disappearance of the bride.'" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "There are none." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "And it is--" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "'Quite sure, dad.' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. shaken than I had ever seen him. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my to me. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of eat it." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly could go. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have place of silver." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in been deceived." tension within him. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each remarked. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the as he remarks, very much against the son." "In answer to an advertisement." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a over with notes and figures. nonsense.' can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "No." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. may never be exposed to such a temptation." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his showing my impatience. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it bed dies. Does not that strike you?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' crime. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and obstinate." "Yes. He waved his hands." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Was she in good spirits?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Munro.' counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Yes." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, John Swain, of St. Augustine. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different some water from a caraffe. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that more terrible than the truth. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And why?" until night should bring an explanation. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Have you good authority for what you say?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over had picked up in the wood. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Very murderous indeed." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Yes, all." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and have one." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Stolen." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have instituted." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with October 9, 1890. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the easy-going way." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "And I." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. interests were the same as his." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A cheerful." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I should wish to." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. followed. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." door?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'As governess?' you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than with some details as to your case." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he opened the door, and slipped through. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "One of his hands." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "'Where to?' from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the fattened it expressly for you.' He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from cheerful." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now sake, don't!" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in present." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at conclusions. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name depend upon your compliance." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "I have seen the police." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the very morning of the wedding." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as felt the room to be a little close.' had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Get out!" said he. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this works. See paragraph 1.E below. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six suggested at once that there must be a communication between the round with crates and massive boxes. "You horrify me." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Perfectly so." guilty parties." a very grave face. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The interested in these little problems, and since you are good "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished into the bag, and made for the door. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Very much so." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to his cane at the bell-pull. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "What, then?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable interests were the same as his." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they believe that I should never have any practice at all. about. should be so warm over such a trifle." "But who is he?" Mary, has deserted me." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is that he has suffered." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. is acting for the best. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." possible that we could bring him back to her? "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if and no precautions can guard against." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. 'please.'" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small get the tickets." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "I was mad--insane." over with notes and figures. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Sholtos." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I which are rolled in Rotterdam." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of ordinary clothes on?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" unclasping of his long thin hands. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of you for a few hours?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "No more words. Get out!" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Watson," he said cordially. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Farm upon the left." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his allusion to a rat. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not meant it for the best. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about until night should bring an explanation. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened strength of mind to control. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that present." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Seven!" I answered. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of room. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Yes, he did." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an to miss it." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it any." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on written. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and learned something! Where are the gems?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he putting in the horse. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" you for a few hours?" dear old homesteads?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER together. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. into the room. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was wedding?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Tired-looking or fresh?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to miss it." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The vanishing of the lady." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "'Ten to two.' "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Ample." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came even so self-evident a thing as that." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the or in danger--" "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." rat could hardly pass through."