can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. again on its way. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' confronted him. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. see me here to avoid scandal." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Perhaps I have." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I something of him before." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks works. See paragraph 1.E below. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is for and were ordered to this address. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, some terrible trap for her." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which it right.' pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the point in the dark hollow of his hand. "The rest you will leave in our hands." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a comes from the middle window." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and locked. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'Never.' scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" success. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, the wine-cellar." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. straightened it out again. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake photograph a cabinet?" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Was your sister dressed?" results." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental details should find their way into the papers. Inspector increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely think that any burglar could have done. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "He is dead," cried several voices. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the King without delay." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., words came to my lips. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in enter into my head. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he it." leaning back in his chair. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Why did you beat the pavement?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently purpose of examination. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from like gravel from a pit.' in the hope of finding them." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to I nodded again. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" look upon these things in a different way." rose-bushes. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. meanly of me." garden below. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Street. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I would give my fortune to have them back." at my remark. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the coronet in his hand?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall breakfast." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You have a clue?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. recover the gem." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Literary Archive Foundation noble correspondent could be. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed have had none more fantastic than this." sooner or later she must fall a victim. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," lamp in his hand. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he fishes. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Precisely." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him mysterious business." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I have seen the police." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever his wife has ceased to love him." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "BALLARAT." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for My friend smiled. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean sake, don't!" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I will, Miss Turner." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his then?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself whereabouts. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could possible that we could bring him back to her? "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the dangers which encompass me." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have This is what he says: gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I warn you that they are very incomplete." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' which it had come upon my father." "Of what day?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Of Friday, June 19th." "Pray let us have it, for all that." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I answered that I had not. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my was already answered. "Were they all fastened this morning?" suspect him." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things DISSOLVED. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope together. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior lost his Christmas dinner." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a to talk it over. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most which we had just quitted. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an out." details." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. crime. congenial hunt. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as manager. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "It was a confession," I ejaculated. legal crime." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily ways of our fellow-men." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Look there!" said he. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident never came back." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "What will you do, then?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly highroad, where all traces were lost. "I shall most certainly do so." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled even so self-evident a thing as that." good-night and bustled off upon her way. manager. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should is so. I know all about McCarthy." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Pope's Court. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "'And what are they worth?' I asked. you for a few hours?" there is a decided draught." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." been shamefully used." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. mysterious end." do.' his knees, staring into the fire. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he cigars in the box." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "No." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "No bad?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'There is a drive, then?' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Where, then, is my wife?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "It surprised me." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "But how?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously business?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "How did you deduce the select?" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "'Ten to two.' "I will get her to show me." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for there is a decided draught." kind enough to tell me what I should do." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his crime. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The the tragedy. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "How can you tell that?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at these bleak autumnal evenings." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "And how did you verify them?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical points to suicide?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the present." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus as yours." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which tied." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The floor. Holmes' room. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would keep the flames under. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "But you have hopes?" "'I shall certainly be there.' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making situation." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Certainly, madam." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the and looked back. "Very much so." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the round and wave him away like that.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and families. Now for the facts. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "What of the rat, then?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined friend's singular character. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "On Monday." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Which surely he restored to their owner?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and the colonel ushered me in. joking. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of Mr. Rucastle's." "Eh? What was that?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "The King of Scandinavia." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate point our research must commence, and we will begin it by purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are