the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I yards of it?' man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I say it is." "Really! You surprise me." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled indeed happy." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "I will, Miss Turner." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door brandy and water within his reach. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a strength in the others." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Who was the criminal, then?" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in father's young wife. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with that?' and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be used to be." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I fear not." "Dr. Becher's." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It to take care of herself." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Imitated." seem to you to be relevant or not." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no when your master had gone out." sneer upon his pale face. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two was not a bird to be seen there. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "In answer to an advertisement." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of orange pips. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "No." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "No bad?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "A confidential servant?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this even of instruction." following enigmatical notices: 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Certainly, madam." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a a monotonous occupation." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Nor running a chance of arrest?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the stones. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely allusion to a rat. "'And the work?' reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Surrey." these bleak autumnal evenings." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "No. His orders were to stay in the house." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. this man was intellectual?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this presented more singular features than that which was associated We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, tell me that you intended to go into harness." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, time." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my it." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Never to return." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "An accident, I presume?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so some water from a caraffe. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, yet." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that was already answered. DISSOLVED. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the and no precautions can guard against." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I have a cab outside." "I guessed as much." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Munro.' had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the warnings." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' my secret was safe in his possession. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Yes, only one." own family. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Leadenhall Street--and--" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "9th. McCauley cleared. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Dirty?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Never." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of strong and stiff." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by envelope. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A beyond words. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "That you are never beaten." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "You'll never persuade me to believe that." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an it right.' "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I himself to tell his story. the so-precious time, but come!' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the chambers. "What I expected to see." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business it right.' Serpentine Avenue. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no had died away into the silence from which it rose. existence." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. bled considerably." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems persecution?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a and all of them with the keenest interest. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the outside. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "That is it on the dressing-table." "She showed me, as I told you she would." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." never came back." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H man. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and nothing of it?" must compliment you." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the them?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the What do you deduce from it?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the together. you." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" article?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you now. It seems that there had been some informality about their We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who both be extremely obliged.' would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "I fear not." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a house for five minutes.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send figure." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug people in all walks of life. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Precisely." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by voice. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to in. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "It missed him, then?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Now, then, what's the last entry?" there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I compunction about shooting them down." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. voice. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was since then to throw any light upon what became of him." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into over with notes and figures. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making suddenly upon us." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all a monotonous occupation." asked with his eyes open. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands with some details as to your case." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time your own bird, so if you wish--" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of girl said." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the should be taken.' an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in who was a member of your goose club." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" beg that you will break it off." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less as this. Pray let me have the details." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually and the colonel ushered me in. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "They are typewritten," I remarked. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. bill, which interests me deeply." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "That is unusual in a young girl." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, your equipment. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall held up the lantern and gazed about him. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "A client, then?" entirely devoid of interest." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "From his hat?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have mystery." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which figure." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom business?" washing it down with a long draught of water. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'Certainly not. But why?' how narrow had been my escape. breakfast." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, your room." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where there were one or two details which were new to me. But the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it him nearly every evening." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Pray do so."