The provided text is excerpted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, specifically focusing on Sherlock Holmes’s deductive reasoning and investigative skills. Several chapters detail Holmes’s methods in solving a murder mystery, including his ability to deduce a person’s profession and background from seemingly insignificant details. Another case involves the recovery of a stolen treasure, highlighting Holmes’s resourcefulness and his ability to anticipate the actions of criminals. A third case shows Holmes assisting a client of high social standing, demonstrating the breadth of his expertise and the complexity of cases he undertakes. The excerpts emphasize Holmes’s intellect, his unconventional methods, and his success in solving complex crimes. Underlying the narrative is the contrast between Holmes’s analytical genius and the limitations of conventional police work.

Sherlock Holmes: A Study Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. What are the circumstances that led to Dr. Watson’s return to England from military service?
2. How does Stamford describe Sherlock Holmes’s character and studies?
3. What does Sherlock Holmes discover about the nature of bloodstains in his lab experiment?
4. What kind of lodgings do Watson and Holmes decide on, and where are they located?
5. What is the significance of the ‘sign of four’, and who are the ‘four’?
6. How does Jonathan Small describe his relationship with Major Sholto and Captain Morstan?
7. Describe the physical appearance and demeanor of Thaddeus Sholto.
8. Who is Tonga, and what is his connection to Jonathan Small?
9. What role do the “Baker Street Irregulars” play in the case?
10. What happens to Tonga at the end of the narrative?

Answer Key

1. Dr. Watson sustained a shoulder injury from a Jezail bullet during the Second Afghan War and contracted enteric fever. These medical misfortunes led to his medical board sending him back to England to recover his health.
2. Stamford describes Holmes as “a little queer in his ideas” and an enthusiast in some branches of science. He also notes that Holmes’s studies are desultory and eccentric, but he is a master of out-of-the-way knowledge.
3. Holmes discovers a reagent that is precipitated by hemoglobin, thus providing an infallible test for bloodstains, no matter the age of the stain. This is a major medico-legal discovery and more effective than prior tests.
4. Watson and Holmes decide on a suite of rooms at 221B Baker Street. The lodgings consist of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting room with two broad windows.
5. The “sign of four” is a mark used by Jonathan Small, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar and Muhammad Singh to seal their agreement regarding the Agra treasure. It also appears on the map they drew.
6. Small and the other three soldiers made an agreement with Major Sholto to give him the Agra treasure in exchange for his aid in their freedom. He blames Sholto for betraying them and stealing the treasure.
7. Thaddeus Sholto is a small man with a very high head, red hair around the fringe, a bold shining scalp, a pendulous lip, and irregular yellow teeth, his features are constantly jerking between a smile and a scowl.
8. Tonga is a small Andaman Islander who becomes a loyal companion of Jonathan Small while Small was in prison. Tonga is fiercely loyal to Small and accompanies him on the mission to retrieve the treasure.
9. The “Baker Street Irregulars” are a group of street urchins whom Sherlock Holmes employs to gather information for him. They are very effective at blending into the London streets and reporting back.
10. Tonga dies when, during a chase with Holmes and Watson, he gets caught in the mud on the shores of the Thames, and is later discovered to have drowned and his body is not recovered.

Essay Questions

1. Analyze the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as depicted in these passages, focusing on how their individual characteristics complement each other in the investigative process.
2. Explore the themes of justice and revenge present in the narrative, examining how characters like Jonathan Small and others seek retribution for perceived wrongs.
3. Discuss the role of deduction and observation in Sherlock Holmes’s methods, using specific examples from the text to illustrate how he uses these skills to solve the mystery.
4. Compare and contrast the Victorian-era settings of the story, including the genteel settings of the streets of London, the lower classes, and how they create the mystery within the narrative.
5. How does Doyle use the narrative structure and perspective to engage the reader and build suspense in “The Sign of Four?”

Glossary of Key Terms

Alkaloid: A class of naturally occurring organic compounds, often of plant origin, that contain nitrogen and have pharmacological properties, often toxic, as illustrated by the poison used in the case.

Andaman Islands: An archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, inhabited by indigenous people considered among the smallest on earth. This becomes crucial because this is where the mysterious Tonga comes from.

Baker Street Irregulars: A group of street urchins employed by Sherlock Holmes to gather information, demonstrating his use of unconventional methods to solve cases.

Deduction: A logical process of reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions, a core element of Holmes’s investigative technique.

Enteric Fever: A synonym for typhoid fever, which is an acute illness that Dr. Watson suffers during his military service, affecting his return to England.

Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and can be tested for even in old stains. This becomes a critical piece of knowledge for Holmes to solve crimes involving blood.

Jezail: A type of long, heavy musket commonly used in the Afghan war, and the type of bullet used to injure Dr. Watson.

Medico-legal: Pertaining to both medical and legal matters, as in Sherlock Holmes’s discovery of a blood reagent that becomes a key piece of evidence in forensic analysis.

Observation: The act of carefully and closely watching something, distinguishing it from simply seeing, and is central to Holmes’s methods of deduction.

Reagent: A substance used to cause a chemical reaction, which can reveal the presence of another substance like hemoglobin.

Sherlock Holmes: Themes and Analysis

Okay, here is a detailed briefing document based on the provided excerpts from “Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate Collection.”

Briefing Document: Key Themes and Ideas from “Sherlock Holmes”

Introduction

This document analyzes key themes, facts, and ideas presented in the provided excerpts from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, specifically focusing on A Study in Scarlet, “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Red-Headed League,” and “The Five Orange Pips.” It examines the development of the Holmes-Watson relationship, Holmes’s deductive abilities, and recurring motifs found in the detective’s cases.

1. The Establishment of the Holmes-Watson Relationship (A Study in Scarlet)

• Initial Meeting: The excerpts from A Study in Scarlet detail how Dr. John Watson, newly returned from war in Afghanistan and seeking affordable lodgings, meets Sherlock Holmes through a mutual acquaintance, Stamford. This establishes the origins of their famous partnership. Watson’s initial reaction is one of curiosity, calling Holmes “a little queer in his ideas and an enthusiast in some branches of science.”
• Holmes’s Eccentricities: Even at this early stage, Holmes’s unusual personality and scientific interests are apparent. Stamford warns Watson, “You don’t know Sherlock Holmes yet… Perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion.” We learn that he’s a master of “out of the way knowledge” and conducts experiments, as seen when he demonstrates his new blood reagent. His interest in bloodstains is described as being of “practical medico-legal” significance.
• Watson’s Role: Watson is portrayed as a man of action, a veteran of war, but also as a curious observer, immediately drawn to the enigma of Holmes, stating, “The proper study of mankind is man you know.” He provides a grounded perspective and often serves as the reader’s surrogate.
• The Baker Street flat: The choice of 221B Baker Street is not accidental. It is seen to be “cheerfully furnished” and suited for two men of similar means and needs. The flat becomes the backdrop for the stories and part of the fabric of the Holmesian world.

2. The Science of Deduction and Observation

• Beyond Mere Observation: Holmes differentiates between seeing and observing, stating, “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.” He emphasizes the importance of noticing minute details and then using deductive reasoning to arrive at conclusions. He demonstrates this with Watson, using mud on his shoe and his stamps and postcards to deduce his visit to the post office.
• Technical Knowledge: Holmes’s expertise in diverse fields, including chemistry, anatomy, and criminology, is shown throughout these excerpts. His knowledge base is shown to be wide-ranging, from poisons, to ashes of tobacco to the tracing of footsteps. This is illustrated when he refers to a case involving a murder in Frankfurt where his blood test would have been decisive and in his various monographs. He says “Criminal cases are continually hinges upon that one point”
• Analytical Reasoning: Holmes emphasizes a “cold and unemotional” approach to detection, stressing the importance of logical deduction based on facts. He criticizes romanticism, as seen in his response to Watson’s recounting of a case, declaring, “Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner.” He also criticises Watson’s writing when Watson is “attempt[ing] to tinge it with romanticism.”
• Individualization: Holmes is shown to believe that an individual leaves their imprint on daily items, stating “it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it.” He uses this to find a man’s profession, etc. through careful observation of minute details.

3. Themes of Justice and Morality

• Vengeance: The excerpts from A Study in Scarlet include a confession from a man who has travelled the world to seek revenge on his oppressors, and shows how revenge may consume an individual. The idea of an individual taking justice into their own hands is highlighted, which was a common trope in the stories of the time. The killer says “It was an evil day for me when first i clapped eyes upon the merchant achmat and had to do with the agra treasure which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it to him it brought murder to major shelter it brought fear and guilt to me it has meant slavery for life.”
• The Fallibility of the Law: The stories subtly question the effectiveness of the official police forces, suggesting their dependence on Holmes’s superior skills. This is evidenced in Holmes’s interaction with the police officer Anthony Jones, where Holmes believes that “Jones’s energy will be of use to us.” Jones is seen to defer to Holmes and to value Holmes’ skills in detection when he refers to him as a man with “his own little methods.”
• The Complexity of Human Nature: While the excerpts show Holmes as a master of logic and deduction, they also reveal his understanding of the darker aspects of humanity. The stories present antagonists who are driven by greed, jealousy, and revenge, portraying humanity as morally complex.

4. Recurring Motifs

• The Mystery of the Client: Many stories open with a mysterious client approaching Holmes with a complex case. In “A Scandal in Bohemia,” it is a disguised man; in “The Red-Headed League,” a pawnbroker; and in “The Sign of Four,” a young woman. These mysterious visitors provide the initial clues, setting the plot into motion.
• Disguise and Deception: Disguise is often used by characters as a means of escaping detection or manipulating others. This is seen in the masked German client in “A Scandal in Bohemia” and in Holmes’s use of wigs, beards, and a clergyman’s persona in the same story. Holmes sees through these ruses by employing his skills of observation and deduction.
• The Power of the Past: Past events have a significant impact on the present. In “The Sign of Four,” a past betrayal and quest for treasure leads to a string of murders. In “A Study in Scarlet”, old feuds and the desire for revenge consume the perpetrator.
• Use of Setting: The settings in the excerpts add to the stories. The grimy streets of London create a sense of unease, while the descriptions of the lavish rooms of Thaddeus Sholto show that wealth and crime can be connected.

5. Specific Case Summaries

• “A Scandal in Bohemia”: Irene Adler outwits Holmes, demonstrating that she possesses intellect and cunning that rival his own. The case revolves around a photograph that could compromise a king’s reputation.
• “The Red-Headed League”: Holmes uncovers a complicated plan to rob a bank, highlighting his ability to see through elaborate ruses. The case is seen as a complicated plot with “a perfectly obvious object.” Holmes states it “was a curious way of managing it but really it would be difficult to suggest a better”. It uses the distraction of employment as an effective means of hiding a crime.
• “The Sign of Four”: A complex story involving a treasure, a stolen inheritance, and murder, introducing the Andaman Islander Tonga and the motivations of Jonathan Small. The case involves travel to India.
• “The Five Orange Pips”: This excerpt references Holmes’s belief that past events have a profound impact on the present. The story also reveals Holmes’s belief that some forces, like the past, cannot always be escaped.

Conclusion

These excerpts provide a rich glimpse into the world of Sherlock Holmes, illustrating the core elements that define the stories: the dynamic relationship between Holmes and Watson, the power of observation and deduction, and the themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of human motivation. They demonstrate Holmes’s unique approach to solving crimes and his lasting appeal as a literary character. The excerpts also reveal Holmes as a complex character with a dual nature. This is highlighted when Watson notes that “Strange said i have terms of what in another man i should call laziness alternate with your fits of splendid energy and vigor.”

The Science of Deduction: Sherlock Holmes Unveiled

Frequently Asked Questions About the World of Sherlock Holmes

• What circumstances led to Dr. Watson meeting Sherlock Holmes?
• Dr. Watson, a former army surgeon, returned to London after being wounded and suffering illness during the Second Afghan War. He found himself alone, with limited finances, and sought a more affordable living arrangement than a hotel. Through a chance encounter with an old colleague, Stamford, Watson learned of Sherlock Holmes, a man also seeking a roommate to share the cost of rooms. This led to their initial meeting at a hospital laboratory and their subsequent shared living arrangement at 221B Baker Street.
• How would you describe Sherlock Holmes’ personality and habits? Sherlock Holmes is depicted as an individual of intense focus and eccentric habits. He is incredibly intelligent and analytical, possessing a vast amount of knowledge in various fields, especially chemistry and deduction. His behavior is characterized by periods of intense energy dedicated to his studies or cases, followed by periods of inactivity where he can be quiet and withdrawn, sometimes even appearing in a narcotic-like state. He also has a penchant for unusual experiments and a lack of concern for conventional social norms.
• What is the “science of deduction” that Sherlock Holmes practices? Holmes’ “science of deduction” is not just about making educated guesses. It is based on meticulous observation and the logical analysis of those observations. He pays close attention to minute details—such as clothing, physical characteristics, and residue—from which he infers conclusions. He often uses these observations combined with his vast knowledge to deduce past events and future actions. It’s about reading the world like a text, where every detail holds significance.
• How did the Agra treasure play a role in the stories you’ve included?
• The Agra treasure and the events surrounding it are a central element in some stories. This significant treasure, acquired illicitly, becomes the focus of a revenge plot involving several individuals, particularly Jonathan Small and Major Sholto. The stories illustrate how the pursuit of this wealth leads to betrayal, violence, and tragedy, becoming the backdrop for intricate criminal investigations by Holmes. It exemplifies the destructive power of greed and the lengths to which people will go for their desires.
• Who is Tonga and what makes him such a dangerous figure?
• Tonga is a small aboriginal man from the Andaman Islands who becomes an accomplice of Jonathan Small. He is depicted as an incredibly dangerous and lethal figure due to his proficiency with a blowpipe and poisoned darts. He is also physically agile and is utterly devoted to Small. His introduction brings a savage, almost otherworldly element into the crimes, making him a formidable and unpredictable opponent.
• What is the Red-Headed League and what is the significance of the scheme involving it?
• The Red-Headed League is a fictional organization used in a complex scheme to remove Jabez Wilson from his pawnbroker shop for a specific amount of time each day. This elaborate distraction was orchestrated so that a criminal gang could dig a tunnel from Wilson’s cellar into the bank located next door. This intricate scheme showcases the cleverness of the criminals and underscores Holmes’s ability to see through such seemingly absurd plans to find the underlying criminal motivations. The scheme demonstrates how seemingly nonsensical events can have a rational criminal purpose.
• How does Sherlock Holmes’s view of women differ from the norm, and what influence does Irene Adler have on that view?
• Holmes generally views women through a detached, intellectual lens, seeing them as subjects for observation rather than emotional connections. He sees emotions, particularly love, as distracting factors that can interfere with clear thinking. Irene Adler is an exception. Though he does not fall in love with her, he views her as an intellectual equal, using her wit and cleverness in high esteem. Her successful outmaneuvering of him and ability to maintain her own independence in some ways humanizes him by showing him he is not infallible.
• What are some of the overarching themes in the stories about Sherlock Holmes? Several themes run through these stories. Justice and retribution are prominent as many crimes are driven by a desire to right past wrongs. The stories emphasize the significance of detailed observation and logical reasoning as the primary tools in unmasking deception. The often complex motives of humans are explored and highlight the duality of good and evil in individuals. Finally, the stories suggest a sense of order in a chaotic world where logic and keen observation can restore balance.

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Deduction

Sherlock Holmes is depicted as a highly intelligent and observant individual with a keen interest in crime and detection [1-3]. Here’s a breakdown of his key characteristics and traits:

• Deductive Reasoning: Holmes possesses an exceptional ability to deduce conclusions from observations [3, 4]. He emphasizes the importance of observation and deduction as separate but related skills [4]. For instance, he deduces that Dr. Watson had been to the Wigmore Street post office and sent a telegram simply by observing mud on his instep and noting the contents of his desk [4]. He also states that “the proper study of mankind is man” [2].
• Scientific Approach: Holmes has a scientific and analytical approach to detection [1, 3, 4]. He uses his knowledge of chemistry, such as his discovery of a reagent precipitated by hemoglobin [1], to solve crimes. He is described as being “a little too scientific” by Stamford [1]. He is also described as having a passion for “definite and exact knowledge” [1].
• Attention to Detail: Holmes has an extraordinary ability to notice minute details that others overlook [2, 4]. He meticulously examines crime scenes, measuring distances and collecting seemingly insignificant items like dust [5]. He also has a collection of monographs on subjects such as tobacco ash, footprints, and the influence of a trade on the form of the hand [4].
• Eccentric Habits: Holmes has some unusual habits, including occasional drug use (cocaine), long periods of silence, and intense bursts of energy [2, 3]. He admits to dabbling with poisons [2]. He also has a tendency to be in a “dreamy vacant expression” [2]. However, it is also noted that he is a generally clean person [2].
• Analytical Mind: Holmes describes himself as “the last and highest court of appeal in detection” [3]. He does not seek public recognition [3]. He is deeply interested in the process of solving a case, viewing the work itself as his reward [3]. He believes detection should be treated as an exact science [4].
• Knowledge of Crime: Holmes seems to have an extensive knowledge of past crimes, using them to aid in solving current mysteries [1]. He also appears to have a wide ranging knowledge of world events [2, 5].
• Physical Appearance: Holmes is described as being over six feet tall, excessively lean, with sharp, piercing eyes, a thin, hawk-like nose, and a prominent chin [2]. His hands are often stained with ink and chemicals [2]. He is also described as having “extraordinary delicacy of touch” [2].
• Disregard for Emotion: Holmes has a cold and unemotional manner. He views emotions as a distraction from clear reasoning [1, 3, 6]. Despite this he does seem to have a strong sense of justice and fair play [7]. He is not interested in romance or love [6].
• Unconventional Methods: Holmes is an amateur detective who uses unconventional methods to solve crimes [3, 5]. He is often seen using a tape measure and a magnifying glass at crime scenes [5]. His methods, while effective, are sometimes met with skepticism from the official police [3, 5].
• Self-Awareness: Holmes seems aware of his own eccentricities. He admits to having “shortcomings” including getting in the “dumps at times” and not speaking for days [2]. He also acknowledges that he has an “extraordinary genius for minutiae” [4].

In conclusion, Sherlock Holmes is a complex character defined by his brilliant mind, keen observational skills, and dedication to solving mysteries through logic and deduction [1-5].

The Art of Detection

Detective stories, as exemplified by the Sherlock Holmes narratives, often revolve around a central mystery that is solved through the application of keen observation, deduction, and knowledge [1-3]. Here’s a breakdown of the common elements and themes found in the sources:

• The Central Mystery: A crime or puzzling event is the starting point for the story [2, 4, 5]. This could be a murder [2, 4, 6], a theft [7], a disappearance [8], or another kind of unusual incident [5]. The mystery is often presented in a way that seems complex and baffling [1, 2, 6].
• The Detective: The detective is the central figure in these stories, often possessing exceptional abilities in observation and deduction [1, 3]. Like Sherlock Holmes, they are often portrayed as having unique methods and a strong, analytical approach to solving cases [1, 3]. They often focus on details that others might overlook [2, 6].
• Observation and Deduction: These are key components of detective work in the stories [1, 9]. The detective carefully examines the crime scene, noting minute details and using these observations to construct logical deductions about what happened [2, 6, 10, 11]. Holmes emphasizes the importance of both observation and deduction and considers them separate, but related skills [1, 12].
• Scientific Approach: Many detectives, including Sherlock Holmes, are depicted as having a scientific approach to their work. They use knowledge of chemistry, toxicology, and other sciences to solve crimes [1, 6, 8, 11]. Holmes is particularly interested in forensic science and its application to detection [12].
• Clues and Evidence: The story often involves the gathering and interpretation of clues and evidence [2, 3, 10]. This might include physical evidence found at the scene [2, 6, 11], witness statements [9, 13, 14], and other forms of information that help piece together the events [1, 10, 12]. The way a detective interprets these clues is central to the narrative [2, 6].
• Unconventional Methods: Detectives in these stories often use methods that are not traditional or expected. Holmes, for instance, uses a network of street urchins to gather information [15]. He also employs disguises, and other creative strategies, to solve cases [7, 10, 12, 16].
• The Role of Logic and Reason: The application of logic and reason is a key element in detective stories. The detective uses analytical reasoning to untangle a series of events to reveal the truth [1, 3, 6, 12].
• The Resolution: The detective story usually culminates in a logical and coherent explanation of the mystery. The detective reveals their deductions and demonstrates how they arrived at the solution, often to the surprise of other characters [2, 3, 6, 12]. This often involves the identification of the guilty party, and the motive for the crime [4, 6, 12].
• Social Commentary: Detective stories can sometimes offer a commentary on society [15]. For example, the stories in the source material touch on issues like the impact of crime on different classes of society and the effectiveness of law enforcement [2, 12, 15]. There can also be subtle commentary on class, gender, and race [1, 2, 12, 15].
• The Detective’s Personality: The detective’s personality often plays a key role in the stories. Sherlock Holmes’s eccentric habits, his cold and unemotional manner, and his tendency to be self-absorbed are all aspects of his character that shape the narrative and his interaction with the other characters [1, 4, 12].
• Elements of Suspense and Surprise: Detective stories often employ suspense, surprise, and misdirection [2, 3, 6]. These literary devices keep the reader engaged and invested in the unraveling of the mystery [2, 3, 12]. For example, in one case it appears that a woman’s name is crucial to solving the case but that turns out to be a red herring [3].

