the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Yes." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not The events in question occurred in the early days of my I approached. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated business in the City. She little knew what. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "But what is it you wish?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling that he will be back before evening." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your habit of advancing money.' prisoner's face. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend annoyance, but no jest. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, was a loud and authoritative tap. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer writers could invent nothing more crude." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had relief. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America cup of tea. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may populous neighbourhood." our word." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then matter over." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that will be renamed. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless enter into my head. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. placed his cuttings. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest outsides of the windows. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment to Leatherhead. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on of the efforts of the United States government and of the better 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he weigh very heavily upon my conscience." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. writing, and yet I know it well." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "And I say east," said my patient. extraordinary contortions. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "But not more so than I to find you." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her to a more successful conclusion." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to gentleman's clothes. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Yes, all." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from enough to aid us in our search." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you answer." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man waste of energy." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, must compliment you." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the back to my heart. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in forebodings. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Get out!" said he. During two years I have had three consultations and one small interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social already been minutely examined." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until and effective." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to that open window." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Pray do so." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "'Certainly not. But why?' we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Yes, the wine-cellar." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a as this. Pray let me have the details." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Ah, but I was recommended to you." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Yes." quick march!" seem to you to be relevant or not." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In was it brought him the coronet? belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the bed, and you in that chair." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. whether it answered to the description of any of their "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'In my own bureau.' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "No." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty triumphant cloud from his cigarette. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "'Stolen!' he cried. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, is now desirous of getting those letters back." to-night." delirious. and the church but not where the lady lived." "You think so, too?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria bedroom door." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "No bad?" them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four himself to tell his story. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "But you were on a friendly footing?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and furiously. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I should like to see him very much." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to congratulate you again." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "It surprised me." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some friends, not even his own brother. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to where he stood hid behind the curtain. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Nothing." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the papers must be those that are destroyed.' thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the observed. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and used to be." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, strength of mind to control. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a But Holmes shook his head gravely. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "How about poison?" "Certainly." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been amused." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" you give your casting vote to?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the have accepted such a situation. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Holmes' room. "'And what salary do you ask?' "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Yes." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and cigars in the box." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. again before evening." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "A confidential servant?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a skylight. tension within him. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the paper in the air. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "He said that you could solve anything." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted of the way of danger. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Miss Holder?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put that, and I came down." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram vanished into the darkness. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you lamp in his hand. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "'Stolen!' he cried. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I nodded again. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Absolutely none." our word." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's to take care of herself." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my words came to my lips. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "'And what salary do you ask?' door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and that he would see to anything that turned up. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep his cane at the bell-pull. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The wedding?" derbies." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "It is his hat." "Certainly." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "It came here." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his this poor creature." "I cannot imagine." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods on in his house." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Thank you. Pray proceed." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to said Mr. Holder. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did throat." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Stoke Moran?" said he. once more to my work. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the general public were present, then?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have second." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "I am sure." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: in his hands." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is I. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I have a cab outside." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. humiliation." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or eavesdroppers?' "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some someone who had been in Australia." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Yes." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS past. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "That you are never beaten." cheerful." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. that you can jump it.' number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" everything which you would wish to know." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we out." south, for the country is more deserted there." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "And help." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father