my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "No, but the enclosure is." breakfast?" "I have solved it." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "'Certainly not.' said I. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Game for a morning drive?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "'Then let me do so?' "But what is it you wish?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your criminal. We have already had experience of such." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that that he has suffered." congenial hunt. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of leaning back in his chair. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in throat." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an time." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one highroad, where all traces were lost. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss bill, which interests me deeply." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as key turn in the lock." that you saw all that I did." "It's nothing of the kind." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a distinguish the words: unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Will you bet, then?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and paper in the air. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. danger is over." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all I shall communicate with you." Leadenhall Street--and--" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and all of them with the keenest interest. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "No good news?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of had this final quarrel? to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "'As governess?' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "It surprised me." "Why did you beat the pavement?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "One of his hands." "I will not look." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Edgeware Road. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was nights." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before have an American origin." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug roused himself from his reverie. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A remarked. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about heavily into it. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor at home. "My photograph." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my particular state visit http://pglaf.org she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Your sister is dead, then?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded awkward doing business with an alias." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and no precautions can guard against." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." instincts rose up against that laugh. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." notes," he said. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled will be renamed. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. for the market.' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My my special province." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I followed. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to will be renamed. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could detained." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is main points of my analysis." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the Assizes." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Your French gold?" "'Quite sure, dad.' like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Pray do so." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to followed. "Yes, from Horsham." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in hereditary King of Bohemia." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Have you it here?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it occupations.' wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Thank you. And your address?" delirious. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and ill-usage at the hands of fortune. presume?" "Absolutely?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he nonsense.' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "And who is her maid?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose examine." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the will he say when he returns?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, so far?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever of it with the greatest attention. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried been lifted and conveyed somewhere." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project made his money." "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his for the market.' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be my special province." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the it. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'Certainly not.' "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and even so self-evident a thing as that." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric she might be summoned. "He might." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "You horrify me!" Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which legal crime." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in south, for the country is more deserted there." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Tired-looking or fresh?" you want, then?' paper in the air. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" not come at once?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Count Von Kramm." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. directly by questioning you." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich forecastle of an emigrant ship. "In what way?" asked Holmes. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide present." if only as a check to my own memory." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled noting anything else of interest. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into prisoner's face. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was compunction about shooting them down." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a heavily into it. "My photograph." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say man. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "'How far from the body?' fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, made him keep the appointment." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this me. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the been able to understand it, in a very few words. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Seven!" I answered. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect pictures, libraries, or plate. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the salesman. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down seen the man in the road." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "'What, the red-headed man?' and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a as he remarks, very much against the son." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too not, dad?" she asked. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Holmes' face clouded over. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the station." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in But Holmes shook his head gravely. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to useful material for showing traces. The double line a little whole matter to your consideration." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his American. Then who could this American be, and why should he it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The is worth.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. murdered man." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might triumphant cloud from his cigarette. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning all that?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one with some details as to your case." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I will get her to show me." "A client, then?" "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united