In essence, detective stories are not just about solving crimes; they are about the power of observation, deduction, and the human intellect in the face of the mysterious and unknown. They often blend elements of logic with the unexpected, making them compelling and engaging [7, 12].

The Science of Deduction in Crime Investigation

Crime investigation, as depicted in the sources, involves a methodical process that relies heavily on observation, deduction, and a scientific approach [1-4]. Here’s a breakdown of key aspects of crime investigation based on the provided texts:

• Observation of the Crime Scene: Investigators meticulously examine the crime scene, noting even the smallest details [2, 4]. This includes taking note of the layout of the room, the presence of any objects or substances, and any marks or traces left behind [2-4]. For example, Holmes observes the ruts left by a cab’s wheels and the imprints of a horse’s hooves at a crime scene [5]. The investigators also look for any signs of a struggle, the position of the victim, and the presence of any weapons [2, 4, 6].
• Collection of Evidence: Gathering and preserving evidence is crucial [3, 4]. This includes collecting physical objects such as a ring, a hat, blood samples, dust, and cigar ash [2, 3]. Investigators also note down any written material such as letters, notes, or markings [2, 3, 7]. In one case, a detective carefully collects gray dust from the floor and packs it away in an envelope [3]. The sources also mention the use of plaster of Paris to preserve footprints and a tape measure to note the distances between different objects [3, 8].
• Deductive Reasoning: Investigators use logic and deduction to analyze the evidence and draw conclusions about what might have happened [4, 5, 8]. This involves piecing together the available information to form a coherent picture of the events [5]. For example, Holmes infers the height of a murderer based on his stride and the height of writing on a wall [5]. Holmes also infers that a victim was poisoned based on their facial expression and a sour smell [4]. Holmes explains “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth” [6].
• Scientific Methods: The use of scientific methods is common in crime investigation [1, 6]. This includes analyzing blood, chemicals, and other substances [2]. It also includes having a deep knowledge of forensics [1]. Holmes is said to have a knowledge of poisons [6] and has written a monograph on cigar ashes [5]. Holmes also has a detailed understanding of the types of paper used in printing [8] and an extensive knowledge of types of handwriting [9].
• Interrogation of Witnesses: Gathering information from witnesses and other individuals who may have knowledge of the crime is another step in the investigation [7, 10-12]. This involves questioning witnesses and gathering their statements to help understand the circumstances of the crime. The questioning of witnesses may involve confronting them with contradictory information to get at the truth [10].
• Reconstruction of Events: Investigators try to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crime [5, 9, 13]. This includes understanding the movements of the victim and the perpetrator, their motives, and the means by which the crime was committed [4, 5]. In one case, Holmes deduces that a victim was brought to the crime scene in a cab [5]. In another case, Holmes reconstructs a timeline based on a conversation with a boarding house owner [10, 11].
• Use of Technology and Tools: Detectives use various tools in their investigations, including magnifying glasses, tape measures, and occasionally, firearms [3, 14]. The sources also mention the use of telegrams to gather information quickly [3, 4]. Holmes used a chemical analysis to determine the composition of a stain [15].
• Understanding of Criminal Behavior: The source material demonstrates that understanding how criminals act and think is a part of the detective’s toolkit [9, 14]. Holmes seems to have an understanding of the mind of a criminal that allows him to predict their next move [15].
• The Importance of Detail: The sources emphasize that details often overlooked by others are of importance for successful investigation [2, 4]. The detectives pay close attention to what might seem like minor facts. These details often prove to be crucial in unraveling a mystery.
• Distinguishing Observation from Deduction: The detectives are keen to emphasize the difference between observation and deduction [8, 16]. Observation is the act of seeing, while deduction is drawing conclusions from what is observed. Holmes uses the example of steps to demonstrate this difference, noting that while one may see the steps, it requires observation to count them [16].
• Importance of a Scientific Approach: The detectives emphasize the importance of a scientific approach [1, 8]. The most effective detectives will rely on reason, logic, and observation over hunches or personal feelings.
• Official versus Unofficial Investigation: The source material often contrasts official police methods with the approach taken by unofficial detectives, such as Holmes [2, 3]. While police may rely on more standard methods, Holmes often utilizes his unique skills and resources [4]. Holmes is also willing to use methods of detection that are unconventional [14-16] and may break the rules of the police force to do so.

In summary, crime investigation as depicted in the sources is a blend of careful observation, rigorous analysis, and logical deduction, often enhanced by scientific knowledge and unconventional methods. The key to successful investigation is a focus on details, a deep understanding of human behavior, and the application of both logic and reason to arrive at the truth.

The Art of the Murder Mystery

Murder mysteries, as presented in the sources, are complex narratives centered around a death that is not immediately explained, involving elements of suspense, investigation, and the eventual revelation of the truth [1-20]. Here’s a detailed look at the key characteristics:

• The Central Crime: The story begins with the discovery of a murder, often under mysterious or puzzling circumstances [1]. The cause of death might be unclear, there may be no apparent motive, and the crime scene may be confusing or contradictory [1, 4]. The initial circumstances are meant to challenge the investigators and engage the reader.
• The Victim: The victim’s character and background are often important to the plot. The victim might have a hidden past, secrets, or relationships that provide possible motives for their murder. For example, Enoch J. Drever is described as having a “malignant” face, suggesting he was not a virtuous character [1, 4]. His past actions provide a motive for his murder [9]. In another case, a victim’s kindness and generosity are emphasized, adding to the tragedy of their death [17].
• The Suspects: Several suspects are usually introduced, each with their own possible motives and reasons to be considered [6, 7, 13]. These characters are often interconnected with the victim, creating a web of relationships and potential conflicts. There can be multiple suspects in a case and the initial suspect is usually not the real murderer [2, 7, 13].
• The Detective: The detective is central to the story, using their skills to solve the crime. They examine the crime scene for clues, interview witnesses, and analyze evidence. The detective’s methods are emphasized as they focus on details others miss, often using logic, deduction, and a scientific approach to reveal the truth [1-3, 7, 9, 10, 18]. Sherlock Holmes uses a variety of methods to solve the cases, including the examination of cigar ash [3, 18] and the analysis of footprints [3, 9].
• The Importance of Observation: The detective’s powers of observation are critical in a murder mystery [1-3, 9, 10]. The detective carefully examines the crime scene, noting minute details that might seem insignificant to others. For example, the detective notes the presence of a woman’s wedding ring at a crime scene and makes conclusions from this fact [1].
• Deductive Reasoning: Deductive reasoning is a critical skill for the detective as they must piece together the puzzle by working out what must have happened based on the clues [3, 9, 10, 19]. This often involves making inferences from incomplete evidence, following a chain of logic to arrive at conclusions about what must have occurred. For example, in one case, the detective pieces together that a suspect must have been in a cab with the victim on the basis of tire tracks and horse’s hooves [3].
• Use of Scientific Methods: Detectives may employ scientific methods and forensic science techniques such as toxicology to aid their investigations. For instance, in one case, the detective is able to determine that a victim was poisoned by sniffing their lips [1, 4]. The detective may also rely on his knowledge of printing to determine the origins of a note [15].
• Clues and Red Herrings: The narrative includes various clues, some of which are genuine while others are meant to mislead, known as “red herrings” [2, 3, 7, 10]. The detective must be able to differentiate between meaningful clues and distractions, using these clues to reconstruct the events leading up to the murder. In one case, a word scrawled in blood is initially thought to be a clue, but is later revealed to be a red herring [2].
• The Motive: Uncovering the motive behind the murder is a crucial part of the investigation. The motive is the reason why the murderer committed the crime and is often linked to personal relationships, past grievances, or financial gain. For example, in one case the motive is revenge for a past wrong [9]. In another case, the motive for murder is to prevent the marriage of the victim’s son [17].
• Unconventional Methods: Detectives often use unconventional methods to gather information such as employing street urchins as informants, disguises, and social engineering techniques [2, 5, 10]. These methods help them uncover facts that are not apparent using traditional means of investigation.
• Suspense and Tension: The story builds suspense as the detective slowly uncovers the truth, often leading to surprising revelations. Suspense is also built through misdirection and the introduction of false suspects [2, 4].
• The Resolution: The mystery is resolved when the detective reveals their deductions and identifies the murderer. The resolution often includes an explanation of the events leading up to the murder, the motive behind the crime, and the means by which the murderer committed the deed [7-10, 19].
• Justice: Though not always the main focus, murder mysteries often deal with the concept of justice. The resolution usually includes the capture or punishment of the guilty party. However, sometimes the murderer escapes punishment, or justice may be served in an unconventional way [9].
• The Detective’s Perspective: The detective’s perspective is often highlighted, showing their unique way of looking at the world and their analytical process. The detective is often shown to be confident in their abilities and methods and even a little arrogant [2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10]. The narrator often acts as a foil to the detective, highlighting their exceptional skills and also acting as a stand-in for the reader.

In essence, murder mysteries are more than just stories about death; they are intricate puzzles where the investigator must piece together fragments of information to discover the truth about a crime. The process relies on observation, deduction, a scientific approach and an understanding of human nature, often with elements of suspense and surprise woven in to maintain the reader’s interest [1-20].

The Agra Treasure and the Sign of Four

The Agra treasure is a central element in the source material, serving as a motivator for crime and a source of conflict. Here’s a breakdown of its significance and details:

• Origin and Nature: The Agra treasure is a collection of valuable jewels, including diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and other precious stones [1]. It originated with a Raja who sought to safeguard his wealth during a time of unrest by entrusting it to a merchant named Achmat, who was supposed to take it to the fort at Agra [1].
• Theft of the Treasure: The merchant, Achmat, never reached his destination. Instead, he was ambushed and killed by Jonathan Small, Abdullah Khan, and Mohammed Singh. They stole the treasure and hid it within the fort [1]. They drew four maps of the hiding place, each signed with the “sign of four” [1, 2].
• Theft by Major Sholto and Captain Morstan: Major Sholto and Captain Morstan, two English officers, learned about the treasure and its hiding place from Jonathan Small and his associates, who were imprisoned for the murder of Achmat [2, 3]. They promised to help Small escape and share the treasure but stole it for themselves [2]. They left Small and his companions in prison and brought the treasure to England [4].
• Concealment and Discovery: Major Sholto hid the treasure in his house in England, and it remained undiscovered for years [4, 5]. After his death, his sons, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, searched for it without success [5]. Bartholomew eventually discovered the treasure in a hidden attic space by calculating the cubic space of the house [5].
• Murder and Theft: Following the discovery of the treasure, Bartholomew Sholto is murdered and the treasure is stolen. Jonathan Small and his associate, Tonga, are responsible [3, 6]. Small claims that he only intended to take the treasure back, not to murder Bartholomew [3, 7].
• The Sign of the Four: The name comes from the four men who originally stole the treasure from Achmat. They pledged to remain loyal to each other, with each man representing a point of the four sided symbol [2, 3]. The sign of four is left as a calling card by Small at the scene of crimes connected with the treasure, as a sign of their involvement [5, 8].
• The Curse of the Treasure: The treasure is repeatedly described as bringing bad luck and violence [7]. It is associated with murder, betrayal, and imprisonment, causing the ruin of many of those who come into contact with it [7, 9]. Jonathan Small states the treasure brought “murder to Major Sholto, it brought fear and guilt” to him, and “meant slavery for life” [7].
• Fate of the Treasure: After Small is captured, he reveals that he threw the treasure into the Thames to keep it out of the hands of the Sholto family [9]. Small states that he would “take darned good care that no one else does” have the loot [9]. The treasure is ultimately lost, further emphasizing the destructive nature of greed and avarice [9].

The Agra treasure is not just a physical object but also a symbol of greed, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The source material shows how the desire for the treasure leads to violence, murder, and ultimately, the loss of the treasure itself.

