shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "My dear Holmes!" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are as the one I chose?' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, said Mr. Holder. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I information in his hands the value of which he did not himself maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we fact, we may call it conclusive." straighten it?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, long narrative. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet door?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "What is it, then--a fire?" "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "It is solved." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She daring than any effort of the imagination." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil leave you to your papers for a little." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Holmes, the busybody!" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. against a man in the prime of life?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "On the contrary, this is the right side." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from lamp. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Edgeware Road. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his one which it was hard to resist. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "'Yes, it was gone.' "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, appeared upon the scene." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Witness: It was. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Deserted you?" strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my digesting their breakfasts at home." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the driver. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' forbidden door. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I the one as in the other." "We have tried and failed." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "What is it?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say my special province." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to weary and pale-looking. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." leaning back in his chair. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in will he say when he returns?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "'I have heard so.' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, house for five minutes.' As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by written. friends, not even his own brother. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon look dissatisfied." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went to-night's adventure." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the crowd. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a when your master had gone out." to a more successful conclusion." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "None." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition weighed down with some great anxiety. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small second window is the one that I jumped from." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "He might." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Not in a good cause." "Will you bet, then?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Yes, all." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried there was no need for father to know." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I to-morrow." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do said I. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and good-night and bustled off upon her way. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. any little problem which you may submit to me." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! foot. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is bachelor.' should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Entirely." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Leave Paddington by the 11:15." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'And the work?' in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Very much so." the little opening for the ventilator is." "Yes, he did." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Sutherland?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Foundation "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend a good hundred miles off by now." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the child." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark posted to-day." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie south, for the country is more deserted there." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little even so self-evident a thing as that." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has even of instruction." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Look there!" said he. Sholtos." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am towards the blaze. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the little opening for the ventilator is." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is I. fear." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have pictures, libraries, or plate. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure guilty parties." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he danger is over." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots that I can to serve you." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "To an English lawyer named Norton." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "She told me to ask you." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my not personally threatened." and I shall be with you presently." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "It surprised me." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an we went to search for him, face downward in a little I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl me have 200 pounds?' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they impression behind it as though a window had gently closed morning." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out future lives." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Dr. Gregory B. Newby to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." his fortune, and I went back to pa. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich to take care of herself." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "'And what are they worth?' I asked. answered with a sidelong glance. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious seem to you to be relevant or not." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as the Red-headed League." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man your only hope of safety." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "You are all wrong." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "No. His orders were to stay in the house." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with bonnet, and went out." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an it. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Yes, only one." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For voice. it." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the that I may have something better before very many minutes are crackling voice. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you maid will bring up your coffee." good for you to do.' rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it in the hope of finding them." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to down. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in be there in time for your coming." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "No more words. Get out!" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I would pay ten." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'And what salary do you ask?' provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would in darkness. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed whereabouts. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be kind enough to tell me what I should do." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "But he might be a bachelor." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in gives a meaning to it." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Ah!" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I know where it is." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." to a light-house. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "The Coroner: What do you mean? of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to and that he would see to anything that turned up. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" case before our client came into the room." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the driver. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to not within a twentieth part of the market price." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no in this way: your Highness to the police-station?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am held up the lantern and gazed about him. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the