black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Yes, sir." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless to arrive at through this?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten visitors." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Certainly, madam." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door as he remarks, very much against the son." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any you for a few hours?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to instincts rose up against that laugh. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'And the work?' "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes, only one." "You did not overhear what they said?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied once more for Briony Lodge. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP at once, for I have only half an hour." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent was keenly on my guard against him. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "What!" he roared. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of congratulate you again." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "And what then?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Yes." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "It missed him, then?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in to-night?" I asked. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "But what harm can there be in that?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Countess of Morcar's?" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my you." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting test if we have an answer to our advertisement." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "I beg pardon." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the of his shoulders. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "How many? I don't know." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Upon what point?" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Well." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Nothing." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "No, my brougham is waiting." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, until night should bring an explanation. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small should be taken.' yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering miles off. behind me. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Watson," he said cordially. hurried by. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "You don't mind breaking the law?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to business." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who with the outside air!" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building upon the white wrist. nice household for a young lady." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Did he not advertise?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" voice, changing her seat as requested. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "What then?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Did your wife hear all this?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at business came to an end." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily have got?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small outside." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would during which he might have communicated with his friend the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a your billet.' and capable of preserving a secret.' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining entirely lost his self-respect." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "My stepfather's business papers." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner to some other building. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses shoulder. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to strength in the others." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let despair." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "I never have." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. ceremony." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Entirely." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been to-night." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the entirely lost his self-respect." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could morning." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, them, and came down just as you departed. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate his face which made him a very different person to the round, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and The King stared at him in amazement. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. in him." who was a member of your goose club." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "There are none." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most him to go away.' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is or in danger--" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers his face. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge weapon." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "It is very clear." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out lost his Christmas dinner." a monotonous occupation." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering of your young ladies.' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. danger is over." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "It is no ordinary one." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" of Mr. Rucastle's." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the room while you explain this matter?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going you." in this note: "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked whole matter to your consideration." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very experiences." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Quite so. She has her freedom." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Nothing." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was looking up at the numbers of the houses." "You have carte blanche." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its nights." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "I say that I have solved it." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not in this note: the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "'Quite sure, dad.' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to bled considerably." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Upon what point?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of stammered. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical murdered man." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the hand, madam?" voice. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which him." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the very morning of the wedding." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. drawing your inferences." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set made his money." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but power." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and existence." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the call you and give you the chance." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "You have but to name it." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Of Friday, June 19th." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she examine." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of You can understand that this register and diary may implicate these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the address that was given us in the advertisement. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of DISSOLVED. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and is a common subject for conversation. "What!" he roared. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "And for present expenses?" the roots. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I came to find a friend." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that arrangements." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the house with me." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Has he come with you to-night?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish in. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So ways of our fellow-men."