deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate carriage. It was a chestnut." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy have had none more fantastic than this." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had to-night?" I asked. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced fishes. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to upon an income of about 60 pounds." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right call it cruel." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned get the tickets." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "I cannot imagine." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, morning." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely into her hand at the door and which lured her within their hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Yes." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to had died away into the silence from which it rose. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to neither fascinating nor artistic." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I will not look." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters answer." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Pray be precise as to details," said he. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the annoyance, but no jest. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect them?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad train.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, straighten it?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Eyford." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the driver. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." villagers almost as much as their master. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I warn you that they are very incomplete." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is quickly through a disagreeable task. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Holmes' face clouded over. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "How did you deduce the select?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could fashion which was peculiar to him. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea breakfast and whispered something to her husband. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass hands. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the inner apartment." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building perplexity from it to my illustrious client. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at least a most suspicious remark." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet important." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day It may be so in this case, also." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the pressing in one house as in another. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "And now?" I asked. our word." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Arthur Conan Doyle All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before during the last few years, and there are many noble families to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may province." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the morning." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with fatally injured? subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Is purely nominal.' In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'I shall certainly be there.' companion. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' compunction about shooting them down." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Yes, the wine-cellar." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no there was no need for father to know." humiliation." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 letters?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly simple cases which are so extremely difficult." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "'Why that?' I asks. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Yes?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the night.' nights." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study locked. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "It's nothing of the kind." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will generous with you in money matters.' meant it for the best. "And how?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in into the room. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked The police have openly confessed that they can at present make We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "BALLARAT." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I saw her in conversation with her maid." stammered. the station." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found bears upon the case?" a suggestive one." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his train from Paddington which would bring you there at about pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. my room." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "What, then?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Dirty?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, became a certainty. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Then, how do you know?" as yours." your sleep?' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce weighed down with some great anxiety. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be bill, which interests me deeply." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and heavy and sharp instrument." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. character. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on carpenter." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps in his power. chambers. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, breakfast." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For breakfast." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful his cane at the bell-pull. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Yes. He waved his hands." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Did you observe the colour?" "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood present." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if unclasping of his long thin hands. husband's writing, madam." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good could gather together that I was able to avert another public end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'What then?' I asked. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "She will not sell." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. McCarthy." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now attention." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "But what will you do?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project tapping his fingers upon the table. "I cannot tell." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance matter." "Then the page we have seen--" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm to-night's adventure." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and furiously. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade and glanced through. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and sparkled upon his finger. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that narrative." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, guilty one." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' I leave." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'Oh, no.' conceal it?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Her father is very rich?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I whole matter to your consideration." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Holmes." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the this Miss Turner." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "In San Francisco, a year ago." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the burst out into a roar of laughter. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it them?" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Sutherland?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered seem to you to be relevant or not." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who upon a handsome competence. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I shall be delighted." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to