The Original Text

Gates of Imagination presents Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle read by Arthur Lane. A study in Scarlet. Part one. Being a reprint from the reminiscences of John h Watson doctor of medicine late of the army medical department. Chapter one. Mr Sherlock Holmes. In the year eighteen seventy eight i took my degree of doctor of medicine of the university of London and proceeded to netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there i was duly attached to the fifth northumberland fusiliers as assistant surgeon. The regiment i was stationed in India at the time and before i could join it the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay i learned that my corps had advanced through the passes and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed however with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself and succeeded in reaching cap under her in safety where i found my regiment and at once entered upon my new duties. The campaign brought honours and promotion to many but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the berkshires with whom i served at the fatal battle of my wand. There i was struck on the shoulder by a jezebel bullet which shattered the bone and grazed the sea subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous gases had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray my orderly who threw me across a pack horse and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines. Worn with pain and weak from the prolonged hardships which i had undergone i was removed with a great train of wounded sufferers to the base hospital at PR shower. Here i rallied and had already improved so far as to be able to walk about the wards and even to bask a little upon the verandah when i was struck down by enteric fever that curse of our Indian HP possessions. For months my life was despaired of and when at last i came to myself and became convalescent i was so weak and emaciated that a medical board determined that not a day should be lost in sending me back to england. I was dispatched accordingly in the troop ship or aunties and landed a month later on Portsmouth jetty with my health irretrievably ruined but with permission from a paternal government to spend the next nine months in attempting to improve it. I had neither kith nor kin in england and was therefore as free as air or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances i naturally gravitated to London. That great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the empire are irresistibly dry trained. There i stayed for some time at a private hotel in the strand leading a comfort lists meaningless existence and spending such money as i had considerably more freely than i ought. So alarming did the state of my finances become that i soon realized that i must either leave the Metropolis and rusticated somewhere in the country or that i must make a complete alteration in my style of living. Choosing the latter alternative i began by making up my mind to leave the hotel and to take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less expensive domicile. On the very day that i’d come to this conclusion i was standing at the criterion bar when some one tapped me on the shoulder and turning round i recognized young stamford who had been a dresser under me at barts. The sight of a friendly face in the great wilderness of London is a pleasant thing indeed to a lonely man. In old days stamford had never been a particular crony of mine but now i hailed him with enthusiasm and he in his turn appear to be delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy i asked him to lunch with me at the holborn and we started off together in a handsome. Whatever have you been doing with yourself Watson he asked in undisguised wonder as we rattled through the crowded London streets. You are as thin as a laugh and as brown as a nut. I gave him a short sketch of my adventures and had hardly concluded it by the time that we reached our destination. Poor devil he said commiserating lie after he had listened to my misfortunes. What are you up to now. Looking for lodgings i answered. Trying to solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get comfortable room comes at a reasonable price. That’s a strange thing remarked my companion. You’re the second man today that has used that expression to me and who was the first i asked. A fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital he was bemoaning himself this morning because he could not get someone to go halves with him in some nice rooms which he had found and which were too much for his purse. By jove i cried if he really wants someone to share the rooms and the expense i am the very man for him. I should prefer having a partner to being alone. Young stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wine glass. You don’t know Sherlock Holmes yet he said. Perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion. Why what is there against him. Oh i didn’t say there was anything against him he’s a little queer in his ideas and enthusiast in some branches of science. As far as i know he’s a decent fellow enough. A medical student i suppose said i. Know. I have no idea what he intends to go in for. I believe he as well in anatomy and he is a first class chemist but as far as i know he’s never taken out any systematic medical classes. His studies are very desultory and eccentric but he is a master lot of out of the way knowledge which would astonish his professors. Did you never ask him what he was going in for i asked no he’s not a man that it is easy to draw out though he can be communicative enough when the fancy seizes him. I should like to meet him i said if i am to lodge with anyone i should prefer a man of studious and quiet habits. I am not strong enough yet to stand much much noise or excitement i had enough of both in Afghanistan to last me for the remainder of my natural existence how could i meet this friend of yours. He is sure to be at the laboratory returned my companion he either avoids the place for weeks or else he works there from morning to night. If you like we shall drive round together after luncheon. Certainly i answered and the conversation drifted away into other channels. As we made our way to the hospital after leaving the holborn stamford gave me a few more particulars about the gentleman whom i proposed to take as a fellow lodger. You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get on with him he said i know nothing more of him than i have learned from meeting him occasionally in the laboratory. You proposed this arrangement so you must not hold me responsible. If we don’t get on it will be easy to part company i answered. It seems to me stamford i added looking hard at my companion. That you have some reason for washing your hands of the matter. Is this fellow’s temper so formidable or what is it don’t be mealy mouthed about it. It is not easy to express the inexpressible he answered with a laugh Holmes is a little too sigh scientific for my tastes it approaches to cold blooded nus i could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid. Not out of malevolence you understand but simply out of a spirit of inquiry in order to have an accurate idea of the effects to do him justice i think that he would take it himself with the same reading this. He appears to have a passion for definite and exact knowledge very right to. Yes but it may be pushed to excess. When it comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting rooms with a stick it is certainly taking rather a bizarre shape. Beating the subjects yes to verify how far Bruce this may be produced after death i saw him at it with my own eyes and yet you say he is not a medical student. No. Heaven knows what the objects of his studies are but here we are and you must form your own impressions about him. As he spoke we turned down a narrow Lane and passed through a small side door which opened into a wing of the great hospital. It was familiar ground to me and i needed no guiding as we ascended the bleak stone staircase and made our way down the long corridor with it’s vista of whitewashed wall and dun coloured doors. Near the further end a low arched passage branched away from it and led to the chemical laboratory. This was a lofty chamber lined and littered with countless bottles. Broad low tables were scattered about which bristled with retorts test tubes and little bunsen lamps with their blue flickering flames. There was only one student in the room who was bending over a distant table absorbed in his work. At the sound of our steps he glanced round and sprang to his feet with a cry of pleasure. I found it i found it he shouted to my companion running towards us with a test-tube in his hand. I have found a reagent which is precipitated by hemoglobin and by nothing else. Had he discovered a gold mine greater delight could not have shone upon his features. Watson. Mr Sherlock Holmes said stamford introducing us. How are you he said cordially. Gripping my hand with a strength for which i should hardly have given him credit. You have been in Afghanistan i perceive. How on earth did you know that i asked in astonishment. Never mind said he chuckling to himself. The question now is about hemoglobin. No doubt you see the significance of this discovery of mine. It is interesting chemically no doubt i answered but practically. Why man it is the most practical medico legal discovery for years. Don’t you see that it gives us an infallible test for bloodstains come over here now. He seized me by the coat sleeve in his eagerness and drew me over to the table at which he had been working. Let us have some fresh blood he said. Digging a long bodkin into his finger and drawing off the resulting drop of blood in a chemical pipette. Now. I add this small quantity of blood to a liter of water. You perceive that the resulting mixture has the appearance of pure water. The proportion of blood cannot be more more than one in a million i have no doubt however that we shall be able to obtain the characteristic reaction. As he spoke he threw into the vessel a few white crystals and then added some drops of a transparent fluid. In an instant the contents assumed a dull mahogany color and a brownish dust was precipitate to the bottom of the glass jar ha ha he cried clapping his hands and looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. What do you think of that. It seems to be a very delicate test i remarked. Beautiful beautiful. The old gear contest was very clumsy and uncertain. So is the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles the latter is valueless if the stains are a few hours old. Now this appears to act as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this test been invented. There are hundreds of men now walking the earth who would long ago have paid the penalty of their crimes. Indeed i murmured. Criminal cases are continually hinges upon that one point a man is suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are examined and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains or mud stains or rust stains or fruit stains or what are they. That is a question which has puzzled many an expert and why. Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes’s test and there will no longer be any difficulty. His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke and he put his hand over his heart and bowed as if to some applauding crowd conjured up by his imagination. You are to be congratulated i remarked considerably surprised at his enthusiasm. There was the case of from bish off at Frankfurt last year he would certainly have been hung had this test been in existence then there was Mason of Bradford and the notorious Miller and Lefevre of montpellier and Samson of new Orleans. I could name a score of cases in which it would have been decisive. You seem to be a walking calendar of crime said stamford with a laugh. You might start a paper on those lines call it the police news of the past. Very interesting reading it might be made too remarked Sherlock Holmes sticking a small piece of plaster over the prick on his finger. I have to be careful he continued turning to me with a smile for i dabble with poisons a good deal. He held out his hand as he spoke and i noticed that it was all mottled over with simmer a pieces of plaster and discoloured with strong acids. We came here on business said stamford sitting down on a high three legged stool and pushing another one in my direction with his foot. My friend here wants to take diggings and as you are complaining that you could get no one to go halves with you i thought that i’d better bring you together a. Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea of sharing his rooms with me. I have my eye on a suite in baker street he said which would suit us down to the ground. You don’t mind the smell of strong tobacco i hope. I always smoke ships myself i answered that’s good enough i generally have chemicals about and occasionally do experiments with that annoy you. By no means. Let me see what am i other shortcomings i get in the dumps at times and don’t open my mouth for days on end. You must not think i am sulky when i do that. Just let me alone and I’ll soon be right. What have you to confess now it’s just as well for two fellows to know the worst of one another before they begin to live together. I laughed at this cross examination. I keep a bullpup i said and i object to rows because my nerves are shaken and i get up at all sorts of ungodly hours and i am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when i’m well but those are the principle ones at present. Do you include violin playing in your category of rows he asked anxiously. It depends on the player i answered. A well played violin is a treat for the gods a badly played one. Oh that’s all right he cried with a merry laugh i think we may consider the thing as settled that is if the rooms are agreeable to you. When shall we see them. Call for me here at noon tomorrow and will go together and settle everything he answered. All right. Noon exactly said i shaking his hand. We left him working among his chemicals and we walked together towards my hotel. By the way i asked suddenly stopping and turning upon stamford. How the deuce did he know that i’d come from Afghanistan. My companion smiled an enigmatic smile. That’s just his little peculiarity he said a good many people have wanted to know how he finds things out. Oh a mystery is it i cried rubbing my hands. This is very piquant. I’m much obliged to you for bringing us together. The proper study of mankind is man you know. You must study him then stamford said as he bade me good bye. You’ll find him a knotty problem though I’ll wager he learns more about you than you about him. Good bye. Good bye i answered and strolled onto my hotel considerably interested in my new acquaintance. Chapter two. The science of deduction. We met next day as he had arranged and inspected the rooms at number two hundred twenty one b baker street of which he had spoken at our meeting. They consisted of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting room cheerfully furnished and illuminated by two broad windows. So desirable in every way where the apartments and so moderate did the terms seem when divided between us. That the bargain was concluded upon the spot and we at once entered into possession. That very evening i moved my things round from the hotel and on the following morning Sherlock Holmes followed me with several boxes and portmanteau. For a day or two we were busily employed in unpacking and laying out our property to the best advantage. That done we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings. Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with he was quiet in his ways and his habits were regular it was rare for him to be up after ten at night and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before i Rose in the morning. Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical laboratory sometimes in the dissecting rooms and occasionally in long walks ks which appear to take him into the lowest portions of the city. Nothing could exceed his energy when the working fit was upon him but now and again a reaction would seize him and for days on end he would lie upon the sofa in the sitting room hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night. On these occasions I’ve noticed such a dreamy vacant expression in his eyes. That i might have suspected him of being addicted to the use of some narcotic had not the temperance and cleanliness of his whole life forbidden such a notion. As the weeks went by my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably the taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing save during those intervals of torpor to which i have alluded and his thin hawk like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin too had the prominence and squareness which Mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch as i frequently had occasion to observe when i watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments. The read may set me down as a hopeless busybody when i confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity and how often i endeavored to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself. Before pronouncing judgment however be it remembered how objectless was my life and how little there was to engage my attention. My health forbade me from venturing out unless the weather was exceptionally genial and i had no friends who would call upon me and break the monotony of my daily existence. Under these circumstances i eagerly hailed the little mystery which hung around my companion and spent much of my time in endeavouring to unravel it. He was not studying medicine he had himself in reply to a question confirm Stanford’s opinion upon that point. Neither did he appear to have pursued any course of reading which might fit him for a degree in science or any other recognized portal which would give him an entrance into the learned world. Yet his zeal for certain stay cadiz was remarkable and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his observations have fairly astounded me. Surely no man would work so hard or attain such precise information unless he had some definite end in view. Desultory readers are seldom remarkable for the exactness of their learning. No man burdens his mind with small matters. Unless he has some very good reason for doing so his ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing. Upon my quoting Thomas Carlyle he inquire hired in the naive ist way who he might be and what he had done. My surprise reached a climax however when i found incidentally that he was ignorant of the copernican theory and of the composition of the solar system. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun. Appeared to be to me such an extraordinary fact that i could hardly realize it. You appear to be astonished he said smiling at my expression of surprise. Now that i do know it i shall do my best to forget it to forget it. You see he explained. I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across. So that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work but of these he has a large assortment and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance therefore not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones but the solar system i protested. What the deuce is it to me he interrupted impatiently you say that we go round the sun if we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work. I was on the point of asking him what that work might be but something in his manner showed me that the question would be an unwelcome one. I pondered over our short conversation however and endeavored to draw my deductions from it. He said that he would acquire no knowledge which did not bear upon his object. Therefore all the knowledge which he possessed was such as would be useful to him. I enumerated in my own mind all the various points upon which he had shown me that he was exceptionally well informed. I even took a pencil and jotted them down. I could not help smiling at the document when i had completed it. It ran in this way. Sherlock Holmes his limits one knowledge of literature nil two philosophy nil three astronomy nil for politics feeble five botany variable. Well up in belladonna opium and poisons generally knows nothing of practical gardening. Six geology. Practical bay but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers and told me by their color and consistence in what part of London he had received them. Seven chemistry profound. Eight anatomy accurate but unsystematic nine sensational literature. Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century ten plays the violin well eleven. Is an expert single stick player boxer and swordsman. Twelve. Has a good practical knowledge of British law. When i had got so far in my list i threw it into the fire in despair. If i can only find what the fellow is driving at by reconciling all these accomplishments and discovering a calling which needs them all i said to myself i may as well give up the attempt at once. I see that i have alluded above to his powers upon the violin. These were very remarkable but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces and difficult pieces i knew well because at my request he has played me some of mendelssohn’s leader and other favorites. When left to himself however he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognized air. Leaning back in his arm chair of an evening he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful clearly they are reflected the thoughts which possessed him but whether the music aided those thoughts or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy was more than i could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favorite there’s a slight compensation for the trial upon my patients. During the first week or so we had no callers and i had begun to think that my companion was as friendless a man as i was myself. Presently however i found that he had many acquaintances and those in the most different classes of society. There was one little sallow rat faced dark eyed fellow who was introduced to me as mister la stride and who came three or four times in a single week. One morning a young girl called fashionably dressed and stayed for half an hour or more. The same afternoon brought a gray headed seedy visitor looking like a Jew pedlar who appeared to me to be much excited and who was closely followed by a slipshod elderly woman. On another occasion an old white haired gentleman had an interview with my companion and on another a railway Porter in his velveteen uniform. When any of these nondescript individuals put in an appearance Sherlock Holmes used to beg for the use of the sitting room and i would retire to my bedroom. He always apologized to me for putting me to this inconvenience. I have to use this room as a place of business he said and these people are my clients. Again i had an opportunity of asking him point blank question and again my delicacy prevented me from forcing another man to confide in me. I imagined at the time that he had some strong reason for not alluding to it but he soon dispelled the idea by coming round to the subject of his own accord. It was upon the fourth of march as i have good reason to remember that i Rose somewhat earlier than usual and found that Sherlock Holmes had not yet finished his breakfast. The landlady had become so accustomed to my late habits that my place had not been laid nor my coffee prepared with the unreasonable petulance of mankind i rang the bell and gave a curt intimation that i was ready then i picked up a magazine from the table and attempted to while away the time with it. While my companion munched silently at his toast. One of the articles had a pencil Mark at the heading and i naturally began to run my eye through it. It’s somewhat ambitious title was the book of life and it attempted to show how much an observant man might learn by an accurate and systematic examination of all that came in his way. It struck me as being a remarkable mixture of shrewdness and of absurdity. The reasoning was close and intense but the deductions appear to me to be farfetched and exaggerated. The writer claimed by a momentary expression a twitch of a muscle or a glance of an eye to fathom a man’s in most thoughts. Does seat according to him was an impossibility in the case of one trained to observation and analysis his conclusions were as infallible as so many propositions of euclid. So startling would his results appear to the uninitiated that until they learned the processes by which he had arrived at them. They might well consider him as a necromancer sir. From a drop of water said the writer a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. So all life is a great chain. The nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. Like all other arts the science of deduction and analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study. Nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him on meeting a fellow mortal learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Primarily as such size may seem it sharpens the faculties of observation and teaches one where to look and what to look for. By a man’s fingernails by his coat sleeve by his boot by his trouser knees by the colossal tease of his forefinger and thumb. By his expression by his shirt cuffs. By each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable. What ineffable twaddle i cried slapping the magazine down on the table. I never read such rubbish in my life. What is it I’ll Sherlock Holmes. Why this article i said pointing at it with my ex Boone as i sat down to my breakfast. I see that you have read it since you have marked it. I don’t deny that it is smartly written. It irritates me though it is evidently the theory of some arm chair lounger who evolves all these neat little paradoxes in the seclusion of his own study it is not practical. I should like to see him clapped down in a third class carriage on the underground and asked to give the trades of all his fellow travellers. I would lay a thousand to one against him. You would lose your money Sherlock Holmes remarked calmly. As for the article i wrote it myself you. Yes i have a turn both for observation and for deduction. The theories which i have expressed there and which appear to you to be so miracle. Are really extremely practical so practical that i depend upon them for my bread and cheese and how. I asked involuntarily why i have a trade of my own. I suppose i’m the only one in the world i’m a consulting detective if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault they come to me and i managed to put them on the right scent. They lay all the evidence before for me and i am generally able by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds and if you have all the details of one thousand at your finger ends. It is odd if you can’t unravel the thousand and first. The stride is a well known detective he got himself into a fog recently over a forgery case and that was what brought him here. And these other people. They are mostly sent on by private inquiry agencies. They are all people who are in trouble about something and want a little enlightening. I listen to their story they listen to my comments and then i pocket my fee but do you mean to say i said that without leaving your room you can unravel some not which other men can make know king of. Although they have seen every detail for themselves. Quite so. I have a kind of intuition that way. Now and again a case turns up which is a little more complex. Than i have to bustle about and see things with my own eyes. You see i have a lot of special knowledge which i apply to the problem and which facilitates matters wonderfully. Those rules of deduction laid down in that article which aroused your scorn are invaluable to me in practical work. Observation with me is second nature. You appear to be surprised when i told you on our first meeting that you had come from Afghanistan. You were told no doubt. Nothing of the sort. I knew you came from Afghanistan. From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind that i arrived at the conclusion without being conscious of intermediate steps. There were such steps however the train of reasoning ran here is a gentleman of a medical type but with the air of a Miller sorry man clearly an army doctor then. He has just come from the tropics for his face is dark and that is not the natural tint of his skin for his wrists affair he has undergone hardship and sickness as his haggard face says clearly his left arm has been injured he holds it in a stiff and unnatural manner. Wherein the tropics could an English army doctor have seen much hardship and got his arm wounded clearly in Afghanistan. The whole train of thought did not occupy a second. I then remarked that you came from Afghanistan and you were astonished. It is simple enough as you explain it i said smiling. You remind me of Edgar Allan poe’s duper. