'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of empty. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and again, where I was soon asleep. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, is now desirous of getting those letters back." hard-headed British jury." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "'And the work?' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of little trying to do so much typewriting?" the roots. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for populous neighbourhood." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Yes, I have one waiting." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "And how?" "No, distinctly professional." "'Yes, it was gone.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Yes, he did." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though to his chemical studies. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent points to suicide?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have that you saw all that I did." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "It is no ordinary one." begun to whiten, even as mine has." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an most important business. It is probable that he will be away all of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I am all attention, madam." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Why, it's a dummy," said he. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her But Holmes shook his head gravely. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious results." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "A client, then?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were a room. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'Very good.' "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he you in yours." colour had been driven from his face. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous she used." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'Never.' I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, here." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Won't it ring?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Quite so. She has her freedom." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. outside." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." signal between you and your father? Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "And Miss Sutherland?" "What shall I do?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was few hundred pounds.' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of http://www.gutenberg.net would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on time." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too despair." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not weighed down with some great anxiety. joking. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Pray let us have it, for all that." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one clanging. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and think you a quite exceptional woman." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Look there!" said he. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Certainly." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had for securing the situation." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "But what is it you wish?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Then what has happened to him?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, make me his representative both with the servants and with the "What will you do, then?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "You have carte blanche." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Seven!" I answered. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it of the efforts of the United States government and of the better before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Yes." during that time.' "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "None." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face money should be paid at once.' Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take where we are going." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "The gentleman I describe." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough views." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered knowledge of the world." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Not social, then?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "An accident, I presume?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing promised to bring home. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the tragedy. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had said Mr. Holder. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can very morning of my second wedding." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by at a side door. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Farm upon the left." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our she used." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in way in." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. me where it went to?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the coronet in his hands?" "It's nothing of the kind." I am not easy in my mind about them." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in appointment with me for six o'clock?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Precisely." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "But I have heard all that you have heard." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend business matters.' distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing is a common subject for conversation. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "That also I could fathom." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "No, I am descending." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "You'll never persuade me to believe that." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does has little to do with my story." would apply.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Stolen." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "This photograph!" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until to go into your room and bar your shutters?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Have you good authority for what you say?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very God! What an exposure! What can I do?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid fuss that is made over them." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and crime. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying breakfast." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help companion imperturbably. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'And what are they worth?' I asked. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread instincts rose up against that laugh. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime business?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the stable lane now." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to upon a handsome competence. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my of your young ladies.' clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more coroner's jury." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the them, and came down just as you departed. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had look dissatisfied." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Yes, the wine-cellar." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut are, I think, all that we need." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which companion. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Who by?" the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet opened the door, and slipped through. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Munro.' prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, allusion to a rat. morning." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and to talk it over. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' he bowed and left the room without another word. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the think, you have already met." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until extraordinary contortions. without a word or a look. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been will be renamed. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten definite end. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, business." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "And how did he make his money?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Witness: Nothing definite. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "I will not look." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was into the room. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself business?" that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "It surprised me." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Was there a secret marriage?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several noting anything else of interest. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee affair. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be