Surrey." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become carpenter." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him and a shock of very red hair. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." entirely devoid of interest." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Pray tell us what has happened to you." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't be sorry for having acted so harshly." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were derbies." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and think, you have already met." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "On Monday." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would fattened it expressly for you.' his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Quite so." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Was he the only applicant?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." be. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between wanted for ourselves." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." putting in the horse. 11:15.' despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the address that was given us in the advertisement. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of receipt of the work. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There said he at last. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Yes." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She green of the new foliage. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "An enemy?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the bed, and you in that chair." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being all-comprehensive glances. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of once more for Briony Lodge. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the the side-table." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Not in the least." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "'And the work?' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A out." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the matter." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of think, you have already met." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You be best to do. look dissatisfied." never will be, entirely cleared up. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "'You doubt its value?' he asked. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the the coroner come to?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been tension within him. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the read it out to me." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was before, for it was considerably after midnight. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Nothing." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight some terrible trap for her." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Street. "Where, indeed?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. figure." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven some terrible trap for her." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "And how did he make his money?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Yes, it would be as well." conduct the inquiry." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters ways of our fellow-men." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a of receipt of the work. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he My friend smiled. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait to a more successful conclusion." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yes, at the mines." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from him to go away.' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital which I could not give. He asked for Alice. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, I am not easy in my mind about them." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, introspective fashion. "Yes." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic individual and becomes the badge of a society." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Never to return." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "I should like to see him very much." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I should wish to." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss your co-operation." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "'Most admirably.' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found fire. You quite follow me?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Holmes' thin, eager face. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat views." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone his knees, staring into the fire. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of fear." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when depend upon my doing so.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of fait accompli?" "What can you not understand?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came second window is the one that I jumped from." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Breckinridge is his name." sake, don't!" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the very letters. But what is this written above them?' postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day intrusion of other matters." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Of Friday, June 19th." death." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the or in danger--" money should be paid at once.' "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than and the church but not where the lady lived." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him until night should bring an explanation. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at to tackle the facts." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She 11:15.' introspective fashion. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I you?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." indeed happy." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "By train from Waterloo." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' brain must have something in it." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the prison!" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that copied or distributed: pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my highly," said Holmes. III. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. less than 26s. 4d. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Holmes. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Surrey." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last of a light. "Certainly." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you dates and names. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "On Monday." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Perhaps I have." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and in one or two places in England?' 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "My dear Holmes!" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "If I can be of use." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the best of training." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb bears upon the case?" to arrive at through this?" "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Clair, of Lee." Arthur Conan Doyle without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. seem to you to be relevant or not." "'Ten to two.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "No, thank goodness, she did not." "The Coroner: What do you mean? forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I will, Miss Turner." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "But we can't all be." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I will not look." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "You have carte blanche." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "No." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as the side-table." at once, for I have only half an hour." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can humiliation." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you handed it to him. Where does the thing come from?' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "How on earth--" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' will he say when he returns?" one which it was hard to resist. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been matter." Street. charged with?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE where we are going." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Yes." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a key of the affair now." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love young Openshaw's." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his I took the paper from him and read as follows: gigantic client. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." you?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and of Mr. Rucastle's." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Eyford at 11:15.' locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else