compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe ashen face. Clair, of Lee." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days out of this horrible affair." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "No?" off." purpose of examination. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "What! Had he lost his wife?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other *** START: FULL LICENSE *** knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason good-night and bustled off upon her way. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, this remarkable episode. conduct the inquiry." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and were new raised from a basin. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "How did you deduce the select?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Then, how do you know?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a some city in a dream. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." train.' *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I giving me time to thank him. to arrive at through this?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Is 4 pounds a week.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the second window is the one that I jumped from." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! God! What an exposure! What can I do?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "And that is--" tell them apart.' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "And is that all?" brandy and water within his reach. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened that you wished to speak to me?' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will your only hope of safety." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "And for present expenses?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed in the hope of finding them." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt morning." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies village inn over there?" and have this put in the evening papers." "There is the writing." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." sparkled upon his finger. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread must compliment you." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for fishes. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared appeal." man. I know him from the photograph." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a I took the paper from him and read as follows: of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a handed it to him. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "A greater distance to travel." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Seven!" I answered. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went woman who has had her own way to make in the world. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "And the murderer?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for stalked out of the room. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Yesterday." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "And why in hopes?" away to you." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a think that any burglar could have done. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "It is half-past ten now." gbnewby@pglaf.org sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. fire. You quite follow me?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I success. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to entirely devoid of interest." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Absolutely?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I promise," said Holmes. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Yes, only one." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he not as remarkable as your advertisement." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself or in danger--" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? matter." "What will you do, then?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to seem to you to be relevant or not." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my out of this horrible affair." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was mystery may be cleared along those lines." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." house for five minutes.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously conclusions. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the digesting their breakfasts at home." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "And what did you see?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so miles off. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with you." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, late!' arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Yes, but only for you and me." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly him!" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty as he folded up the epistle. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Was the window open?" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as get the tickets." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend again, where I was soon asleep. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Absolutely?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Here?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." pierced for earrings?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "It came here." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "To an English lawyer named Norton." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am in his hands." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back done what I asked you, Jones?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both interested in these little problems, and since you are good "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she power." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when open." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. weapon." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked British peeress.'" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I cannot imagine." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project went to the Alpha were town bred." and have this put in the evening papers." "No." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Won't it ring?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was lectures into a series of tales." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off The King stared at him in amazement. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Yes." to have that photograph." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door depend upon your compliance." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him copied or distributed: was it brought him the coronet? the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very delighted to hear it," he said. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa have established a very serious case against the son of the Holmes." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "No." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet newspaper selections." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "We were both in the photograph." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "How about poison?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You the south-west, I see." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "And Irene Adler?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Cross for the Continent." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him you for a few hours?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as a few minutes he said that it would be all right. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by over here." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who are, I think, all that we need." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "It is no ordinary one." "You think that he is dead?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "And Miss Sutherland?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Yes." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Proceed, then." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has seem to you to be relevant or not." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Certainly, madam." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a