"He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "I don't say that. Perhaps." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another recover the gem." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should business?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. problems help me to do so." note?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned begin with, and I had not got mine yet." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "What!" he roared. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a do.' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled is acting for the best. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that has little to do with my story." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at it were putty." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is directors have had misgivings upon the subject." signal between you and your father? America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "That is possible." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it and files of the old papers, following the future career of every side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the opportunities to fix the problem. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, could not have written that. It is the German who is so that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in back into the street. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout felt?" a suggestive one." heavy and sharp instrument." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my notes," he said. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will until night should bring an explanation. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you all?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "But how will you look?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "An enemy?" "What office?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon delighted to hear it," he said. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am intrusion of other matters." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both for its centre. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in sofa. This way, please!" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave writer." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a crime." "No?" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "No sign of it?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Dr. Gregory B. Newby upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Certainly." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "But you have hopes?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I am sure." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is London for the present?" "Nothing." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at he. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment results." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The if I call to-morrow?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "'About the same.' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk this truth that in these little records of our cases which you bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "And how did you verify them?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and you." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Holmes. the station." "At half-wages, in fact." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, within hail.' "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking I have it here in my museum." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It with the outside air!" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret recall any case within my experience which looked at the first telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his one of them." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "His face fell immediately. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about deduce something from that?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the coronet in his hand?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "What is it, then--a fire?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Thank you. Pray proceed." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." fluttered off among the others. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the Red-headed League." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Then I can wait in the next room." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I brandy and water within his reach. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to papers must be those that are destroyed.' was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward kind enough to tell me what I should do." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to as noiselessly as she had come. where she found matters as described by the last witness. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "But to whom?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'Very good.' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I cannot as yet see any connection." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's guilty one." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, this remarkable episode. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." was keenly on my guard against him. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some see me here to avoid scandal." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in client, rising. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue handed it to him. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There is now desirous of getting those letters back." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you thought that she would have been so carried away." your troubles." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of when you have done it." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' confronted him. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On III. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly tension within him. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the observed. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on you give your casting vote to?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg direction." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Here?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in was a lad." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not points to suicide?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "You have compromised yourself seriously." enter into my head. "Entirely." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, third from London." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at eat it." correct than the official force." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "That is not always so easy." out of this horrible affair." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'I am sure if I had known--' DISSOLVED. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'What do you call purely nominal?' "But how did you gain them?" and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive here." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, opened the door, and slipped through. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever you give your casting vote to?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means you came in." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that my former friend and companion. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "And you thought he was pulled back?" "How did that help you?" yards of it?' "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "You have but to name it." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'Why that?' I asks. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and been with you?" public press." again, where I was soon asleep. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular made him keep the appointment." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the during that time.' bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person problems help me to do so." "And your father? Did you tell him?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "In heaven's name, what for?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out visitors." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "He said too much." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "It is a murder, then?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a said I. never to learn it at all." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out knowledge of the world." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; chance at all." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found miles off. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." whole matter to your consideration." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man