"I warn you that they are very incomplete." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two invisible to me," I remarked. in the dead of the night?' He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a knowledge of the world." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to fishes. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and to affect your life." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. outbreak?" "He disappeared so suddenly." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining sufficient punishment." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "'Ten to two.' had this final quarrel? could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Holmes rather sternly. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his companion. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Where, then?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Holmes." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Countess of Morcar's?" writer." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "But you would not advise me to refuse?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "It is solved." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the residence of the great financier. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the careless servant girl?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they shoulder. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, like that before?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Have you it here?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of him. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly long narrative. "Nothing." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Holmes' thin, eager face. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "That is it on the dressing-table." sufficient punishment." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without have not had my rubber." upon an income of about 60 pounds." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but her also." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Yes, I have one waiting." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." But Holmes shook his head gravely. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off past. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both 1.E.9. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Count Von Kramm." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their fire. You quite follow me?" "Can I be of assistance?" "Absolutely none." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps sound at heart." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you works. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. feature." "What I expected to see." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the look upon these things in a different way." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever leave you to your papers for a little." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora paper in the air. "In heaven's name, what for?" sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "No?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "She walked into the breakfast-room." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is him." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual certainly do as you advise." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "No, but the enclosure is." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Now, then, what's the last entry?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might with the outside air!" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "'Yes, sir.' putting in the horse. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Never." "I am to be neutral?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on there." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would was feeling which was the fattest.' to take care of herself." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Were they all fastened this morning?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the King without delay." hard-headed British jury." "Witness: Nothing definite. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" hardly wander." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow I approached. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the and the colonel ushered me in. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door breakfast and whispered something to her husband. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in been lifted and conveyed somewhere." used to be." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, ordinary clothes on?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall your co-operation." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by she to prove their authenticity?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you think you a quite exceptional woman." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I have solved it." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Stoke Moran?" said he. "It's nothing of the kind." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek of a light. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Ample." that there was nothing in it, after all." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "What office?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'What then?' I asked. said he at last. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Eyford." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who You can understand that this register and diary may implicate shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Holmes, the busybody!" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full plantation.' what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the it." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness 'please.'" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "No, but the enclosure is." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We imbecility!" he cried. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and assist you in forming an opinion." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across shoulder. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. brain must have something in it." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" straighten it?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Pray be precise as to details," said he. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "You think that he is dead?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "No. What a strange idea!" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little criminal. We have already had experience of such." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it least a fellow-countryman. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." depend upon my doing so.' upon the shelf for the interim." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I learned something! Where are the gems?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. man. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. might help us?" "'Stolen!' he cried. "On your arm?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had there were so many in the whole country as were brought together there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' distinguish the words: presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that guilty parties." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or you." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the of it with the greatest attention. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "VIOLET HUNTER." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said was the fact that his father should, according to his account, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "'Yes.' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And sit in the dark?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he highly," said Holmes. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'Very good.' have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "'Where could I find him?' made him keep the appointment." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'I have heard so.' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, maid will bring up your coffee." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Yes, certainly." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the roots. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled quick march!" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the following enigmatical notices: own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me during that time.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a had a long day." room?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "You are all wrong." "Precisely so. But how--" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "And leave your case unfinished?" himself to hunt down. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Is he quiet?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been ourselves in the office." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'I have heard so.' vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she yards of it?' lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if and wait." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "By no means." Serpentine Avenue. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank might have a private word with us. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a IS instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with pressing in one house as in another. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "You heard nothing yourself last night?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. salesman. details." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "And did you observe any change in her then?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Not particularly." conceal it?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a IS basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a held up the lantern and gazed about him. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white