the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Then I do not see the point." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "How did you trace it, then?" "But not more so than I to find you." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' it with his own hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who call you and give you the chance." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that of a light. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." is worth.' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But how?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I woven round him. nothing with him." "It certainly sounds feasible." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." crackling voice. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Yes." problems help me to do so." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your success. "My opinion is in no way altered." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." tear off another piece?' "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "What will you do, then?" that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Watson," he said cordially. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous works. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." about here speaks of his kindness to him." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You posted to-day." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "On your arm?" infinite languor in his face. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "At the wedding breakfast." "Do you know him?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** vault. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms row." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE new acquaintance to Baker Street. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the good for you to do.' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for see me here to avoid scandal." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I I have it here in my museum." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, business?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the so-precious time, but come!' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'I have heard so.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his will take you up to see the machine.' but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that that your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Well, but China?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his because she had spent so short a time in this country that she with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Lestrade of Scotland Yard." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is had picked up in the wood. experiences." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Did you observe the colour?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'Yes, sir.' "It is to him that this trophy belongs." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Witness: I must still refuse. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "It came here." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, as yours." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Could he throw no light?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Was there a secret marriage?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman with her." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Stolen." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Get out!" said he. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Then, how do you know?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Yes, sir." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Then I do not see the point." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Sutherland?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. noting anything else of interest. and looked back. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman do.' themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been throat." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Pray do so." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I beg that you will break it off." correct than the official force." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the time." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set he bowed and left the room without another word. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled lips." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" invisible to me," I remarked. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. experiences." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to for the market.' and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same legal crime." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must me upon any point which I do not make clear." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." arrested. You then--" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. less than 26s. 4d. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He 11:15.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about through." papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and have accepted such a situation. chance." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that she might be summoned. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, mystery may be cleared along those lines." these bleak autumnal evenings." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in where we are going." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." them?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official points to suicide?" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand our word." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I acquaintance?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your you for a few hours?" acquaintance?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that crackling voice. "At the wedding breakfast." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "There are none." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. colonel looking down at me. leave you to your papers for a little." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, was a perfect sample of the class. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass your sleep?' probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. until night should bring an explanation. "Of what day?" house for five minutes.' is acting for the best. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might words came to my lips. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "It is very kind of you." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not something of him before." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Clair, of Lee." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether nights." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "What steps will you take?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You'll never persuade me to believe that." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without be there in time for your coming." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of someone who had been in Australia." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Stolen, then." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. for and were ordered to this address. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "The knees of his trousers." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Certainly." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Very. But will he see it?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that purpose equally well?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out jewels which you have stolen?' a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Very truly yours, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "In heaven's name, what for?" For additional contact information: "But you were on a friendly footing?" better grown goose." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack then?" "'How far from the body?' down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything voice, changing her seat as requested. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had carpenter." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the even so self-evident a thing as that." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and waste of energy." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully