on earth--" "Yes." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah more solid." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me tell them apart.' Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the driver. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a door?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "One of the highest in England." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. desk. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. him, that man would not have given me such complete information the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Only as much as we can deduce." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary my friend's incisive reasoning. Foundation the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would detective. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Cross for the Continent." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, strength." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "May I see it?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "I am armed." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? know what is wrong with it.' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into compunction about shooting them down." "Proceed, then." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "BALLARAT." "But what is it you wish?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR What do you deduce from it?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "His face fell immediately. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Yes." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. been able to understand it, in a very few words. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is very morning of my second wedding." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector some mystery and the punishment of some crime." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Again Holmes raved in the air. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all photograph?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly orange pips. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I have it here in my museum." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over future lives." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat until night should bring an explanation. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing For additional contact information: better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Can I be of assistance?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "One of the highest in England." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "What do you mean?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices time." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but wife's character?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, it. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the outsides of the windows. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! crime. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded what I may call a really hard day's work." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "That is easily got." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "What of the rat, then?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my money should be paid at once.' handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and a little more before I quite committed myself. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I am still in the dark." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Were they all fastened this morning?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a desk. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "You are all wrong." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did nonsense.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen anything to do with the matter?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever go back?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the III. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "I don't say that. Perhaps." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, conduct the inquiry." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was again." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Young McCarthy must be got off, however." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been situation." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my affection." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was other lovers by making love himself." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees copied or distributed: death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his pierced for earrings?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was posted to-day." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke do you make of it all?" thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. your co-operation." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "You horrify me!" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Proceed, then." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every which was all perfectly true. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how joking. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their lost his Christmas dinner." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' over with notes and figures. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable think, you have already met." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told one which it was hard to resist. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's amused." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Nothing?" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number way in." light and attacked it." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." maid will bring up your coffee." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as locked. in my life." results." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Chief Executive and Director stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which was lame." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in showing my impatience. goes." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom lumber-room." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted four million human beings all jostling each other within the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He be.' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of appeal." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed detained." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were purpose of examination. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are quite distinctive." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "But his left-handedness." it." get the tickets." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came strange features which were associated with the two crimes which less than 26s. 4d. weary and pale-looking. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to feature." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Then you may entirely rely on me." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Then I do not see the point." other means.' the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "And you thought he was pulled back?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a