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of store freeze. Sherlock Holmes Rose and let his pipe. No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to do pan he observed. Now in my opinion. Do pan was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends thoughts with an apropos remark after a quarter of an hour’s silence is really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius no doubt but he was by no means such a phenomenon as poe appeared to imagine have you read Gabrielle’s works i asked does lecoq come up to your idea of a detective. Sherlock Holmes sniffed sardonically lecoq was a miserable bungler he said in an angry voice he had only one thing to recommend him and that was his energy. That book made me positively ill. The question was how to identify an unknown prisoner. I could have done it in twenty four hours lecoq took six months or so it might be made a text book for detectives to teach them what to avoid. I felt rather indignant at having two characters whom i had admired treated in this cavalier style. I walked over to the window and stood looking out into the busy street. This fellow may be very clever i said to myself but he certainly very conceited. There are no crimes and no criminals in these days he said carelessly. What is the use of having brains in our profession. I know well that i have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which i have done and what is the result. There is no crime to detect or at most some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland yard official can see through it. I was still annoyed at his bumptious style of conversation i thought it best to change the topic. I wonder what that fellow is looking for. I asked pointing to a stalwart plainly dressed individual who was walking slowly down the other side of the street looking anxiously at the numbers. He had a large blue envelope in his hand and was evidently the bearer of a message. You mean the retire sergeant of marines said Sherlock Holmes. Brag and bounce thought i to myself he knows that i cannot verify his guess. The thought had hardly passed through my mind when the man who we were watching caught sight of the number on our door and ran rapidly across the roadway. We heard a loud knock a deep voice ice below and heavy steps ascending the stair. For mister Sherlock Holmes he said stepping into the room and handing my friend the letter. Here was an opportunity of taking the conceit out of him. He little thought of this when he made that random shot. May i ask my lad i said in the blandest voice what your trade may be. Commissioner sir he said gruffly uniform away for repairs and ye were i asked with a slightly malicious glance at my companion. A sergeant sir royal marine light infantry sir no answer or right sir. He clicked his heels together raised his hand in a salute and was gone. Chapter three. The lowest and gardens mystery. I confess that i was considerably startled by this fresh proof of the practical nature of my companion’s theories. My respect for his powers of analysis increased wondrously. There still remained some lurking suspicion in my mind however that the whole thing was a prearranged episode intended to dazzle me though what earthly object he could have in taking me in was past my comprehension. When i looked at him he had finished reading the note and his eyes had assumed the vacant lackluster expression which showed mental abstraction. How in the world did you deduce that i asked. Deduce what said he petulantly why that he was a retired sergeant of marines. I have no time for trifles he answered brusquely then with a smile. Excuse my rudeness. You broke the thread of my thoughts but perhaps it is as we well. So you actually were not able to see that that man was a sergeant of marines. No indeed. It was easier to know it than to explain why i knew it. If you were asked to prove that two and two made four you might find some difficulty and yet you are quite sure of the fact even across the street i could see a great blue anchor tattooed on the back of the fellow’s hand. That smacked of the sea. He had a military carriage how however and regulations side whiskers. There we have the marine he was a man with some amount of self importance and a certain air of command. You must have observed the way in which he held his head and swung his cane a steady respectable middle aged man two on the face of him. All facts which led me to believe that he had been a sergeant. Wonderful i ejaculated commonplace said Holmes though i thought from his expression that he was pleased wouldn’t surprise and admiration. I said just now that there were no criminals. It appears that i am wrong. Look at this. He threw me over the note which the commissioner had brought why i cried as i cast my eye over it this is terrible. It does seem to be a little out of the common he remarked calmly. Would you mind reading it to me aloud. This is the letter which i read to him my dear mr Sherlock Holmes. There has been a bad business during the night at three lowest and gardens of the Brixton road. A man on the beat saw a light there about two in the morning and as the house was an empty one suspected that something was amiss. He found the door open and in the front room which is bare of furniture discovered the body of a gentleman well dressed and having cards in his pocket bearing the name of Enoch j draper Cleveland Ohio usa. There had been no robbery nor is there any evidence as to how the man met his death. There are marks of blood in the room but there is no wound upon his person we are at a loss as to how he came into the empty house indeed the whole affair is a puzzler. If you can come round to the house any time before twelve you will find me there. I have left everything in status quo until i hear from you. If you are unable to come i shall give you Fuller details and would esteem it a great kindness if you would favour me with your opinion yours faithfully Tobias Gregson. Gregson is the smartest of the Scotland yard as my friend remarked he and la strada the pick of a bad lot. They are both quick and energetic but conventional shockingly so. They have their knives into one another too. They are as jealous as a pair of professional beauties. There will be some fun over this case if they are both put upon the scent. I was amazed at the calm way in which he rippled on. Surely there is not a moment to be lost last i cried shall i go and order you a cab. I’m not sure about whether i shall go. I am the most incurably lazy devil that ever stood in shoe leather that is when the fit is on me for i can be spry enough at times. White is just such a chance as you have been longing for. My dear fellow what does it matter to me supposing i unravel the whole matter you may be sure that Gregson la stroud and company will pocket all the credit. That comes of being an unofficial personage. But he begs you to help him. Yes he knows that i am his superior and acknowledges it to me but he would cut his tongue out before he would own it to any third person. However we may as well go and have a look. I shall work it out on my own hook. I may have a laugh at them if i have nothing else come on. He hustled on his overcoat and bustled about in a way that showed that an energetic fit had superseded the apathetic one. Get your hat he said you wish me to come yes if you have nothing better to do. A minute later we were both in a hansom driving furiously for the Brixton road. It was a foggy cloudy morning and a dun colored veil hung over the house tops looking like the reflection of the mud coloured streets beneath. My companion was in the best of spirits and prattled away about cremona fiddles and the difference between a stradivarius and an mrt. As for my self i was silent for the dull weather and the melancholy business upon which we were engaged depressed my spirits. You don’t seem to give much thought to the matter in hand i said at last interrupting homes is musical disquisition. No data yet he answered it is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence it biases the judgment. You will have your data soon i remarked pointing with my finger. This is the Brixton road and that is the house if i’m not very much mistaken. So it is stop driver stop. We were still one hundred yards or so from it but he insisted upon our alighting and we finished our journey upon foot. Number three largest and gardens were an ill omen then military look. It was one of four which stood back some little way from the street to being occupied and to empty the latter looked out with three tiers of vacant melancholy windows which were blank and dreary save that here and there a to let card had developed like a cataract upon the blared pains. A small garden sprinkled over with a scattered eruption of sickly plants separated each of these houses from the street and was traversed by a narrow pathway yellowish in color and consisting apparently of a mixture of Clay and of gravel. The whole place was very sloppy from the rain which had fallen through the night. The garden was bounded by a three foot brick wall with a fringe of wood rails upon the top and against this wall was leaning a stalwart police constable surrounded by a small knot of loafers who craned their necks and strained their eyes in the vein hope of catching some glimpse of the proceedings within. I had imagined that Sherlock Holmes would at once have hurried into the house and plunged into a study of the mystery. Nothing appeared to be further from his intention with an air of nonchalance which under the circumstances seemed to me to border upon affectation he lounged up and down the pavement and gazed vacantly at the ground the sky the opposite houses in the line of railings. Having finished his scrutiny he proceeded slowly down the path or rather down the fringe of grass which flanked the path keeping his eyes riveted upon the ground. Twice he stopped and once i saw him smile and heard him utter an exclamation of satisfaction. There were many marks of footsteps upon the wet Clay soil but since the police had been coming and going over it i was unable to see how my companion could hope to learn anything from it. Still i had had such extraordinary evidence of the quickness of his perceptive faculties. That i had no doubt that he could see a great deal which was hidden from me. At the door of the house we were met by a tall white faced flaxen haired man with a notebook in his hand who rushed forward and wrung my companion’s hand with effusion. It is indeed kind of you to come he said. I have had everything left untouched. Except that my friend answered pointing at the pathway. If a herd of buffaloes had passed along they could not be a greater mess no doubt however you had drawn your own conclusions Gregson before you permitted this. I have had so much to do inside the house the detective said invasively. My colleague mister lestrade is here i had relied upon him to look after this. Holmes glanced at me and raised his eyebrows sardonically with two such men as yourself and lestrade upon the ground there will not be much for a third party to find out he said. Gregson rubbed his hands in a self satisfied way. I think we have done all that can be done he answered. It’s a queer case though and i knew your taste for such things. You did not come here in a cab asked Sherlock Holmes. No sir. Nola strad. No sir. Then let us go and look at the room. With which in consequent remark he strode on into the house followed by Gregson whose features expressed his astonishment. A short passage bare planked and dusty led to the kitchen and offices. Two doors opened out of it to the left and to the right. One of these had obviously been closed for many weeks the other belong to the dining room which was the apartment in which the mysterious affair had occurred. Holmes walked in and i followed him with that subdued feeling at my heart which the presence of death inspires. It was a large square room looking all the larger from the absence of all furniture. A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls but it was blotched in places with mildew and here and there great strips had become detached and hung down. Exposing the yellow plaster beneath. Opposite the door was a showy fireplace surmounted by a mantelpiece of imitation white marble. On one corner of this was stuck the stump of a red wax candle. The solitary window was so dirty that the light was hazy and uncertain giving a dull gray tinge to everything which was intensified by the thick layer of dust which coated the whole apartment. All these details i observed afterwards. At present my attention was centered upon the single grim motionless figure which lay stretched upon the boards with vacant sightless eyes staring up at the discoloured ceiling. It was that of a man about forty three or forty four years of age middle sized broad shouldered with crisp curling black hair and a short stubbly beard. He was dressed in a heavy broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat with light coloured trousers and immaculate collar and cuffs. A top hat well brushed and trim was placed upon the floor beside him his hands were clenched and his arms thrown abroad. While his lower limbs were interlocked as though his death struggle had been a grievous one. On his rigid face there stood an expression of horror and as it seemed to me of hatred such as i have never seen upon human features. This malignant and terrible contortion combined with a low forehead blunt nose and prognosis jaw gave the dead man a singularly sir and ape like appearance which was increased by his writhing unnatural posture. I have seen death in many forms but never has it appeared to me in a more fearsome aspect than in that dark grimy apartment which looked out upon one of the main arteries of suburban London. Lestrade lean and ferret like as ever was standing by the doorway and greeted my companion and myself. This case will make a stir sir he remarked it beats anything i have seen and i am no chicken. There is no clue said Gregson. None at all. Chimed in la stroud. Sherlock Holmes approached the body and kneeling down examined it intently. You are sure that there is no wound he asked pointing to numerous scouts and splashes of blood which lay all around. Positive cried both detectives. Then of course this blood belongs to a second individual. Presumably the murderer if murder has been committed. It reminds me of the circumstances attendant on the death of Van Jansen in utrecht in the year thirty four. Do you remember the case Gregson. No sir. Read it up you really should. There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before. As he spoke his nimble fingers were flying here there and everywhere feeling pressing on buttoning examining while his eyes were the same far away expression which I’ve already remarked upon. So swiftly was the examination made that one would hardly have guessed the minute newness with which it was conducted. Finally he sniffed the dead man’s lips and then glanced at the soles of his patent leather boots. He has not been moved at all he asked. No more than was necessary for the purposes of our examination. You can take him to the mortuary now he said. There is nothing more to be learned. Gregson had a stretcher and four men at hand. At his call they entered the room and the stranger was lifted and carried out. As they raised him a ring tinkled down and rolled across the floor. Lestrade grabbed it up and stared at it with mystified eyes. There’s been a woman here he cried it’s a woman’s wedding ring he held it out as he spoke upon the pod some of his hand. We all gathered round him and gazed at it there could be no doubt that that circlet of plain gold had once adorned the finger of a bride. This complicates matters said Gregson heaven knows. They were complicated enough before. You’re sure it doesn’t simplify them observed Holmes. There’s nothing to be learned by staring at it what did you find in his pockets. We have it all here said Gregson pointing to a litter of objects upon one of the bottom steps of the stairs a gold watch number nine seven one six three by borrowed of London. Gold Albert chain very heavy and solid gold re ring with masonic device gold pin bulldogs head with rubies as eyes Russian leather card case with cards of Enoch j drever of Cleveland corresponding with the e j d upon the linen no purse but loose money to the extent of seven pounds thirteen. Pocket edition of boccaccio de Cameron with the name of Joseph sangathan upon the flyleaf. Two letters one addressed to e j drever and one to Joseph sangathan. At what address. American exchange strand to be left till called for. Are both from the guiana steamship company and refer to the sailing of their boats from liverpool. It is clear that this unfortunate man was about to return to new York have you made any inquiries as to this man staggering. I did it at once sir said Gregson i have had advertisements sent to all the newspapers and one of my men has gone to the American exchange but he has not returned yet have you sent to Cleveland. We telegraph this morning. How did you word your inquiries. We simply detailed the circumstances and said that we should be glad of any information which could help us. You did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared to you to be crucial. I asked about standardization. Nothing else. Is there no circumstance on which this whole case appears to hinge. Will you not telegraph again. I have said all i have to say said Gregson in an offended voice. Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself and appeared to be about to make some remark when lestrade who had been in the front room while we were holding this conversation in the hall reappeared upon the scene rubbing his hands in a pompous and self satisfied manner. Mr Gregson he said. I have just made a discovery of the highest importance and one which would have been overlooked had i not made a careful examination of the walls. The little man’s eyes sparkled as he spoke and he was evidently in a state of suppressed exultation at having scored a point against his colleague. Come here he said bustling back into the room. The atmosphere of which felt clearer since the removal of it’s ghastly inmate. Now stand there he struck a match on his boot and held it up against the wall look at that he said triumphantly. I have remarked that the paper had fallen away in parts. In this particular corner of the room a large piece had peeled off leaving a yellow square of course plastering. Across this bare space there was scrawled in blood red letters a single word. Raich. What do you think of that cried the detective with the air of a showman exhibiting his show. This was overlooked because it was in the darkest corner of the room and no one thought of looking there. The murderer has written it with his or her own blood see this smear where it has trickled down the wall that disposes of the idea of suicide anyhow. Why was that corner chosen to write it on. I will tell you. See that candle on the mantelpiece. It was lit at the time and if it was lit this corner would be the brightest instead of the darkest portion of the wall and what does it mean now that you have found it asked Gregson in a depreciate re voice. Mean why it means that the writer was going to put the female name Rachel but was disturbed before he or she had time to finish. You Mark my words. When this case comes to be cleared up you will find that a woman named ray Rachel has something to do with it it’s all very well for you to laugh mister Sherlock Holmes. You may be very smart and clever but the old hound is the best when all is said and done. I really beg your pardon said my companion. Who had ruffled the little man’s temper by bursting into an explosion of laughs to. You certainly have the credit of being the first of us to find this out and as you say it bears every Mark of having been written by the other participant in last night’s mystery. I have not had time to examine this room yet but with your permission i shall do so now. As he spoke he whipped a tape measure and a large round magnifying glass from his pocket with these two implements he trotted noiselessly about the room sometimes stopping occasionally kneeling and once lying flat upon his face. So engrossed was he with his occupation that he appeared to have forgotten our presence for he chatted away to himself under his breath the whole time time keeping up a running fire of exclamations groans whistles and little cries suggestive of encouragement and of hope. As i watched him i was irresistibly reminded of a pure blooded well trained foxhound as it dashes backwards and forwards through the covert whining in it’s eagerness until it comes across the last cent. For twenty minutes or more he continued his researches measuring with the most exact care the distance between marks which were entirely invisible to me and occasionally applying his taped to the walls in an equally incomprehensible manner. In one place he gathered up very carefully a little pile of gray dust from the floor and packed it away in an envelope. Finally he examined with his glass the word upon the wall. Going over every letter of it with the most minute exactness. This done he appeared to be satisfied for he replaced his tape and his glass in his pocket. They say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains he remarked with a smile. It’s a very bad definition but it does apply to detective work. Gregson and lestrade had watched the maneuvers of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt. They evidently failed to appreciate the fact which i had begun to realise that Sherlock Holmes is smallest actions were all directed towards some definite it and practical end. What do you think of it sir they both asked. It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if i was to presume to help you remarked my friend. You’re doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere. There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke. If you will let me know how your investigations go he continued. I shall be happy to give you any help i can. In the meantime i should like to speak to the constable who found the body. Can you give me his name and address. Lestrade glanced at his notebook. John rance he said. He is off duty now. You will find him at forty six audley court kennington park gate. Good note of the address. Come along doctor he said we shall go and look him up. I’ll tell you one thing which may help you in the case he continued turning to the two detectives. There has been murder done and the murderer was a man he was more than six feet high was in the prime of life had small feet for his height war costs source square toed boots and smoked a tricky napali cigar he came here with his victim in a four wheeled cab which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off foreleg. In all probability the murderer had a florid face and the fingernails of his right hand were remarkably long. These are only a few indications but they may assist you. Lestrade and Gregson glanced at each other with an incredulous smile. If this man was murdered how was it done asked the former. Poison said Sherlock Holmes curtly and strode off. One other thing the strad he added turning round at the door. Raich is the German for revenge. So don’t lose your time looking for miss Rachel with which parthian shot he walked away leaving the two rivals open mouthed behind him. Chapter four. What John rance had to tell. It was one o’clock when we left number three lowest and gardens. Sherlock Holmes led me to the nearest telegraph office whence he dispatched a long telegram he then hailed a cab and ordered the driver to take us to the address given us by lestrade. There is nothing like first hand evidence he ran marked as a matter of fact my mind is entirely made up upon the case but still we may as well learn all that is to be learned. You amaze me Holmes said i. Surely you are not as sure as you pretend to be have all those particulars which you gave. There’s no room for mistake he answered. The very first thing which i observed on arriving there was that a cab had made two ruts with it’s wheels close to the curb. Now up to last night we have had no rain for a week so that those wheels which left such a deep impression must have been there during the night. There were the marks of the horse’s hooves to the outline of one of which was far more clearly cut than that of the other three showing that that was a new shoe. Since the cab was there after the rain began and was not there at any time during the morning i have Gregson word for that it follows that it must have been there during the night and therefore that it brought those two individuals to the house. That seems simple enough said i but how about the other man’s height. Why the height have a man in nine cases out of ten can be told from the length of his stride. It is a simple calculation enough though there is no use my boring you with figures. I had this fellow’s stride both on the Clay outside and on the dust within. Then i had a way of checking my calculation. When a man writes on a wall his instinct leads him to write about the level of his own eyes. Now that writing was just over six feet from the ground it was child’s play and his age i asked. Well if a man can stride four and a half feet without the smallest effort he can’t be quite in the sere and yellow. Though that was the breadth of a puddle on the garden walk which he had evidently walked across. Patent leather boots had gone round and square toes had hopped over. There is no mystery about it at all. I am simply applying to ordinary life a few of those precepts of observation and deduction which i advocated in that article. Is there anything else that puzzles you. The fingernails and the treacle napali i suggested the writing on the wall was done with a man’s forefinger dipped in blood my glass allowed me to observe that the plaster was slightly scratched in doing it which would not have been the case if the man’s nail had been trimmed. I gathered up some scattered ash from the f floor it was dark in color and flaky such an ash as is only made by a treaty napali. I’ve made a special study of cigar ashes in fact I’ve written a monograph upon the subject. I flatter myself that i can distinguish at a glance the ash of any known brand either of cigar or of tobacco. It is just in such details that the skilled detective differs from the Gregson and lestrade type and the florid face i asked. That was a more daring shot though i have no doubt that i was right. You must not ask me that at the present state of the affair. I passed my hand over my brow. My head is in a whirl i remarked. The more one thinks of it the more mysterious it grows. How can these two men if there were two men into an empty house. What has become of the cadman who drove them. How could one man compel another to take poison. Where did the blood come from what was the object of the murderer since robbery had no part in it how came the woman’s ring there. Above all why should the second man write up the German word rush before decamping. I confess that i cannot see any possible way of reconciling all these facts. My companion smiled approvingly. You sum up the difficulties of the situation succinctly and well he said. There is much that is still obscure though i have quite made up my mind on the main facts. As to pour la strides discovery it was simply a blind intended to put the police upon a wrong track by suggesting social chisholm and secret societies. It was not done by a German the a if you noticed was printed somewhat after the German fashion now a real German invariably prints in the Latin character. So that we may safely say that this was not written by one but by a clumsy imitator who overdid his part it was simply a ruse choose to divert inquiry into a wrong channel. I’m not going to tell you much more of the case doctor. You know a conjuror gets no credit when once he has explained his trick and if i show you too much of my method of working. You will come to the conclusion that i am a very ordinary individual after all. I shall never do that i answered. You have brought detection as near an exact science as it ever will be brought in this world. My companion flushed up with pleasure at my words and the earnest way in which i uttered them. I had already observed that he was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty. I’ll tell you one other thing he said patent leathers and square toes came in the same cab and they walked down the pathway together as friendly as possible arm-in-arm in all probability. When they got inside they walked up and down the room or rather patent leathers stood still while square toes walked up and down. I could read all that in the dust and i could read that as he walked he grew more and more excited. That is shown by the increased length of his strides he was talking all the while and working himself up no doubt into a fury. Then the tragedy occurred. I’ve told you all i know myself now for the rest is mere surmise and conjecture. We have a good working basis however on which to start we must hurry up for i want to go to halley’s concert to hear Norman neruda this afternoon. This conversation had occurred while our cab had been threading it’s way through a long succession of dingy streets and dreary byways. In the dinghy east and dreariest of them our driver suddenly came to a stand. That’s oddly core in there he said pointing to a narrow slit in the line of dead coloured brick. You’ll find me here when you come back. Audley court was not an attractive locality. The narrow passage led us into a quadrangle paved with flags and lined by sordid dwellings. We picked our way among groups of dirty children and through lines of discoloured linen until we came to number forty six the door of which was decorated with a small slip of brass on which the name rance was engraved. An inquiry we found that the constable was in bed and we were shown into a little front parlor to await his coming. He appeared presently looking a little irritable at being disturbed in his slumbers. I made my report at the office he said Holmes took a half sovereign from his pocket and played with it pensively. We thought that we should like to hear it aw from your own lips he said. I shall be most happy to tell you anything i can the constable answered with his eyes upon the