before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed sound at heart." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at feature." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Not yet." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag away to you." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "And why?" have been better. It is all right." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of showing my impatience. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he some water from a caraffe. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and sufficient punishment." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case mystery may be cleared along those lines." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some if she died from some sudden fright." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "It is a murder, then?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable appeared upon the scene." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in pictures, libraries, or plate. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, that he will be back before evening." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and you." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "9th. McCauley cleared. that, and I came down." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Certainly not. But why?' it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the general public were present, then?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "A confidential servant?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from families. Now for the facts. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "I saw her in conversation with her maid." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the coronet at all injured?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "And how in the world did you find them?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a morning." "Holmes, the busybody!" pierced for earrings?" is," said he presently: feature." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is that you wished to speak to me?' tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have maid will bring up your coffee." "That sounds a little paradoxical." that there was nothing in it, after all." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, in the hope of finding them." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Leadenhall Street--and--" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys I am not easy in my mind about them." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "That is not always so easy." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love following enigmatical notices: "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Which are?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Holmes' room. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a married her." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "To the police?" to tackle the facts." have been better. It is all right." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. matter." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "I am armed." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." galvanised. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. strong and stiff." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "'How far from the body?' "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, corner of the building. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "That was it, sir." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "VIOLET HUNTER." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had strength of mind to control. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "None. Neville wrote those words." the station." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of indiscretion." are windows in it, of course?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out all?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As room?" "It is possible." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of cost them two and thirty pounds." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a could not have written that. It is the German who is so closely." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the Foundation his forehead." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Arthur Conan Doyle And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a morning." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the crackling voice. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced lost his Christmas dinner." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Entirely." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the tapping his fingers upon the table. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "But we can't all be." always that they were such commands as a lady might with have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the running down." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "But how?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I of it with the greatest attention. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "How do you know, then?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There anything to do with the matter?" colour had been driven from his face. pressing in one house as in another. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed was shining brightly. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the you." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "A client, then?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime never to learn it at all." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Why, it's a dummy," said he. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all jewels which you have stolen?' belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it bears upon the case?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be was used.' upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell back to my heart. "I should wish to." "And how did you verify them?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Where, then, is my wife?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the ran thus: guilty one." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. congratulate you again." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. papers." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such DAMAGE. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself strong and stiff." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between his knees, staring into the fire. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Have you it here?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those more solid." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off locked." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "No." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window narrative." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" province." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that legal crime." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, flock.' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my hurried by. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope you want, then?' diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Pray do so." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "It was a confession," I ejaculated. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new situation." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little disappearance of the bride.'" opportunities to fix the problem. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making The King stared at him in amazement. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, cost them two and thirty pounds." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in is worth.' arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I have one." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so horse could go." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Mary, has deserted me." past. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Leave Paddington by the 11:15." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "And your mother is alive?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case there is a decided draught." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I upon the shelf for the interim." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin soul! here is her carriage at the door." you, my dear young lady?' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw written. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so to me. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the so-precious time, but come!' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "One of his hands." plantation.' The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "On your arm?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone carpenter." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable foot. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Nothing." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Watson," he said cordially. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out things are very often connected not with the larger but with the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice less than 26s. 4d. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that