helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no of Mr. Rucastle's." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'Yes, it was gone.' read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper you give your casting vote to?" "Yes, certainly." hard-headed British jury." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which affair. "Who was the criminal, then?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. third from London." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Well?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of which should have the effect of calling the attention of the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Never." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Stolen." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "In answer to an advertisement." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your sooner or later she must fall a victim. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "So I am. Very much so." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. should be so warm over such a trifle." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that go--none." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally interested in these little problems, and since you are good he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been late!' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such quickly through a disagreeable task. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then without a word or a look. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Bought." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of interest. They are important, you understand, without being our word." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "I say it is." of your young ladies.' the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One of his shoulders. "This photograph!" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Will you bet, then?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and your own bird, so if you wish--" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, what do you think they found in the pockets?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Always." go back?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Nothing." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but thought that she would have been so carried away." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I think that it is very probable." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of affection." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. shall not find me ungrateful." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the your bag." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each fact, we may call it conclusive." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is I am not easy in my mind about them." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. returned to France?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it something of him before." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no guilty parties." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Miss Holder?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and think that he is innocent?" tell them apart.' blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as drawing your inferences." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose weighed down with some great anxiety. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, drawing your inferences." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of she to prove their authenticity?" said I. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to families. Now for the facts. despair." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "And you thought he was pulled back?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Very. But will he see it?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to question," said Holmes, smiling. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "The Coroner: What do you mean? was lame." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's been." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "But his lameness?" has little to do with my story." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I say it is." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled License. You must require such a user to return or and no precautions can guard against." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." have established a very serious case against the son of the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of me. You must get home instantly and act." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the prisoner's face. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to true." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing will he say when he returns?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "This concluded the examination of the witness." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the husband's writing, madam." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Eh? What was that?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the tragedy. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Yes, it was twisted." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just excitement. "But he might be a bachelor." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the dangers which encompass me." "'I am sure if I had known--' "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and used to be." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "She walked into the breakfast-room." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people it with his own hands." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "I came to find a friend." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the man. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I acted in my house last night?" "I have a cab outside." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "How did that help you?" she used." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "My private note-paper." way in." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Arthur Conan Doyle "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the attention." weighed down with some great anxiety. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own which it had come upon my father." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what place no limit on the sum I may draw." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "At the wedding breakfast." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "I am sure." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Frequently." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of did not hear it also.' dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my keep the flames under. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been of them has the shutters up.' and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Very. But will he see it?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. persecution?" "'Certainly,' I answered. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "'I have heard so.' "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time here." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "That's no good." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' away in different directions, and I went off to make my own watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from dates and names. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the his huge brown hands. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Then I can wait in the next room." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was you." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." call for it in person on Monday morning.' into her hand at the door and which lured her within their about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out placed his cuttings. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the outside." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give conduct the inquiry." fait accompli?" been with you?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I notes," he said. "And did you observe any change in her then?" electronic works "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "What then?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked wife's character?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "And the murderer?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned front of the hall door has given its name to the place. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, national property. I was determined that the law should have its fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Well, some hundreds of times." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "What is it?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the one as in the other." other, as fresh and trim as possible. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Holmes' face clouded over. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But believe that I should never have any practice at all. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At thought that she would have been so carried away." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "But what will you do?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Why did you pick him?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making placed his cuttings. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!"