little golden disk. Just let us hear it all in your own way as it occurred. Rant sat down on the horsehair sofa and knitted his brows as though determined not to omit anything in his narrative. I’ll tell you from the beginning he said. My time is from ten at night to six in the morning. At eleven there was a fight at the white hart but bar that all was quiet enough on the beat. At one o’clock it began than to rain and i met Harry murcia him who has the Holland grove beat and we stood together at the corner of henrietta street talking. Presently maybe about two or a little after i thought i would take a look round and see that all was right down the Brixton road. It was precious dirty and lonely. Not a soul lol did i meet all the way down though a cab or two went past me. I was a strolling down thinking between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be when suddenly the glint of a light caught my eye in the window of that same house. Now i knew that them two houses in lowest and gardens was empty an ak it owns them who won’t have the drains seen too though the very last tenant what lived in one of them died of typhoid fever. I was knocked all in a heap therefore at seeing a light in the window and i suspected something was wrong. When i got to the door. You stopped and then walked back to the garden gate my companion interrupt good. What did you do that for. Rance gave a violent jump and stared at Sherlock Holmes with the utmost amazement upon his features why that’s true sir he said. Though how you come to know it heaven only knows. You see when i got up to the door it was so still and so lonesome that i thought i i’d be none the worse for someone with me. I interfered of anything on this side of the grave but i thought that maybe it was him that died of typhoid inspecting the drains what killed him the thought gave me a kind of turn and i walked back to the gate to see if i could see merchants lantern but there wasn’t no sign of him nor of air any one else. There was no one in the street. Not a living soul sir nor as much as a dog. Then i pulled myself together and went back and pushed the door open. All was quiet inside so i went into the room where the light was burning. There was a candle flickering on the mantelpiece a red wax one and by it’s light i saw. Yes i know all that you saw. You walked round the room several times and you knelt down by the body and then you walked through and tried the kitchen door and then. John rance sprang to his feet with a frightened face and suspicion in his eyes. Where was you hid to see all that he cried. It seems to me that you knows a deal more than you should. Holmes laughed and threw his card across the table to the constable. Don’t get arresting me for the murder he said i am one of the hounds and not the wolf. Mr Gregson or mister lestrade will answer for that. Go on though what did you do next. Rance resumed his seat without however losing his mystified expression. I went back to the gate and sounded my whistle that brought merger and two more to the spot. Was the street empty then. While it was as far as anybody that could be of any good goes. What do you mean. The constable’s features broadened into a grin. I’ve seen many a drunk chap in my time he said but never anyone so crying drunk as that cove. He was at the gate when i came out a leaning up again the railings and singing at the pitch of his lungs about columbines new fangled banner. Or some such stuff. He couldn’t stand. Far less help. What sort of a man was he asked Sherlock Holmes John rance appeared to be somewhat irritated at this digression. He was an uncommon drunk sort of man he said he’d found herself in the station if we hadn’t been so took up. His face his dress didn’t you notice them. Holmes broken impatiently i should think i did notice them seeing that i had to prop him up me and murcia between us he was a long chat with a red face the lower part muffled round that will do cried Holmes what became of him. We’d enough to do without looking after him the policeman said in an aggrieved voice I’ll wager he found his way home all right. How was he dressed a brown overcoat had he a whip in his hand a whip no. He must have left it behind muttered my companion. You didn’t happen to see or hear a cab after that. No. There’s a half sovereign for you my companion said standing up and taking his hat. I am afraid rance that you will never rise in the force. That head of yours should be for use as well as ornament. You might have gained your sergeant’s stripes last night knight. The man whom you held in your hands is the man who holds the clue of this mystery and whom we are seeking. There is no use of arguing about it now. I tell you that it is so. Come along doctor. We started off for the cab together leaving our informant incredulous but obviously uncomfortable. The blundering fool Holmes said bitterly as we drove back to our lodgings. Just to think of his having such an incomparable bit of good luck and not taking advantage of it. I am rather in the dark still. It is true that the description of this man tallies with your idea of the second party in this mystery but why should he come back to the house after leaving it that is not the way of criminals the ring man the ring that was what he came back for. If we have no other way of catching him we can always bait our line with a ring. I shall have him doctor. I’ll lay you two to one that i have him. I must thank you for it all. I might not have gone but for you and so have missed the finest study i ever came across a study in Scarlet eh. Why shouldn’t we use a little art jargon. There’s the Scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless scheme of life and our duty is to unravel it and isolated and expose every inch of it and now for lunch and then for Norman neruda. Her attack and her bowing a splendid what’s that little thing of chopin’s she plays so magnificently tra la la lire lire les. Leaning back in the cab this amateur bloodhound carried away like a lark while i meditated upon the many sides nus of the human mind. Chapter five. Our advertisement brings a visitor. Our morning’s exertions had been too much for my weak health and i was tired out in the afternoon. After Holmes’s departure for the concert i lay down upon the sofa and endeavored to get a couple of hours sleep. It was a useless attempt. My mind had been too much excited by all that had occurred and the strangest fancies and surmises crowded into it. Every time that i closed my eyes i saw before me the disturb coated baboon like countenance of the murdered man. So sinister was the impression which that face had produced upon me that i found it difficult to feel anything but gratitude for him who had removed it’s owner from the world. If ever human features bespoke vice of the most malignant type they were certainly those of Enoch j drever of Cleveland. Still i recognized that justice must be done and that the depravity of the victim was no condone meant in the eyes of the law. The more i thought of it the more extraordinary did my companion’s hypothesis that the man had been poisoned appear. I remembered how he had sniffed his lips and had no doubt that he had detected something which had given rise to the idea. Then again if not poison. What had caused the man’s death since there was neither wound nor marks of strangulation but on the other hand whose blood was that which lay so thickly lie upon the floor. There were no signs of a struggle nor had the victim any weapon with which he might have wounded an antagonist. As long as all these questions were unsolved i felt that sleep would be no easy matter either for Holmes or myself. His quiet self confident manner convinced me that he had already formed a theory which explained all the facts. Though what it was i could not for an instant conjecture. He was very late in returning so late that i knew that the concert could not have detained him all the time. Dinner was on the table before he appeared. It was magna efficent he said as he took his seat. Do you remember what Darwin says about music he claims that the power of producing and appreciating it existed among the human race long before the power of speech was arrived at. Perhaps that is why we are so subtly influenced by it. There are vague memories in our souls of those misty centuries when the world was in it’s childhood. That it’s rather a broad idea i remarked. One’s ideas must be as broad as nature if they are to interpret nature he answered. What’s the matter. You’re not looking quite yourself. This Brixton road affair has upset you to tell the truth it has i said. I ought to be more case hardened after my Afghan ex appearances i saw my own comrades hacked to pieces at my wand without losing my nerve. I can understand. There is a mystery about this which stimulates the imagination where there is no imagination there is no horror have you seen the evening paper. Know. It gives a fairly good account of the affair it does not mention the fact that when the man was raised up a woman’s wedding ring fell upon the floor. It is just as well it does not. Why. Look at this advertisement he answered i had one sent to every paper this morning immediately after the affair. He threw the paper across to me and i glanced at the place indicated. It was the first announcement in the found column. In Brixton road this morning it ran. A plain gold wedding ring found in the roadway between the white hart tavern and Holland grove. Apply dr Watson two hundred and twenty one b baker street between eight and nine this evening. Excuse my using your name he said. If i use my own some of these done the heads would recognize it and want to meddle in the affair. That is all right i answered but supposing any one applies i have no ring oh yes you have said he handing me one this will do very well it is almost a facsimile and who do you expect will answer this advertisement why the man in the brown coat our florid friend with the square toes if he does not come himself he will send an accomplice. Would he not consider it as too dangerous. Not at all. If my view of the case is correct and i have every reason to believe that it is. This man would rather risk anything than lose the ring. According to my notion he dropped it while stooping over driver’s body and did not miss it at the time. After leaving the house he discovered his loss and hurried back but found the police already in possession. Owing to his own folly and leaving the candle burning. He had to pretend to be drunk in order to allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate. Now put yourself in that man’s place. On thinking the matter over it must have occurred to him that it was possible that he had lost the ring in the road after leaving the house. What would he do then. He would eagerly look out for the evening papers in the hope of seeing it among the articles found his eye of course would light upon this he would be overjoyed. Why should he fear a trap. There would be no reason in his eyes why the finding of the ring should be connected with the murder he would come he will come. You shall see him within and our and then i asked. Oh you can leave me to deal with him then have you any arms. I have my old service revolver and a few cartridges. You’d better clean it and load it he will be a desperate man and though i shall take him unawares it is as well to be ready for anything. I went to my bedroom and followed his advice. When i returned with the pistol the table had been cleared and Holmes was engaged in his favorite occupation of scraping upon his violin. The plot thickens he said as i entered. I have just had an answer to my American telegram. My view of the case is the correct one. And that is i asked eagerly my fiddle would be the better for new strings he remarked. Put your pistol in your pocket. When the fellow comes speak to him in an ordinary way leave the rest to me don’t frighten him by looking at him too hard. It is eight o’clock now i said glancing at my watch. Yes he will probably be here in a few minutes. Open the door slightly. That will do. Now put the key on the inside. Thank you. This is a queer old book i picked up at a stall yesterday deseret into gente is published in Latin at liaise in the lowlands in sixteen forty two. Charles’s head was still firm on his shoulders when this little brown backed volume was struck off. Who is the printer. Philip de Croix. Whoever he may may have been. On the flyleaf in very faded ink is written ex libris is guglielmi white. I wonder who William white was some pragmatically seventeenth century lawyer i suppose his writing has a legal twist about it. Here comes our man i think. As he spoke there was a sharp ring at the bell Sherlock Holmes Rose softly and moved his chair in the direction of the door. We heard the servant pass along the hall and the sharp click of the latch as she opened it. Does doctor Watson live here asked a clear but rather harsh voice. We could not hear the servant’s reply but the door closed and some one began to ascend the stairs. The footfall was an uncertain and shuffling one. A look of surprise passed over the face of my companion as he listened to it. It came slowly along the passage and there was a feeble tap at the door. Come in i cried. At my summons instead of the man of violence whom we expected a very old and wrinkled woman hobbled into the apartment. She appeared to be dazzled by the sudden Blaze of light and after dropping a curtsey she stood blinking at us with her blared eyes and fumbling in her pocket with nervous shaky fingers. I glanced my companion and his face had assumed such a disconsolate expression that it was all i could do to keep my countenance. The old crone drew out an evening paper and pointed at our advertisement. It’s this as has brought me good gentlemen she said dropping another curtsey. A gold wedding ring in the Brixton road. It belongs to my girl Sally as was married only this time twelvemonth which her husband is steward aboard a union boat and what he’d say if he come home and found her without her ring is more than i can think he being short enough at the best of times but more especially when he has the drink. If it please you she went to the circus last night along with is that her ring i asked. The lord be thanked cried the old woman Sally will be a glad woman this night that’s the ring and what may your address be i inquired taking up a pencil. Thirteen Duncan street hounds ditch a weary way from here. The Brixton road does not lie between any circus and hounds ditch said Sherlock Holmes sharply. The old woman faced round and looked keenly at him from her little red rimmed eyes. The gentleman asked me for my address she said Sally lives in lodgings at three Mayfield place peckham and your name is. My name is Sawyer hers is Dennis which Tom Dennis married her and a smart clean lad too as long as he’s at sea and no steward in the company more though of but when on shore what with the women and what with liquor shops. Here is your ring mrs Sawyer i interrupted in obedience to a sign from my companion. It clearly belongs to your daughter and i am glad to be able to restore it to the rightful owner with many mumbled blessings and protestations of gratitude the old crone packed it away in her pocket and shuffled off down the stairs. Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet the moment that she was gone and rushed into his room. He returned in a few seconds enveloped in an ulster and a cravat. I’ll follow her he said hurriedly she must be an accomplice and will lead me to him wait up for me. The whole door had hardly slammed behind our visitor before Holmes had descended the stair. Looking through the window i could see her walking feebly along the other side. While her pursuer dogged her some little distance behind. Either his whole theory is incorrect i thought to myself. Or else he will be led now to the heart of the mystery. There was no need for him to ask me to wait up for him for i felt that sleep was impossible until i heard the result of his adventure. It was close upon nine when he set out. I had no idea how long he might be but i sat solidly puffing at my pipe and skipping over the pages of one re-emerges vw him. Ten o’clock passed and i heard the footsteps of the maid as they patted off to bed. Eleven and the more stately tread of the landlady passed my door bound for the same destination. It was close upon twelve before i heard the sharp sound of his latch key. The instant he entered i saw by his face that he had not been sick successful. Amusement and chagrin seemed to be struggling for the mastery until the former suddenly carried the day and he burst into a hearty laugh. I wouldn’t have the Scotland yard has no it for the world he cried dropping into his chair i have chapped them so much that they would never have let me hear the end of it. I can afford to laugh because i know that i will be even with them in the long run. What is it then i asked. Oh i don’t mind telling a story against myself. That creature had gone a little way when she began to limp and show every sign of being foot saw. Presently she came to a halt and hailed a four Wheeler which was passing. I managed to be close to her so as to hear the address but i need not have been so anxious for she sang it out loud enough to be heard at the other side of the street. Drive to thirteen Duncan street hounds ditch she cried. This begins to look genuine i thought and having seen her safely inside i perched myself behind. That’s an art which every detective should be an expert at. Well away we rattled and never drew rein until we reached the street in question. I hopped off before we came to the door and strolled down the street in an easy lounging way. I saw the cab pull up the driver jumped down and i saw him open the door and stand expectantly. Nothing came out though. When i reached him he was groping about frantically in the empty cab and giving vent to the finest assorted collection of oaths that ever i listened to. There was no sign or trace of his passenger and i fear it will be some time before he gets his fare. On inquiring at number thirteen we found that the house belonged to a respectable paper hanger named keswick and that no one of the name either of Sawyer or Dennis had ever been heard of there. You don’t mean to say i cried in amazement that that tottering feeble old woman was able to get out of the cab while it was in motion without either you or the driver seeing her. Old woman be damned said Sherlock Holmes sharply we were the old women to be so taken in. It must have been a young man and an active one too besides being an incomparable actor. The get up was inimitable he saw that he was followed no doubt and used this means of giving me the slip. It shows that the man we are after is not as lonely as i imagined he was but has friends who are ready to risk something for him now doctor you are looking. Take my advice and turn in. I was certainly feeling very weary so i obeyed his injunction. I left Holmes seated in front of the smoldering fire and long into the watches of the night i heard the low melancholy wailing of his violin and knew that he was still pondering over the strange problem which he had set himself to unravel. Chapter six. Tobias Gregson shows what he can do. The papers next day were full of the Brixton mystery as they termed it. Each had a long account of the affair and some had leaders upon it in addition. There was some information in them which was new to me. I still retain in my scrap book numerous clippings and extracts bearing upon the case. Here is a condensation of a few of them. The daily telegraph remarked that in the history of crime there had seldom been a tragedy which presented stranger features. The German name of the victim the absence of all other motive and the sinister inscription on the wall all pointed to it’s perpetration by political refugees and revolutionists. The soul analysts had many branches in america and the deceased had no doubt infringed their unwritten laws and been tracked down by them. After alluding airily to the villa Marguerite aqua tofana. Carbonara the marchioness to bring Willie a the darwinian theory the principles of malthus and the ratcliffe highway hm murders. The article concluded by admonishing the government and advocating a closer watch over foreigners in england. The standard commented upon the fact that lawless outrages of the sort usually occurred under a liberal administration. They arose from the unsettling of the minds of the masses and the consequent weakening ing of all authority. The deceased was an American gentleman who had been residing for some weeks in the Metropolis. He had stayed at the boarding house of madame charpentier in torquay terrace camberwell. He was accompanied in his travels by his private secretary mr Joseph sangathan. The two by the dear to their landlady upon Tuesday the fourth instant and departed to euston station with the avowed intention of catching the liverpool express as. They were afterwards seen together upon the platform. Nothing more is known of them until mr driver’s body was as recorded discovered in an empty house in the Brixton road many miles from euston. How he came there or how he met his fate. Are questions which are still involved in mystery. Nothing is known of the whereabouts of standardization. We are glad to learn that mr le strat and mr Gregson of Scotland yard are both engaged upon the case and it is confidently anticipated that these well known officers will speedily throw light upon the matter. The daily news observed that there was no doubt as to the crime being a political one. The despotism and hatred of liberalism which animated the continental governments had had the effect of driving to our shores a number of men who might have made excellent citizens were they not soured by the recollection of all that they had undergone one. Among these men there was a stringent code of honour any infringement of which was punished by death. Every effort should be made to find the secretary Stan Jason and to ascertain some particulars of the habits of the deceased. A great step had been gained by the discovery of the address of the house at which he had boarded. A result which was entirely due to the acuteness and energy of mr Gregson of Scotland yard. Sherlock Holmes and i read these notices over together at breakfast and they appeared to afford him considerable amusement. I told you that whatever happened lestrade and Gregson would be sure to score. That depends on how it turns out. Oh bless you it doesn’t matter in the least. If the man is caught it will be on account of their exertions if he escapes it will be in spite of their exertions. It’s heads i win and tails you lose whatever they do they will have followers. Also trouve toujours en plus sought kill admit. What on earth is this i cried for at this moment there came the pattering of many steps in the hall and on the stairs accompanied by audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady. It’s the baker street division of the detective police force said my companion gravely and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of the dirtier first and most ragged street arabs that ever i clapped eyes on. Tension cried Holmes in a sharp tone and the six dirty little scoundrels stood in a line like so many disreputable statuettes. In future you shall send up wiggins alone to report and the rest of you must wait in the street have you found it wiggins. No sir we haven’t said one of the youths. I hardly expected you would. You must keep on until you do hear your wages he handed each of them a shilling now off you go and come back with a better rip port next time. He waved his hand and they scampered away downstairs like so many rats and we heard their shrill voices next moment in the street. There’s more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force Holmes remarked. The mere sight of an official looking person seals men’s lips. These youngsters however go everywhere and hear everything they are as sharp as needles too all they want is organization. Is it on this Brixton case that you are employing them i asked. Yes there is a point which i wish to ascertain it is merely a matter of time. Hello we are going to hear some news now with a vengeance here is Gregson coming down the road with be attitude written upon every feature of his face bound for us i know. Yes he is stopping. There he is. There was a violent peel at the bell and in a few seconds the fair haired detective came up the stairs three steps at a time and burst into our sitting room. My dear fellow he cried wringing homes is unresponsive hand congratulate me I’ve made the whole thing as clear as day. A shade of anxiety city seemed to me to cross my companion’s expressive face. Do you mean that you are on the right track he asked. The right track why sir we have the man under lock and key and his name is. Arthur charpentier sub lieutenant in her majesty’s Navy cried Gregson pompously rubbing his fat hands and inflating his chest. Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of relief and relaxed into a smile. Take a seat and try one of these cigars he said. We are anxious to know how you managed it. Will you have some whiskey and water. I don’t mind if i do the detective answered. The tremendous exertions which i have gone through during the last day or two have worn me out. Not so much bodily exertion you understand as the strain upon the mind. You will appreciate that mister Sherlock Holmes for we are both brain workers. You do me too much honour said Holmes gravely. Let us hear how you arrived at this most gratifying result. The detective seated himself in the arm chair and puffed complacently at his cigar then suddenly he slapped his thigh in a peroxisome of amusement. The fun of it is he cried. That that fool stroud who thinks himself so smart has gone off upon the wrong track altogether he is after the secretary stanger son. Who had no more to do with the crime than the babe unborn. I have no doubt that he has caught him by this time. The idea tickled Gregson so much that he laughed until he choked and how did you get your clue. Ah I’ll tell you all about it. Of course dr Watson. This is strictly between ourselves. The first difficulty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American’s antecedents. Some people would have waited until their advertisements were answered or until parties came forward and volunteered information. That is not Tobias Gregson his way of going to work. You remember the hat beside the dead man. Yes said Holmes. By John Underwood and sons one twenty nine camberwell road. Gregson look quite crestfallen. I had no idea that you notice that he said have you been there. No. Ha cried Gregson in a relieved voice. You should never neglect a chance however small it may seem. To a great mind nothing is little remarked Holmes sententious sli. While i went to Underwood and asked him if he had sold a hat of that size and description he looked over his books and came on it at once he had sent the hat to a mr drever residing at charpentier boarding establishment torquay terrace. Thus i got at his address. Smart. Very smart murmured Sherlock Holmes. I next called upon madame charpentier continued the detective. I found her very pale and distressed her daughter was in the room to. An uncommonly fine girl she is two she was looking red about the eyes and her lips trembled as i spoke to her. That didn’t escape my notice i began to smell a rat. You know the feeling mister Sherlock Holmes when you come upon the right scent a kind of thrill in your nerves have you heard of the mysterious death of your late boarder mister Enoch j drever of Cleveland i asked. The mother nodded she didn’t seem able to get out a word. The daughter burst into tears. More than ever that these people knew something of the matter. At what o’clock did mister draper leave your house for the train i asked. At eight o’clock she said gulping in her throat to keep down her agitation. His secretary mr stanger son said that there were two trains one at nine point one five and one at eleven. He was to catch the first. And was that the last which you saw of him. A terrible change came over the woman’s face as i asked the question. Her features turned perfectly livid. It was some seconds before she could get out the single word yes and when it did come it was in a husky unnatural tone. There was silence for a moment and then the daughter spoke in a calm clear voice. No good can ever come a falsehood mother she said. Let us be frank with this gentleman. We did see mr drever again. God forgive you cried madame charpentier throwing up her hands and sinking back in her chair you have murdered your brother. Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth the girl answered firmly. You had best tell me all about it now i said. Half confidences are worse than none. Besides you do not know how much we know of it. On your head be it Alice cried her mother and then turning to me. I will tell you all sir do not imagine that my agitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a hand in this terrible affair he is utterly innocent of it. My dread is however that in your eyes and in the eyes of others he may appear to be compromised. That however is surely impossible his high character his profession his antecedents would all forbid it. Your best way is to make a clean breast of the facts i answered. Depend upon it if your son is innocent he will be none the worse. Perhaps Alice you had better leave us together she said and her daughter withdrew. Now sir she continued. I had no intention of telling you all this but since my poor daughter has disclosed it i have no alternative. Having once decided to speak i will tell you all without omitting any particular. It is your wisest course said i. Mr drever has been with us nearly three weeks he and his secretary mr Sanderson had been traveling on the continent. I noticed a Copenhagen label upon each of their trunks showing that that had been their last stopping place. Stanger sun was a quiet reserved man but his employer i am sorry to say was far otherwise as. He was course in his habits and brutish in his ways. The very night of his arrival he became very much the worse for drink and indeed after twelve o’clock in the day he could hardly ever be said to be sober. His manners towards the maid servants were disgustingly free and familiar worst of all he speedily assumed the same attitude towards my daughter Alice and spoke to her more than once in a way which fortunately she is too innocent to understand. On one occasion he actually seized her in his arms and embraced her and outrage which caused his own secretary to reproach him for his unmanly conduct but why did you stand all this i asked i suppose that you can get rid of your borders when you wish. Mrs charpentier blushed at my pertinent question. Would to god that i had given him notice on the very day that he came she said but it was a sore temptation. They were paying a pound a day each fourteen pounds a week and this is the slack season. I am a widow and my boy in the Navy has cost me much i grudge to lose the money i acted for the best. This last was too much however and i gave him notice to leave on account of it that was the reason of his going. Well. My heart grew light when i saw him drive away. My son is on leave just now but i did not tell him anything of all this for his temper is violent and he is passionately fond of his sister. When i close the door behind them a load seemed to be lifted from my mind. Alas in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell and i learned that mr draper had returned he was much excited and evidently the worse for drink. He forced his way into the room where i was sitting with my daughter and made some in coherent remark about having missed his train. He then turned to Alice and before my very face proposed to her that she should fly with him. You are of age he said and there is no law to stop you. I have money enough and to spare. Never mind the old girl here but come along with me now straight away. You shall live like a Princess. Poor Alice was so frightened that she shrunk away from him but he caught her by the wrist and endeavored to draw her towards the door. I screamed and at that moment my son Arthur came into the room. What happened then i do not know. I heard oaths and the confused sounds of a scuffle. I was too terrified to raise my head. When i did look up i saw Arthur standing in the doorway laughing with a stick in his hand. I don’t think that fine fellow will trouble us again he said. I will just go after him and see what he does with himself with those words he took his hat and started off down the street. The next morning we heard of mr driver’s mysterious death. This statement came from mrs charpentier his lips with many gasps and pauses. At times she spoke so low that i could hardly catch the words. I made shorthand notes of all that she said however so that there should be no possibility of a mistake. It’s quite exciting said Sherlock Holmes with a yawn. What happened next. When mrs charpentier paused. The detective continued. I saw that the whole case hung upon one point. Fixing her with my eye in a way which i always found effective with women. I asked her at what hour her son returned. I do not know she answered. Not know. No he has a latchkey and he let himself in. After you went to bed yes. When did you go to bed. About eleven. So your son was gone at least two hours. Yes. Possibly four or five. Yes. What was he doing during that time. I do not know she answered turning white to her very lips. Of course after that there was nothing more to be done. I found out where lieutenant charpentier was took two officers with me and arrested him. When i touched him on the shoulder and warned him to come quietly with us he answered us as bold as brass. I suppose you’re arresting me for being concerned in the death of that scoundrel driver he said. We had said nothing to him about it so that is alluding to it had a most suspicious aspect. Very said Holmes he still carried the heavy stick which the mother described him as having with him when he followed drever. It was a stout oak cudgel. What is your theory then. While my theory is that he followed drever as far as the Brixton road when they’re a fresh altercation arose between them in the course of which draper received a blow from the stick in the pit of the stomach perhaps which killed him without leaving any Mark. The night was so wet that no one was about. So charpentier dragged the body of his victim into the empty house. As to the candle and the blood and the writing on the wall in the ring. They may all be so many tricks to throw the police onto the wrong scent. Well done said Holmes in an encouraging voice. Really Gregson you are getting along we shall make something of you yet. I flatter myself that i have managed it rather neatly the detective answered proudly the young man volunteered a statement in which he said that after following drever some time the latter perceived him and took a cab in order to get away from him. On his way home he met an old shipmate and took a long walk with him. On being an asked where this old shipmate lived he was unable to give any satisfactory reply. I think the whole case fits together uncommonly well. What amuses me is to think of la stroud who had started off upon the wrong scent. I’m afraid he won’t make much of it why by jove he is the very man himself self. It was indeed la strad who had ascended the stairs while we were talking and who now entered the room. The assurance and jaunty Enos which generally marked his demeanor and dress were however wanting his face was disturbed and troubled while his clothes were dis arranged and untidy. He had evidently come with the intention of consulting with Sherlock Holmes for on perceiving his colleague he appeared to be embarrassed and put out. He stood in the center of the room fumbling nervously with his hat and uncertain what to do. This is a most extraordinary case he said at last a most incomprehensible affair. Ah you find it so mr la strad cried Gregson triumphantly. I thought you would come to that conclusion have you managed to find the secretary mr Joseph stanger staggering. The secretary mr Joseph Sanderson said la stroud gravely was murdered at holidays private hotel about six o’clock this morning. The chapter seven. Light in the darkness. The intelligence with which la stroud greeted us was so momentous and so unexpected that we were all three fairly dumbfounded. Gregson sprang out of his chair and upset the remainder of his whiskey and water. I stared in silence that Sherlock Holmes whose lips were compressed and his brows drawn down over his eyes. Staggers and two he muttered. The plot thickens. It was quite thick enough before grumbled la stroud taking a chair. I seem to have dropped into a sort of council of war. Are you are you sure of this piece of intelligence stammered Gregson. I have just come from his room said la strad. I was the first to discover what had occurred. We have been hearing Gregson view of the matter Holmes observed would you mind letting us know what you have seen and done. I have no objection la strada answered seating himself. I freely confess that i was of the opinion that Stan Jason was concerned in the death of drever. This fresh development has shown me that i was completely mistaken. Full of the one idea i set myself to find out what had become of the secretary. They had been seen together at euston station about half past eight on the evening of the third. At two in the morning drama had been found in the Brixton road. The question which confronted me was to find out how staggers son had been employed between eight point three zero and the time of the crime and what had become of him afterwards. I telegraphed to liverpool giving a description of the man and warning them to keep a watch upon the American boats. I then set to work calling upon all the hotels and lodging houses in the vicinity of euston you see i argued that if draper and his companion had become separated the natural course for the latter would be to put up somewhere in the vicinity for the night and then to hang about the station again next morning. They would be likely to agree on some meeting place beforehand remarked Holmes. So it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday evening in making inquiries entirely without avail. This morning i began very early and at eight o’clock i reached holidays private hotel in little George street. On my inquiry as to whether mr Sanderson was living there they at once answered me in the affirmative. No doubt you are the gentleman whom he was expecting they said. He has been waiting for a gentleman for two days. Where is he now i asked. He is upstairs in bed he wished to be called at nine. I will go up and see him at once i said. It seemed to me that my sudden appearance might shake his nerves and lead him to say something unguarded. The boots volunteer to show me the room. It was on the second floor and there was a small corridor leading up to it the boots pointed out the door to me and was about to go down downstairs again when i saw something that made me feel sick ish in spite of my twenty years experience. From under the door that curled a little red ribbon of blood which had meandered across the passage and formed a little pool along the skirting at the other side. I gave a cry which brought the boots back he nearly faints when he saw it. The door was locked on the inside but we put our shoulders to it and knocked it in. The window of the room was open and beside the window all huddled up lay the body of a man in his night dress. He was quite dead and had been for some time for his limbs were rigid and cold. When we turned him over the boots recognized him at once as being the same gentleman who had engaged the room under the name of Joseph stanger son. The cause of death was a deep stab in the left side which must have penetrated the heart and now comes the strangest part of the affair. What do you suppose was above the murdered man. I felt a creeping of the flesh and the present moment of coming horror even before Sherlock Holmes answered. The word raich written in letters of blood he said. That was it said les stroud in an awe struck voice and we were all silent for awhile. There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the deeds of this unknown assassin. That it imparted a fresh ghastliness to his crimes. My nerves which were steady enough on the field of battle tingled as i thought of it. The man was seen continued listed. A milk boy passing on his way to the dairy happened to walk down the Lane which leads from the muse at the back of the hotel he noticed that a ladder which usually lay there was raised against one of the windows of the second floor which was wide open. After passing he looked back and saw a man descend the ladder he came down so quietly and openly that the boy imagined him to be some carpenter or joiner at work in the hotel. He took no particular notice of him beyond thinking in his own mind that it was early for him to be at work. He has an impression that the man was tall had a reddish face and was dressed in a long brownish coat. He must have stayed in the room some little time after the murder. For we found bloodstained water in the basin where he had washed his hands and marks on the sheets where he had deliberately wiped his knife. I glanced at homes on hearing the description of the murderer which tallied so exactly with his own. There was however no trace of exaltation or satisfaction upon his face. Did you find nothing in the room which could furnish a clue to the murderer he asked. Nothing. Staggers and had drivers purse in his pocket but it seems that this was usual as he did all the paying there was eighty odd pounds in it but nothing had been taken. Whatever the motives of these extraordinary crimes robbery is certain not one of them. There were no papers or memoranda in the murdered man’s pocket except a single telegram dated from Cleveland about a month ago and containing the words jh ages in Europe. There was no name appended to this message and there was nothing else Holmes asked. Nothing of any importance. The man’s novel with which he had read himself to sleep was lying upon the bed and his pipe was on a chair beside him there was a glass of water on the table and on the windowsill a small chip ointment box containing a couple of pills. Sherlock Holmes sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight. The last link he cried exultantly my case is complete. The two detective stared at him in amazement. I have now in my hands my companion said confidently. All the threads which have formed such a tangle. There are of course details to be filled in but i am certain of all the main facts from the time that drama parted from standards in at the station up to the discovery of the body of the latter. As if i had seen them with my own eyes. I will give you a proof of my knowledge could you lay your hand upon those pills. I have them said la stroud producing a small white box. I took them in the purse and the telegram intending to have them put in a place of safety at the police station. It was the merest chance my taking these pills. For i’m bound to say that i do not attach any importance to them. Give them here said Holmes. Now doctor turning to me. Are those ordinary pills. They certainly were not they were of a pearly grey color small round and almost transparent against the light. From their lightness and transparency i should imagine that they are soluble in water i remarked. Precisely so answered homes. Now would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long and which the landlady wanted you to put out of it’s pain yesterday. I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arms. It’s labored breathing and glazing i showed that it was not far from its end. Indeed it snow white muzzle proclaimed that it had already exceeded the usual term of canine existence. I placed it upon a cushion on the rug. I will now cut one of these pills into it said Holmes and drawing his penknife he suited the action to the word. One half we return into the box for future purposes. The other half i will place in this wine glass in which is a teaspoonful of water. You perceive that our friend the doctor. Is right and that it readily dissolves yeah. This may be very interesting said la stride in the injured tone of one who suspects that he is being laughed at. I cannot see however what it has to do with the death of mr Joseph staggering. Patience my friend Patience you will find in time that it has everything to do with it. I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palette apple and on presenting it to the dog we find that he laps it up readily enough. As he spoke he turned the contents of the wine glass into a saucer and placed it in front of the terrier who speedily licked it dry. Sherlock Holmes’s earnest demeanor had so far convinced us that we all sat in silence watching the animal intently and expecting some startling effect. None such appear however the dog continued to lie stretched upon the cushion breathing in a labored way but apparently neither the better nor the worse for it’s draft. It had taken out his watch and as minute followed minute without result an expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He nor his lip. Drummed his fingers upon the table and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion. That i felt sincerely sorry for him while the two detective smiled derisively by no means displeased at this check which he had met. It can’t be a coincidence he cried at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room. It is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pill which i suspected in the case of drever are actually found after the death of stanger son and yet they are inert. What can it mean. Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible and yet this wretched dog is none the worse ah i have it. I i have it. With a perfect shriek of delight he rushed to the box cut the other pill into dissolved it added milk and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creature’s tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened in it before it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb and lay as rigid and lifeless as if it had been struck by lightning. Sherlock Holmes drew a long breath and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. I should have more faith he said. I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions. It invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation. Of the two pills in that box one was of the most deadly poison and the other was entirely harmless. I ought to have known that before ever i saw the box at all. This last statement appeared to me to be so startling that i could hardly believe that he was in his sober senses. There was the dead dog however to prove that his conjecture had been correct. It seemed to me that the mists in my own mind were gradually clearing away and i began to have a dem vague perception of the truth. All this seems strange to you continued homes. Because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry to grasp the importance of the single real clue which was presented to you. I had the good fortune to seize upon that and everything which has occurred since then has served to confirm my original supposition and indeed was the logical sequence of it. Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case more obscure have served to enlighten me and to strengthen my conclusions. It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery the most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious because it presents no new or special features from which deductions may be drawn. This murder would have been infinitely more difficult to unravel. Had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the roadway without any of the those outra and sensational accompaniments which have rendered it remarkable. These strange details far from making the case more difficult have really had the effect of making it less so. Mr Gregson who had listened to this address with considerable impatience could contain himself no longer. Look here mister Sherlock Holmes he said we are all ready to acknowledge that you are a smart man and that you have your own methods of working. We want something more than mere theory and preaching now though. It is a case of tea taking the man. I’ve made my case out and it seems i was wrong. Young charpentier could not have been engaged in this second affair. La stroud went after his man staggering and it appears that he was wrong too. You’ve thrown out hints here and hints there and seemed to know more than we do but the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask you straight how much you do know of the business. Can you name the man who did it. I cannot help feeling that Gregson is right sir remarked le stroud we have both tried and we have both failed. You have remarked more than once since i have been in the room that you had all the evidence which you require surely you will not withhold it any longer. Any delay in arresting the assassin i observed might give him time to perp cut-rate some fresh atrocity. Thus pressed by us all home showed signs of irresolution. He continued to walk up and down the room with his head sunk on his chest and his brows drawn down. As was his habit when lost in thought. There will be no more murders he said at last stopping abruptly and facing us. You can put that consideration out of the question. You have asked me if i know the name of the assassin i do. The mere knowing of his name is a small thing however compared with the power of laying our hands upon him. This i expect very shortly to do. I have good hopes of managing it through my own arrangements but it is a thing which needs delicate handling for we have a shrewd and desperate man to deal with who is supported as i have had occasion to prove by another who is as clever as himself. As long as this may man has no idea that anyone can have a clue there is some chance of securing him but if he had the slightest suspicion he would change his name and vanish in an instant among the four million inhabitants of this great city. Without meaning to hurt either of your feelings i am bound to say that i consider these men to be more than a match for the official force and that is why i have not asked your assistance. If i fail i shall of course incur all the blame due to this omission but that i am prepared for. At present i am ready to promise that the instant that i can communicate with you without endangering my own combinations i shall do so. Gregson and lestrade seemed to be far from satisfied by this assurance or by the depreciating allusion to the detective police. The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair while the others beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resentment. Neither of them had time to speak however before there was a tap at the door and the spokesman of the street arabs young wiggins introduced his insignificant and unsavory person. Please sir he said touching his forelock. I have the cab downstairs. Good boy said Holmes blandly. Why don’t you introduce this pattern at Scotland yard he continued taking a pair of steel handcuffs from a drawer. See how beautifully the spring works they fastened in an instant. The old pattern is good enough remarked la strad. If we can only find the man to put them on. Very good very good said Holmes smiling. The cabinet may as well help me with my boxes just ask him to step up wiggins. I was surprised to find my companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a journey since he had not said anything to me about it. There was a small portmanteau in the room and this he pulled out and began to strap. He was busily engaged at it when the cadman entered the room. Just give me a help with his buckle cab man he said kneeling over his task and never turning his head. The fellow came forward with a somewhat sullen defiant air and put down his hands to assist. At that instant there was a sharp click the jangling of metal and Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet again. Gentlemen he cried with flashing eyes. Let me introduce you to mister Jefferson hope the murderer of Enoch drever and of Joseph stanger sin. The whole thing occurred in a moment so quickly that i had no time to realize it. I have a vivid recollection of that instant of homes his triumphant expression and the ring of his voice of the cabins dazed savage face as he glared at the glittering handcuffs which had appeared as if by magic upon his wrists. For a second or two we might have been a group of statues then with an inarticulate roar of fury the prisoner wrenched himself free from Holmes’s grasp and hurled himself through the window. Woodwork and glass gave way before him but before he got quite through Gregson lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him like so many stag hounds he was dragged back into the room and then commenced a terrific conflict. So powerful and so fierce was he that the four of us were shaken off again and again he appeared to have the convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit. His face and hands were terribly mangled by his passage through the glass but loss of blood had no effect in diminishing his resistance. It was not until the strides succeeded in getting his hand inside his neck cloth and half strangling him that we made him realize that his struggles were of no avail and even then we felt no security until we had pinion his feet as well as his hands. That done we Rose to our feet breathless and panting. We have his cab said Sherlock Holmes. It will serve to take him to Scotland yard and now gentlemen he continued with a pleasant smile we have reached the end of our little mystery you are very welcome to put any questions that you like to me now and there is no danger that i will refuse to answer them. Part two. The country of the saints. Chapter one. Wait alkali plane. In the central portion of the great north American continent there lies an arid and repulsive desert. Which for many a long year served as a barrier against the advance of civilization. From the Sierra Nevada to Nebraska and from the yellowstone river in the north to the Colorado upon the south is a region of desolation and silence. Nor is nature always in one mood throughout this grim district. It comprises snow-capped and lofty mountains and dark and gloomy valleys. There are swift flowing rivers which dash through jagged canyons and there are enormous planes which in winter are white with snow and in some number a gray with the saline alkali dust. They all preserve however the common characteristics of barrenness in hospitality and misery. There are no inhabitants of this land of despair. A band of ponies or of blackfeet may occasionally traverse it in order to reach other hunting grow rounds but the hardiest of the braves are glad to lose sight of those awesome planes and to find themselves once more upon their prairies. The coyotes skunks among the scrub the buzzard flaps heavily through the air and the clumsy grizzly bear lumbers through the dark ravines and picks up such sustenance as it can amongst the rocks. These are the sole dwellers in the wilderness. In the whole world there can be no more dreary view than that from the northern slope of the Sierra blanca. As far as the eye can reach stretches the great flat plane land all dusted over with patches of alkali and intersected by clumps of the dwarf as chaparral bushes. On the extreme verge of the horizon lie a long chain of mountain peaks with their rugged summits flecked with snow. In this great stretch of country there is no sign of life. Nor of anything appertaining to life. There is no bird in the steel blue heaven. No movement upon the dull grey earth above all there is absolute silence. Listen as one may there is no shadow of a sound in all that mighty wilderness. Know nothing but silence. Complete and heart subduing silence. It has been said there is nothing appertaining to life upon the broad plain. That is hardly true. Looking down from the Sierra blanco one sees a pathway traced out across the desert which winds away and is lost in the extreme distance. It is rutted with wheels and trodden down by the feet of many adventure errors. Here and there there are scattered white objects which glisten in the sun and stand out against the dull deposit of alkali approach and examine them. They are bones some large and coarse other smaller and more delicate. The former have belonged to oxen and the latter to men. For fifteen hundred miles one may trace this ghastly caravan route by the scattered remains of those who had fallen by the wayside. Looking down on this very scene there stood upon the fourth of may eighteen hundred and forty seven a solitary traveler. His appearance was such that he might have been the very g genius or demon of the region. An observer would have found it difficult to say whether he was nearer to forty or to sixty. His face was lean and haggard and the brown parchment like skin was drawn tightly over the projecting bones. His long brown hair and beard were all flecked and dashed with white his eyes were sunken in his head and burned with an unnatural luster. While the hand which grasped his rifle was hardly more fleshy than that of a skeleton. As he stood he leaned upon his weapon for support and yet his tall figure and the massive framework of his bones suggested a wire he and vigorous constitution. His gaunt face however and his clothes which hung so badly over his shriveled limbs. Proclaimed what it was that gave him that senile and decrepit appearance. The man was dying dying from hunger and from thirst he had toiled painfully down the ravine and onto this little elevation in the vein hope of seeing some signs of water. Now the great salt plains stretched before his eyes and the distant belt of savage mountains without a sign anywhere of plant or tree which might indicate the presence of moisture. In all that broad landscape there was no gleam of hope. North and east and west he looked with wild questioning eyes and then he realized that his wanderings had come to an end and that there on that barren crag he was about to die. Why not here as well as in a featherbed twenty years hence he muttered as he seated himself in the shelter of a Boulder. Before sitting down he had deposited upon the ground his useless rifle and also a large bundle tied up in a grey shawl which he had carried slung over his right shoulder. It appeared to be somewhat too heavy for his strength for in lowering it it came down on the ground with some little violence. Instantly there broke from the gray parcel a little moaning cry and from it that protruded a small scared face with very bright brown eyes and too little speckled dimpled fists. You’ve hurt me said a childish voice reproachfully have i though the man answered penitents lie. I didn’t go for to do it. As he spoke he unwrapped the grey shawl and extricated a pretty little girl of about five years of age whose dainty shoes and smart pink frock with it’s little linen a apron all bespoke a mother’s care. The child was pale and one but her healthy arms and legs showed that she had suffered less than her companion. How is it now he answered anxiously for she was still rubbing the towels the golden curls which covered the back of her head. Kiss it and make