photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was noble correspondent could be. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate investigation." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to forebodings. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb forecastle of an emigrant ship. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "That is also quite modern," said the lady. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the coroner come to?" McCarthy." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "No, but the enclosure is." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate amused." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in or in danger--" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her said he at last. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the devil!" circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora bill, which interests me deeply." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me dead, shall be safe with us." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Sholtos." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "You horrify me." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to affect your life." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried it with his own hands." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he for its centre. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "In heaven's name, what for?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard assist you in forming an opinion." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I indiscretion." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Dr. Becher's." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a might help us?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, in the dead of the night?' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the plantation.' call you and give you the chance." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with salesman. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of burst into a hearty fit of laughter. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that fasten all the windows?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "And Miss Sutherland?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous call for it in person on Monday morning.' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the forecastle of an emigrant ship. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel with you alone." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the very letters. But what is this written above them?' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the grasp, he hurried from the room. to arrive at through this?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." morning." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I think that it is very probable." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted to-night's adventure." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Sholtos." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running companion. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Precisely so. But how--" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Of what day?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little think, you have already met." was a lad." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a have one." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "And sit in the dark?" his fortune, and I went back to pa. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the she might be summoned. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us you in yours." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman works. See paragraph 1.E below. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as generous with you in money matters.' "It missed him, then?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler test if we have an answer to our advertisement." point in the dark hollow of his hand. there." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after conceal it?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "How on earth--" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'Most admirably.' late." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no chance at all." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "And how in the world did you find them?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with that there was nothing in it, after all." tell him that I know him to be innocent." prepare for the new role I have to play." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue upon an income of about 60 pounds." is acting for the best. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Pray tell us what has happened to you." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the galvanised. kindly on the shoulder. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which to tell." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of him!" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "An enemy?" "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and death." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I lamp. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it despair." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Yes, it would be as well." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for such attractions and accomplishments?' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel him to be an active member of the medical profession." footfalls from the street. "I have a cab outside." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "A call for help, you thought?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months yourselves in at night?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "But what will you do?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now a little more before I quite committed myself. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, was a loud and authoritative tap. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it national property. I was determined that the law should have its The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our you found me to-night--and running through the front room she house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no help us in this matter." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "In answer to an advertisement." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "What office?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "'Entirely.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Your sister is dead, then?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come keep the flames under. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss one which it was hard to resist. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate photograph?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Chief Executive and Director surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. there has been an enclosure here!" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "And how have you succeeded?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the whereabouts. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell you." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Holmes, the busybody!" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle as he remarks, very much against the son." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." quick march!" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "And did you observe any change in her then?" "How did you deduce the select?" "Was there a secret marriage?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and charge against him will break down." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'In my own bureau.' the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the do.' rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed suddenly upon us." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Did your wife hear all this?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his forecastle of an emigrant ship. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Where, then, is my wife?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." his face which made him a very different person to the round, asked. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Yes, it would be as well." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of as he remarks, very much against the son." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, father's young wife. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I promise," said Holmes. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that nice household for a young lady." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased union?" gigantic client. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the bearing upon the case." are, I think, all that we need." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Who was the criminal, then?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had I am not easy in my mind about them." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. over with notes and figures. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "If so, much may have happened between." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the address that was given us in the advertisement. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Were they all fastened this morning?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming papers." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, III. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Surrey." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right father's place of business?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "And you can do nothing until then?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the province." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Do you receive much company?" he asked. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a