it well she said with perfect gravity showing the injured part up to him. That’s what mother used to do where’s mother. Mother’s gone i guess you’ll see her before long. Garner said the little girl. Funny she didn’t say good bye. She must always did if she was just going over to auntie’s fatty and now she’s been away three days say it’s awful dry ain’t it ain’t there no water nor nothing to eat. No there ain’t nothing dairy you’ll just need to be patient awhile and then you’ll be all right. Put your head up a gimme like that and then you’ll feel bullied. It ain’t easy to talk when your lips is like leather but i guess i’d best let you know how the cards lie what’s that you’ve got. Pretty things find things cried the little girl enthusiastically holding up two glittering fragments of mica. When he goes back to home I’ll give them to brother Bob. You’ll see prettier things than them soon said the man confidently. You just wait a bit. I was going to tell you though you remember when we left the river. Oh yes. While we reckoned we’d strike another river soon DC but there was something wrong campuses or map or something and it didn’t turn up water ran out just accept a little drop for the likes of you and and and you couldn’t wash yourself interrupted his companion gravely. Staring up at his gray Jaime visage. No nor drink and mr bender. He was the face to go and then Indian Pete and then mrs McGregor and then jonny hones and then derry your mother. Then mother’s addenda to cried the little girl dropping her face in her pinafore and sobbing bitterly. Yes they all went except you and me. Then i thought there was some chance of water in this direction so i heaved you over my shoulder and we tramped it together. It don’t seem as though we’ve improved matters. There’s an almighty small chow chance for us now. Do you mean that we are going to die to ask the child checking her sobs and raising her tear stained face. I guess that’s about the size of it. Why didn’t you say so before she said laughing gleefully you gave me such a fright why of course now as long as we die will be with mother again. Yes you will dairy and you too. I’ll tell her how awful good you’ve been. I’ll bet she meets us at the door of heaven with a big pitcher of water and a lot of buckwheat cakes hot and toasted on both sides like bobbin me was fond of. How long will it be first. I don’t know not very long. The man’s eyes were fixed upon the northern horizon. In the blue vault of the heaven that had appeared three little specks which increased in size every moment so rapidly did they approach. They speedily resolve themselves into three large brown birds which circled over the heads of the two wanderers and then settled upon on some rocks which overlook them they were buzzards the vultures of the west whose coming is the forerunner of death. Coxon hands cried the little girl gleefully pointing at their ill omens forms and clapping her hands to make them rise. Say did god make this country. In course he did said her companion rather startled by this unexpected question. He made the country down in Illinois and he made the Missouri the little girl continued. I guess somebody else made the country in these parts is not nearly so well done. They forgot the war in the trees. What would you think at prayer the man asked differently. It ain’t night yet she answered. It don’t matter it ain’t quite regular but he won’t mind that you bet. You say over them ones that you used to say every night in the wagon when we was on the planes. Why don’t you say some yourself the child asked with wandering eyes. I disremember them he answered i have said nonsense i was half the height of that gun. I guess it’s never too late. You say them out and I’ll stand by and come in on the choruses. Then you’ll need to kneel down and me too she said laying the shawl out for that purpose. You’ve got to put your hands up like this it makes you feel kind of good. It was a strange sight had there been anything but the buzzards to see it. Side by side on the narrow shawl knelt the two wanderers the little prattling child and the reckless hardened adventurer. Her chubby face and his haggard angular visage were both turned up to the cloudless heaven and heartfelt entreaty to that dread being with whom they were face to face so. While the two voices the one thin and clear the other deep and harsh. United in the entreaty for mercy and forgiveness. The prayer finished they resumed their seat in the shadow of the Boulder until the child fell asleep nestling upon the broad breast of her protector. He watched over her slumber for some time but nature proved to be too strong for him. For three days and three nights he had allowed himself neither rest nor repose. Slowly the eyelids drooped over the tired eyes and the head sunk lower and lower upon the breast until the man’s grizzled beard was mixed with the gold tresses of his companion and both slept the same deep and dreamless slumber. Had the wanderer remained awake for another half hour a strange the site would have met his eyes. Far away on the extreme verge of the alkali plane there Rose up a little spray of dust very slight at first and hardly to be distinguished from the mists of the distance but gradually growing higher and broader until it formed a solid well-defined cloud. This cloud i continued to increase in size until it became evident that it could only be raised by a great multitude of moving creatures. In more fertile spots the observer would have come to the conclusion that one of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie land was approaching him. This was obviously impossible in these arid wilds. As the whirl of dust drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon which the two castaways were repurposing. The canvas covered to tilts of wagons and the figures of armed horsemen began to show up through the haze and the apparition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon it’s journey for the west but what a caravan. When the head of it had reached the base of the mountains the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array wagons and carts men on horseback and men on foot. Innumerable women who staggered along under burdens and children who toddled beside the wagons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently no ordinary party of immigrants but rather some known mad people who had been compelled from stress of circumstances to seek themselves a new country. They Rose through the clear air a confused clattering and rumbling from this great mass of humanity with the creaking of wheels and the naming of horses. Loud as it was it was not sufficient to rouse the two tie the wayfarers above them. At the head of the column there wrote a score or more of grave iron faced men clad in sombre homespun garments and armed with rifles. On reaching the base of the bluff they halted and held a short counsel among themselves. The Wells are to the right my brothers said one a hard lipped clean shaven man with grizzly hair to the right of the Sierra blanco so we shall reach the rio grande said another. Fear not for water cried a third he who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon his own chosen people. Amen amen responded the whole party. They were about to resume their journey when one of the youngest and keenest i’d uttered an exclamation and pointed up at the rugged crag above them. From it’s summit there fluttered a little wisp of pink showing up hard and bright against the grey rocks behind. At the site there was a general raining up of horses and unsettling ing of guns while fresh horsemen came galloping up to reinforce the vanguard. The word redskins was on every lip. There can’t be any number of engines here said the elderly man who appeared to be in command we have passed the pawnees and there are no other tribes until we cross the great mountains. Shall i go forward and see brother stanger son asked one of the band and i and i cried a dozen voices. Leave your horses below and we will await you here the elder answered. In a moment the young fellows had dismounted fastened their horses and were ascending the precipitous slope which led up to the object which had excited their curiosity. They advanced rapidly and noiselessly with the confidence and dexterity of practice scouts. The watches from the plane below could see them flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the skyline. The young man who had first given the alarm was leading them. Suddenly his followers saw him throw up his hands as though overcome with astonishment and on joining him they were affected in the same way by the site which met their eyes. On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single giant Boulder and against this Boulder there lay a tall man long bearded and hard featured but have an excessive thinness. His placid face and regular breathing showed that he was fast asleep. Beside him les a little child with her round white arms in circling his brown sinewy neck and her golden head head resting upon the breast of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy lips were parted showing the regular line of snow white teeth within and a playful smile played over her infantile features. Her plump little white legs terminating in white socks and neat shoes with shining buckles offered a strange contrast to the long shriveled members of her companion. On the ledge of rock above this strange couple there stood three solemn buzzards who at the sight of the newcomers uttered raucous screams of disappointment and flapped sullenly away. The cries of the foul birds awoke the two sleepers who stared about them in bewilderment. The man staggered to his feet and looked down upon the plane which had been so desolate when sleep had overtaken him and which was now traversed by this enormous body of men and of beasts. His face assumed an expression of incredulity as he gazed and he passed his bony hand over his eyes. This is what they call delirium i guess he muttered. The child stood beside him holding onto the skirt of his coat and said nothing but looked all round her with the wondering questioning gaze of childhood. The rescuing party was speedily able to convince the two castaways that their appearance was no delusion. One of the m sees the little girl and hoisted her upon his shoulder while two others supported her gaunt companion and assisted him towards the wagons. My name is John ferrier the wanderer explained me in that little under all that’s left twenty one people the rest is all dead a thirst and hunger away down in the south. Is she your child or someone. I guess she is now the other cried defiantly she’s mine because i saved her no man will take her from me she’s Lucy ferrier from this day on. Who are you though he continued glancing with curiosity at his stalwart sunburned rescuers. There seems to be a powerful lot of ye. Nigh upon ten thousand said one of the young men we are the persecuted children of god the chosen of the angel Moroni. I never heard tell on him said the wanderer who he appears to have chosen a fair crowd of ye. Do not jest at that which is sacred said the other sternly. We are of those who believe in those sacred writings drawn in Egyptian letters on plates of beaten gold which were handed unto the holy Joseph Smith at palmyra. We have come from nauvoo in the state of Illinois where we had founded our temple we have come to seek a refuge from the violent man and from the godless even though it be the heart of the desert. The name of nauvoo evidently recalled recollections to John ferrier. I see he said you are the mormons. We are the mormons answered his companions with one voice and where are you going. We do not know the hand of god is leading us under the person of our prophet. You must come before him he shall say what is to be done with you. They had reached the base of the hill by this time and was surrounded by crowds of the pilgrims pale faced meek looking women strong laughing children and anxious earnest eyed men. Many were the cries of astonishment and of commiseration which arose from them when they perceived the youth of one of the strangers and the destitution of the other. Their escort did not halt however but pushed on followed by a great crowd of mormons until they reached a wagon which was conspicuous for it’s great size. Godinez and smartness of it’s appearance. Six horses were yoked to it whereas the others were furnished with two or at most four a piece. Beside the driver there sat a man who could not have been more than thirty years of age but whose massive head and resolute expression marked him as a leader. He was reading a brown backed volume but as the crowd approached he laid it aside and listened attentively to an account of the episode. Then he turned to the two castaway ways. If we take you with us he said in solemn words. It can only be as believers in our own creed we shall have no wolves in our fold. Better far that your bones should bleach in this wilderness than that you should prove to be that little speck of decay which in time corrupts the whole fruit. Will you come with us on these terms. Guess I’ll come with you on any terms said ferrier with such emphasis that the grave elders could not restrain a smile. The leader alone retained his stern impressive expression. Take him brother stanger son he said. Give him food and drink and the child likewise. Let it be your task also to teach him our holy creed. We have delayed long enough forward on on to Zion. On onto Zion cried the crowd of mormons and the words rippled down the long caravan passing from mouth to mouth until they died away in a dull murmur in the far distance with a cracking of whips and the creaking of wheels the great wagons got into motion and soon the whole caravan was winding along once more. The elder to whose care the two waifs had been committed led them to his wagon where a meal was already awaiting them. You shall remain here he said. In a few days you will have recovered from your fatigues. In the meantime remember that now and forever you are of our religion brigham young has said it and he has spoken with the voice of Joseph Smith which is the voice of god. Chapter two. The flower of Utah. This is not the place to commemorate the trials and privations endured by the immigrant moments before they came to their final haven. From the shores of the Mississippi to the western slopes of the rocky mountains they had struggled on with a constancy almost unparalleled in history. The savage man and the savage beast hunger thirst fatigue and disease every impediment which nature could place in the way had all been overcome with anglo sur accent tenacity. Yet the long journey and the accumulated terrace had shaken the hearts of the stout ist among them. There was not one who did not sink upon his knees in heartfelt prayer. When they saw the broad valley of Utah bathed in the sunlight beneath them and learned from the lips of their leader that this was the promised land and that these virgin acres were to be theirs for evermore. Young speedily proved himself to be a skillful administrator as well as a resolute chief. Maps were drawn and charts prepared in which the future city was sketched out. All around farms were apportioned and allotted in proportion to the standing of each individual. The tradesman was put to his trade and the artisans to his calling. In the town streets and squares sprang up as if by magic. In the country there was draining and hedging planting and clearing. Until the next summer saw the whole country golden with the wheat crop. Everything prospered in the strange settlement. Above all the great temple which they had erected in the center of the city grew ever taller and larger. From the first blush of dawn until the closing of the twilight the clatter of the hammer and the rasp of the saw were was never absent from the monument which the immigrants erected to him who had led them safe through many dangers. The two castaways John ferrier and the little girl who had shared his fortunes and had been adopted as his daughter. Accompanied the moments to the end of their great pilgrimage. Little Lucy ferrier was born along pleasantly enough in eldest Anderson’s wagon. A retreat which he shared with the mormons three wives and with his son a headstrong forward boy of twelve. Having rallied with the elasticity of childhood from the shock caused by her mother’s death she soon became a pet with the women and reconciled herself to this new life in her moving canvas covered home. In the meantime ferrier having recovered from his provisions. Distinguished himself as a useful guide and an indefatigable hunter. So rapidly did he gain the esteem of his new companions. That when they reached the end of their wanderings it was unanimously agreed that he should be provided with as long large and as fertile attractive land as any of the settlers with the exception of young himself and of stanger son Campbell johnston and drever who were the four principal elders. On the farm thus acquired John ferrier built himself a substantial log house which received so many odds missions in succeeding years that it grew into a roomy villa. He was a man of a practical turn of mind keen in his dealings and skillful with his hands his iron constitution enabled him to work morning and evening at improving and tilling his lands. Hence it came about that his farm and all that belonged to him prospered exceedingly. In three years he was better off than his neighbors in six he was well to do in nine he was rich and in twelve there were not half a dozen men in the whole of salt lake city who could compare with him. From the great inland sea to the distant wasatch mountains there was no name better known than that of John ferrier. There was one way and only one in which he offended the susceptibilities of his co religionists. No argument or persuasion could ever induce him to set up a female establishment after the manner of his companions he never gave reasons for this persistent refusal but contented himself by resolutely and inflexibly adhering to his determination. There were some who accused him of Luke warmness in his adopted religion and others who put it down to greed of wealth and reluctance to incur expense. Others again spoke of some early love affair and have a fair haired girl who had pined away on the shores of the Atlantic. Whatever the reason feria remained strictly celebrate. In every other respect he conform to the religion of the young settlement and gained the name of being an orthodox and straight walking man. Lucy ferrier grew up within the log house and assisted her adopted father in all his undertakings. The keen air of the mountains and the balsamic odor of the pine trees took the place of nurse and mother to the young girl. As year succeeded to year she grew taller and stronger her cheek more Rudy and her step more elite mastic. Many a wayfarer upon the high road which ran by farriers farm felt long forgotten. Thoughts revive in their mind as they watched her lithe girlish figure tripping through the wheat fields or matter mounted upon her father’s mustang and managing it with all the ease and grace of a true child of the west. So the bud blue bottomed into a flower and the year which saw her father the richest of the farmers left her as fair a specimen of American girlhood as could be found in the whole pacific slope. It was not the father however who first discovered that the child had developed into the woman. It seldom is in such cases. That mysterious change is too subtle and too gradual to be measured by dates. Least of all does the maiden herself know it until the tone of a voice or the touch of a hand sets her heart thrilling within her and she learns with a mixture of pride and a fear. That a new and a larger nature has awoken within her. There are few who cannot recall that day and remember the one little incident which heralded the dawn of a new life. In the case of Lucy ferrier the occasion was serious enough in itself apart from it’s future influence on her destiny and that of many besides. It was a warm June morning and the latter day a saints were as busy as the bees whose HIV they have chosen for their emblem. In the fields and in the streets Rose the same hum of human industry. Down the dusty high roads defiled long streams of heavily laden mules all heading to the west for the gold fever had broken out in California Mya and the overland route lay through the city of the elect. There too were droves of sheep and bullocks coming in from the outlying pasture lands and trains of tired immigrants men and horses equally wary of their interminable journey. Through all this motley assemblage threading her way with the skill of an accomplished rider that galloped Lucy ferrier her fair face flushed with the exercise and her long Chestnut hair floating out behind her. She had a commission from her father in the city and was dashing in as she had done many a time before with all the fearlessness of youth thinking only of her task and how it was to be performed. The travel stained adventurer’s gazed after her in astonishment and even the unemotional Indians journeying in with their penalties relax their accustomed stoicism as they marveled at the beauty of the pale faced maiden. She had reached the outskirts of the city when she found the road blocked by a great drove of cattle. Drip half dozen wild looking herdsmen from the planes. In her impatience she endeavored to pass this obstacle by pushing her horse into what appeared to be a gap. Scarcely had she got fairly into it however before the beasts closed in behind her and she found herself completely embedded in the moving stream of fear side long horned bullocks. Accustomed as she was to deal with cattle she was not alarmed at her situation but took advantage of every opportunity to urge her horse on in the hopes of pushing her way through the cavalcade. Unfortunately the horns of one of the creatures either by accident or design came in violent contact with the flank of the mustang and exit i did it to madness. In an instant it reared up on its hind legs with a snort of rage and pranced and tossed in a way that would have unseated any but a most skillful rider. The situation was full of peril. Every plunge of the excited horse brought it against the horns again and goaded it to fresh madness. It was all that the girl could do to keep herself in the saddle yet a slip would mean a terrible death under the hooves of the unwieldy and terrified animals. Unaccustomed to sudden emergencies her head began to swim and her grip upon the bridle to relax choked by the rising cloud of dust and by the steam from the struggling creatures she might have abandoned her efforts in despair but for a kindly voice at her elbow which assured her of assistance. At the same moment a sinewy brown hand caught the frightened horse by the curb and forcing away through the drove soon brought her to the outskirts. You’re not hurt i hope miss said her preserver respectfully. She looked up at his dark fierce face and laughed softly. I’m off frightened she said naively whoever would have thought that poncho would have been so scared by a lot of cows. Thank god you kept your seat the other said earnestly. He was a tall savage looking young fellow mounted on a powerful roan horse and clad in the rough dress of a hunter with a long rifle slung over his shoulders. I guess you are the daughter of John ferrier he remarked. I saw you ride down from his house. When you see him. Ask him if he remembers the Jefferson hopes of st Louis. If he’s the same farrier my father and he were pretty thick. Hadn’t you better come and ask yourself she asked demurely. The young fellow seemed pleased at the suggestion and his dark eyes sparkled with pleasure. I’ll do so he said. We’ve been in the mountains for two months and are not over and above in visiting condition he must take us as he finds us. He has a good deal to thank you for and so have i she answered. He’s awful fond of me. If those cows had jumped on me he’d have never got over it. Neither would i set a companion you. While i don’t see that it would make much matter to you anyhow you ain’t even a friend of ours. The young hunter’s dark face grew so gloomy over this remark that Lucy farrier laughed aloud. There i didn’t mean that she said of course you are a friend now you must come and see us. Now i must push along or father won’t trust me with his business anymore good bye. Good bye he answered raising his broad sombrero and bending over her little hand. She wheeled her mustang round gave it a cut with her riding whip and darted away down the broad road in a rolling cloud of dust. Young Jefferson hope road on with his companions gloomy and taciturn he and they had been among the Nevada mountains prospecting for silver and were returning to salt lake city in the hope of raising capital enough to work some ladies which they had discovered. He had been as keen as any of them upon the business until this sudden insight st had drawn his thoughts into another channel. The site of the fair young girl as frank and wholesome as the Sierra breezes. Had stirred his volcanic untamed heart to it’s very depths. When she had vanished from his sight he realized that a crisis had come in his life and that neither silver specie relations nor any other questions could ever be of such importance to him as this new and all absorbing one. The love which had sprung up in his heart was not the sudden changeable fancy of a boy but rather the wild fierce passion of a man of strong will and imperious temper. He had been accustomed to succeed in all that he undertook. He swore in his heart that he would not fail in this if human effort and human perseverance could render him successful. He called on John ferrier that night and many times again until his face was a familiar one at the farmhouse. John cooped up in the valley and absorbed in his work had had little chance of learning the news of the outside world during the last twelve years. All this Jefferson hope was able to tell him and in a style which interested Lucy as well as her father. He had been a pioneer in California and could narrate many a strange tale of fortunes made and fortunes lost in those wild halcyon days. He’d been a scout two and a trapper a silver explorer and a ranch man. Wherever stirring adventures were to be had Jefferson hope had been there in search of them he soon became a favorite with the old farmer who spoke eloquently of his virtues. On such occasions Lucy was silent but her blushing cheek and her bright happy eyes showed only too clearly that her young heart i was no longer her own. Her honest father may not have observed these symptoms but they were assuredly not thrown away upon the man who had won her affections. It was a summer evening when he came galloping down the road and pulled up at the gate. She was at the doorway and came down to meet him he threw the bridle over the fence and strode up the pathway. I am off Lucy he said. Taking her two hands in his and gazing tenderly down into her face. I won’t ask you to come with me now but will you be ready to come when i’m here again and when will that be she asked blushing and laughing. A couple of months at the outside i will come and claim you then my darling there’s no one who can stand between us. And how about father she asked. He has given his consent provided we get these minds working all right i have no fear on that head. Oh well of course. If you and father have arranged it all there’s no more to be said she whispered with her cheek against his broad breast. Thank god he said horsley stooping and kissing her it is settled then. The longer i stay the harder it will be to go. They are waiting for me at the canyon. Good by my own darling. Good bye. In two months you shall see me. He taught himself from her as he spoke and flinging himself upon his horse galloped furiously away never even looking round as though afraid that his resolution might fail him if he took one glance at what he was leaving. She stood at the gate. Gazing after him until he vanished from her sight. Then she walked back into the house the happiest girl in all Utah. Charter chapter three. John ferrier talks with the prophet. Three weeks had passed since Jefferson hope and his comrades had departed from salt lake city. John ferry as heart was saw within him when he thought of the young man’s return and of the impending loss of his adopted child. Yet her bright and happy face reconciled him to the arrangement more than any argument could have done he had always determined deep down in his resolute heart that nothing would ever induce him to allow his daughter to wed a mormon. Such a marriage he regarded as no marriage at all but as a shame and a disgrace. Whatever he might think of the mormon doctrines upon that one point he was inflexible. He had to seal his mouth on the subject however for to express an unorthodox opinion was a dangerous matter in those days in the land of the saints yes a dangerous matter so dangerous that even the most saintly dared only whisper their religious opinions with bated breath. Less something which fell from their lips might be misconceived shrewd and bring down a swift retribution upon them. The victims of persecution had now turned persecutors on their own account and persecutors of the most terrible description. Not the inquisition of Seville nor the German vam great nor the secret societies of Italy were ever able to put a more formidable machinery in motion than that which cast a cloud over the state of Utah. It’s invisibility and the mystery which was attached to it made this organization doubly terrible. It appeared to be omniscient and omnipotent and yet was neither seen nor heard. The man who held out against the church vanished away and none knew whether he had gone or what had befallen him. His wife and his children awaited him at home but no father ever returned to tell them how he had fared at the hands of his secret judges. A rash word or a hasty act was followed by annihilation and yet none knew what the nature might be of this terrible power which was suspended over them. No wonder that men went about in fear and trembling and that even in the heart of the wilderness they dared not whisper the doubts which oppressed them. At first this vague and terrible power was exercised only upon the recalcitrance who having embraced the mormon faith wished afterwards to pervert or to abandon it. Soon however it took a wide arrange. The supply adult women was running short and polygamy without a female population on which to draw was a barren doctrine indeed. Strange rumors began to be bandied about rumors of murdered immigrants and rifled camps in regions where Indians had never been seen. Fresh women appeared in the harems of the elders as women who pined and wept and bore upon their faces the traces of an an extinguisher will horror. Related wanderers upon the mountain spoke of gangs of armed men masked stealthy and noiseless who flitted by them in the darkness. These tales and rumors took substance and shape and were corroborated and re corroborated until they resolve themselves into a definite name to this day in the lonely ranches of the west the name of the tonight band or the avenging angels is a sinister and an ill omen one. Fuller knowledge of the organization which produced such terrible results served to increase rather than to lessen the horror which it inspired in the minds of men. None knew who belong to this ruthless society. The names of the participated in the deeds of blood and violence done under the name of religion were kept profoundly secret. The very friend to whom you communicated your misgivings as to the prophet and his mission. Might be one of those who had come forth at night with fire and sword to exact a terrible all reparation. Hence every man feared his neighbor a none spoke of the things which were nearest his heart. One fine morning John ferrier was about to set out to his wheat fields when he heard the click of the latch and looking through the window saw a stout Sandy haired middle aged man coming up the pathway his heart leapt to his mouth for this was none other than the great brigham young himself full of trepidation for he knew that such a visit boded him little good ferrier ran to the door to greet the mormon chief the latter however received his salutations coldly and followed him with a stern face into the sitting room. Brother farrier he said taking a seat and eyeing the farmer keenly from under his light colored eyelashes. The true believers have been good friends to you. We picked you up when you were starving in the desert we shared our food with you lead you safe to the chosen valley gave you a goodly share of land and allowed you to whack the rich under our protection. Is not this so. It is so answered John ferrier. In return for all this we asked but one condition. That was that you should embrace the true faith and conform in every way to it’s usages. This you promised to do and this if common report says truly you have neglected. And how have i neglected it asked ferrier throwing out his hands in ex postulation have i not given to the common fund have i not attended at the temple have i not. Where are your wives asked young looking round him. Call them in that i may greet them. It is true that i have not married feria answered but women were few and there were many who had better claims then i. I was not a lonely man. I had my daughter to attend to my wants. It is of that daughter that i would speak to you said the leader of the mormons. She has grown to be the flower of Utah and has found favor in the eyes of many who are high in the land. John ferrier groaned internally. There are stories of her which i would fain disbelieve stories that she is sealed to some gentile. This must be the gossip of i idle tongues. What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith. Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect. For if she were a gentile she commits a grievous sin. This being so it is impossible that you who profess the holy creed. Should suffer your daughter to violate it. John ferrier made no answer but he played nervously with his riding whip. Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested so it has been decided in the sacred council of four for. The girl is young and we would not have her wet grey hairs neither would we deprive her of all choice. We elders have many heifers but our children must also be provided. Staggers and has a son and drama has a son and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to their house. Let her choose between them. They are young and rich and have the true faith. What say you to that. Heber c Kimball in one of his sermons alludes to his hundred wives under this endearing epithet. Farrier remained silent for some little time with his brows knitted. You will give us time he said at last. My daughter is very young. She is scarce of an age to marry. She shall have a month to choose said young rising from his seat. At the end of that time she shall give her answer. He was passing through the door when he turned with flushed face and flashing eyes. It were better for you John farrier he thundered. That you and she were now lying blanche skeletons upon the Sierra blanco than that you should put your weak wills against the orders of the holy four with a threatening gesture of his hand he turned from the door and farrier heard his heavy steps scrunching along the shengli path. He was still sitting with his elbows upon his knees considering how he should broach the matter to his daughter when a soft hand was laid upon his and looking up he saw her standing beside him. One glance at her pale frightened face showed him that she had heard what had passed. I could not help it she said in answer to his look. His voice rang through the house oh father father what shall we do. Don’t you scare yourself he answered drawing her to him and passing his broad rough hand caressing lie over her Chestnut hair. Will fix it up somehow or another. You don’t find your fancy kind of lessening for this chapter you. A sob and a squeeze of his hand was her only answer. No of course not i shouldn’t care to hear you say you did. He’s a likely lad and he’s a Christian which is more than these folk here in spite of all their praying and preaching. There’s a party starting for Nevada tomorrow and I’ll manage to send him a message letting him know the whole wherein. If i know anything of that young man here I’ll be back here with a speed that would whip electro telegraphs. Lucy laughed through her tears at her father’s description. When he comes he will advise us for the best but it is for you that i am frightened dear. One here’s. When he has such dreadful stories about those who oppose the prophet. Something terrible always happens to them but we haven’t opposed him yet her father answered it will be time to look out for squalls when we do. We have a clear month before us at the end of that i guess we had best shit out of you outta. Leave Utah. That’s about the size of it but the farm. We will raise as much as we can in money and let the rest go to tell the truth Lucy it isn’t the first time i have thought of doing it. I don’t care about knuckling under to any man as these folk due to their darned profit. I’m a freeborn American and it’s all new to me. Guess i’m too old to learn. If he comes browsing about this farm he might chance to run up against a charge of buckshot travelling in the opposite direction. But they won’t let us leave his daughter objected. Wait till Jefferson comes and will soon manage that. In the meantime don’t you fret yourself my dairy and don’t get your eyes swelled up else he’ll be walking into me when he sees you. There’s nothing to be feared about and there’s no danger at all. John ferrier uttered these consoling remarks in a very confident tone but she could not help observing that he paid unusual care to the fastening of the doors that night and that he carefully cleaned and loaded the rusty old shotgun which hung upon the wall of his bedroom. He used a chapter for. A flight for life. On the morning which followed his interview with the mormon prophet John ferrier went into salt lake city and having found his acquaintance who was bound for the Nevada mountains he entrusted him with his message to Jefferson hope. In it he told the young man of the imminent danger which threatened them and how necessary it was that he should return. Having done thus he felt easier in his mind and returned home with a lighter heart. As he approached his farm he was surprised to see a horse hitched to each of the posts of the gate. Still more surprised was he on entering to find two young men in possession of his cell eating room. One with a long pale face was leaning back in the rocking chair with his feet cocked up upon the stove. The other a bull necked youth with course bloated features was standing in front of the window with his hands in his pocket whistling a popular him. Both of them nodded to face i entered and the one in the rocking chair commenced the conversation. Maybe you don’t know as he said. This here is the son of elder drever and i am Josef stangl son who traveled with you in the desert when the lord stretched out his hand and gathered you into the true fold. As he will all the nations in his own good time said the other in a nasal voice he grinded slowly but exceeding small. John ferrier bowed coldly he had guessed who his visitors were. We have come continued stanger son at the advice of our fathers to solicit the hand of your daughter for whichever or of us may seem good to you and to her. As i have but four wives and brother driver here has seven. It appears to me that my claim is the stronger one. Nay nay brother staggers and cried the other. The question is not how many wives we have but how many we can keep. My father has now given over his mills to me and i am the richer man. But my prospects are better said the other warmly. When the lord removes my father i shall have his tanning yard and his leather factory then i am your elder and am higher in the church. It will be for the maiden to decide rejoined young grabber smirking at his own reflection in the glass we will leave it all to her decision. During this dialogue John ferrier had stood fuming in the doorway. Hardly able to keep his riding whip from the backs of his two visitors. Look here he said at last striding up to them when my daughter summons you you can come but until then i don’t want to see your faces again. The two young mormon stared at him in amazement. In their eyes this competition between them for the maiden’s hand was the highest of honors both to her and her father. There are two ways out of the room cried ferrier. There is the door and there is the window which do you care to use. His brown face looked so savage and his gaunt hands so threatening that his visitors sprang to their feet and beat a hurried retreat. The old farmer followed them to the door let me know when you have settled which it is to be he said sardonically. You shall smart for this staggers and cried white with rage you have defied the prophet and the council of four you shall rue it to the end of your days. The hand of the lord shall be heavy upon you cried young driver he will arise and smite you. Then I’ll stop the smiting exclaimed ferry i furiously and would have rushed upstairs for his gun had not Lucy seized him by the arm and restrained him. Before he could escape from her the clatter of horses’ hooves told him that they were beyond his reach. The young counting rod haskell’s he exclaimed wiping the perspiration from his forehead. I would sooner see you in your grave my girl than the wife of either of them and so should i father she answered with spirit but Jefferson will soon be here. Yes. It will not be long before he comes the sooner the better for we do not know what their next move may be. It was indeed high time that someone capable of giving advice and help should come to the aid of the sturdy old farmer and his adopted daughter. In the whole history of the settlement there had never been such a case of rank disobedience to the authority of the elders. If minor errors were punished so sternly. What would be the fate of this arch rebel. Ferrier knew that his wealth and position would be of no avail to him others as well known as riches himself had been spirited away before now and their goods given over to the church. He was a brave man but he trembled at the vague shadowy terrors which hung over him. Any known danger he could face with a firm lip but this suspense was unnerving. He concealed his fears from his daughter however and affected to make light of the whole matter. Though she with the keen eye of love saw plainly that he was ill at ease. He expected that he would receive some message or remonstrance from young as to his conduct and he was not mistaken though it came in and unlocked for manner. Upon rising next morning he found to his surprise a small square of paper pinned onto the coverlet of his bed just over his chest. On it was printed in bold straggling letters. Twenty nine days are given you for amendment and then. The dash was more fear inspiring than any threat could have been. How this warning came into his room puzzle John ferrier solely for his servant slept in an outhouse and the doors and windows had all been secured. He crumpled the paper up and said nothing to his daughter but the incident struck a chill into his heart. The twenty nine days were evidently the balance of the month which young had promised. What strength or courage could avail against an enemy armed with such mysterious powers. The hand which fastened that pin might have struck him to the heart and he could never have known who had slain him. Still more shaken was the next morning. They had sat down to their breakfast when Lucy with a cry of surprise pointed upwards. In the center of the ceiling was scrawled with a burnt stick apparently the number twenty eight to his daughter it was unintelligible and he did not enlighten her. That night he sat up with his gun and kept watch and ward he saw and he heard nothing and yet in the morning a great twenty seven had been painted upon the outside of his door. Thus day followed day and ashore as morning came he found that his unseen enemies had kept their register and had marked up in some conspicuous position how many days were still left to him out of the month of grace. Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared upon the walls sometimes upon the flaws. Occasionally they were on small placards stuck upon the garden gate or the railings with all his vigilance John farrier could not discover whence these daily warnings proceeded. A horror which was almost superstitious came upon him at the sight of them. He became haggard and restless and his eyes had the troubled look of some hunt the creature. He had but one hope in life now and that was for the arrival of the young hunter from Nevada. Twenty had changed to fifteen and fifteen to ten but there was no news of the absentee. One by one the numbers dwindled down and still there came no sign of him. Whenever a horsemen clattered down the road or a driver shouted at his team the old farmer hurried to the gate thinking that help had arrived at last. At last when he saw a five give way to four and that again to three he lost heart and abandoned all hope of escape. Single-handed and with his limited knowledge of the mountains which surrounded the settlement he knew that he was powerless. The more frequented roads were strictly watched and guarded and none could pass along them without an order from the council. Turn which way he would there appeared to be no avoiding the blow which hung over him. Yet the old man never wave but in his resolution to part with life itself before he consented to what he regarded as his daughter’s dishonour. He was sitting alone one evening pondering deeply over his troubles and searching vainly for some way out of them. That morning had shown the figure two upon the wall of his house and the next day would be the last of the allotted time. What was to happen then. All manner of vague and terrible fancies filled his imagination and his daughter. What was to become of her after he was gone. Was there no escape from the invisible network which was drawn all around them. He sank his head upon the table and sobbed at the thought of his own impotence. What was that. In the silence he heard a gentle scratching sound low but very distinct in the quiet of the night. It came from the door of the house feria crept into the hall and listened intently. There was a pause for a few moments and then the low insidious sound was repeated. Some one was evidently tapping very gently upon one of the panels of the door. Was it some midnight assassin who had come to carry out the murderous all orders of the secret tribunal. Or was it some agent who was marking up that the last day of grace had arrived. John ferrier felt that instant death would be better than the suspense which shook his nerves and chilled his heart. Springing forward he drew the bolt and threw the door open. Outside all was calm and quiet the night was fine and the stars were twinkling brightly overhead. The little front garden lay before the farmers eyes bounded by the fence and gate but neither there nor on the road was any human being to be seen with a sigh of relief feria looked to right and to left until happening to glance straight down at his own feet he saw to his astonishment a man lying flat upon his face upon the ground with arms and legs all a sprawl. So unnerved was he at the site that he leaned up against the wall with his hand to his throat to stifle his inclination to call out. His first thought was that the prostrate figure was that of some wounded or dying man but as he watched it he saw it rise along the ground and into the hall with the rapidity and noise listeners of a serpent. Once within the house the man sprang to his feet closed the door and revealed to the astonished farmer the fierce face and resolute expression of Jefferson hope. Good god gaffe John ferrier how you scared me whatever made you come in like that. Give me food the other said horsley. I’ve had no time for bite or sup for eight and forty hours. He flung himself upon the cold meat and bread which was still lying upon the table from his hosts supper and devoured it voraciously. Does Lucy bear up well he asked when he had satisfied his hunger. Yes she does not know the danger her father answered. That is well the house is watched on every side that is why i crawled my way up to it they may be darn sharp but they’re not quite sharp enough to catch a washoe hunter. John ferrier felt a different man now that he realized that he had a devoted ally. He sees the young man’s leathery hand and rung it cordially you’re a man to be proud of he said there are not many who would come to share our danger and our troubles. You’ve hit it their part the young hunter answered i have a respect for you but if you are alone in this business i’d think twice before i put my head into such a hornet’s nest. It’s Lucy that brings me here and before harm comes on her i guess there will be one less of the hope family in Utah. What are we to do. Tomorrow is your last day and unless you act tonight you are lost. I have a mule and two horses waiting in the eagle ravine. How much money have you. Two thousand dollars in gold and five in notes. That will do i have as much more to add to it. We must push for Carson city through the mountains. You had best wake Lucy it is as well that the servants do not sleep in the house. While farrier was absent preparing his daughter for the approaching journey Jefferson hope packed all the eatables that he could find into a small parcel and filled a stoneware jar with water for he knew by experience that the mountain Wells were few and far between. He had hardly completed his arrangements before the farmer returned with his daughter all dressed and ready for a start. The greeting between the lovers was warm but brief four minutes were precious and there was much to be done. We must make our start at once said Jefferson hope speaking in a low but resolute voice. Like one who realizes the greatness of the peril but has steeled his heart to meet it. The front and back entrances are watched but with caution we may get away through the side window and across the fields. Once on the road we’re only two miles from the ravine where the horses awaiting. By daybreak we should be halfway through the mountains. What if we are stopped asked ferrier. Hope slap the revolver but which protruded from the front of his tunic if they are too many for us we shall take two or three of them with us he said with a sinister smile. The lights inside the house had all been extinguished and from the darkened window fairy appeared over the fields which had been his own and which he was now about to abandon forever. He had long nerves himself to the sacrifice however and the thought of the honor and happiness of his daughter outweighed any regret at his ruined fortunes. All looked so peaceful and happy the rustling trees and the broad silent stretch of Greenland. That it was difficult to realise that the spirit of murder lurked through it all all. Yet the white face and set expression of the young hunter showed that in his approach to the house he had seen enough to satisfy him upon that head. Ferrier carried the bag of golden notes Jefferson hope had the scanty provisions and water while Lucy had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions. Opening the window very slowly and carefully they waited until a dark cloud had somewhat obscured the night and then one by one passed through into the little garden. With bated breath and crouching figures they stumbled across it and gained the shelter of the hedge which they skirted until they came to the gap which opened into the cornfields. They had just reached this point when the young man seized his two companions and dragged them down into the shadow where they lay silent and trembling. It was as well that his prairie training had given Jefferson hope the ears of a lynx. He and his friends had hardly crouched down before the melancholy hooting of a mountain owl was heard within a few yards of them. Which was immediately answered by another hoot at a small distance. At the same moment a vague shadowy figure emerged from the gap for which they had been making and uttered the plaintive signal cry again. On which a second man appeared out of the obscurity. Tomorrow at midnight said the first who appear to be an authority. When the whip poor will cause three times. It is well return the other. Shall i tell brother drever. Pass it onto him and from him to the others nine to seven. Seven to five repeated the other and the two figures flitted away in different directions. Their concluding words had evidently been some form of sign and counter sign. The instant that their footsteps had died away in the distance Jefferson hope sprang to his feet and helping his companions through the gap aap led the way across the fields at the top of his speed supporting and half carrying the girl when her strength appeared to fail her hurry on hurry on he gasped from time to time we are through the line of sentinels everything depends on speed hurry on. Once on the high road they made rapid progress only once did they meet anyone and then they managed to slip into a field and so avoid recognition. Before reaching the town the hunter branched away into a rugged and narrow footpath which led to the mountains to dark jagged peaks loomed above them through the darkness and the defile which led between them was the eagle canon in which the horses were awaiting them with unerring instinct Jefferson home op picked his way among the great boulders and along the bed of a dried up watercourse until he came to the retired corner. Screened with rocks where the faithful animals had been picketed. The girl was placed upon the mule and old farrier upon one of the horses with his money bag while Jefferson hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path. It was a bewildering route for anyone who was not accustomed to face nature in her wildest moods. On the one side a great crag towered up a thousand feet or more black stern and menacing with long basaltic columns upon its rugged surface like the ribs of some petrified monster. On the other hand a wild chaos of boulders and debris made all advance impossible. Between the two ran the irregular track so narrow in places that they had to travel in Indian file and so rough that only practised riders could have traversed it at all. Yeah in spite of all dangers and difficulties the hearts of the fugitives were light within them for every step increased the distance between them and the terrible despotism from which they were flying. They soon had a proof however that they were still within the jurisdiction of the saints. They had reached the very wildest and most desolate portion of the pass when the girl gave a startled cry and pointed upwards. On a rock which overlooked the track showing out dark and plain against the sky. There stood a solitary sentinel. He saw them as soon as they perceived him and his military challenge of who goes there rang through the silent ravine. Travelers for Nevada said Jefferson hope with his hand upon the rifle which hung by his saddle. They could see the lonely watcher fingering his gun and peering down at them as if dissatisfied at their reply. By whose permission he asked. The holy for answered farrier his mormon experiences had taught him that that was the highest authority to which he could refer. Nine from seven cried the sentinel. Seven from five returned Jefferson hope promptly remembering the counter sign which he had heard in the garden. Pass and the lord go with you said the voice from above. Beyond his post the path broadened out and the horses were able to break into a trot. Looking back they could see the solitary watcher leaning upon his gun and knew that they had passed the outlying post of the chosen people and that freedom lay before them. Chapter five. The avenging angels. All night their course lay through intricate defiles and over irregular and rock strewn paths. More than once they lost their way but hopes intimate knowledge of the mountains enabled them to regain the track once more. When morning broke a scene of marvelous though savage beauty lay before them. In every direction the great snow capped peaks hemmed them in peeping over each other’s shoulders to the far horizon. So steep were the rocky banks on either side of them that the larch and the pine seemed to be suspended over their heads and to need only a gust of wind to come hurtling down upon them. Nor was the fear entirely an illusion for the barren valley was thickly strewn with trees and boulders which had fallen in a similar manner. Even as they passed a great rock came thundering down with a hoarse rattle which woke the echoes silent gorgeous and startled the weary horses into a gallop. As the sun Rose slowly above the eastern horizon the caps of the great mountains lit up one after the other like lamps at a festival until they were all ruddy and glowing. The magnificent spectacle cheered the hearts of the three fugitives and gave them fresh energy. At a wild torrent which swept out of a river even they called a halt and water their horses. While they partook of a hasty breakfast. Lucy and her father would fain have rested longer but Jefferson hope was inexorable. They will be upon our track by this time he said everything depends upon our speed. Once safe in Carson we he may rest for the remainder of our lives. During the whole of that day they struggled on through the defiles and by evening they calculated that they were more than thirty miles from their enemies. At nighttime they chose the base of a beetle in crag where the rocks offered some protection from the chill wind and they’re huddled together for warmth they enjoyed a few hours sleep. Before daybreak however they were up and on their way once more. They had seen no signs of any pursuers and Jefferson hope began to think that they were fairly out of the reach of the terrible organization whose enmity they had incurred. He little knew how far that iron grasp could reach or how soon it was to close upon them and crush them. About the middle of the second day of their flight their scanty store of provisions began to run out this gave the hunter little uneasiness however for there was game to be had among the mountains and he had frequently before had to depend upon his rifle for the needs of life. Choosing a sheltered nook he piled together a few dried branches and made a blazing fire at which his companions might warm themselves for they were now nearly five thousand feet above the sea level and the air was bitter and keen. Having tethered the horses and bade Lucy a deer he threw his gun over his shoulder and set out in search of whatever chance might throw in his way. Looking back he saw the old man and the young girl crouching over the blazing fire while the three animals stood motionless in the background. Then the intervening rocks hid them from his view he walked for a couple of miles through one ravine after another without success though from the marks upon the bark of the trees and other indic cations he judged that there were numerous bears in the vicinity. At last after two or three hours fruitless search he was thinking of turning back in despair when casting his eyes upwards he saw a sight which sent a thrill of pleasure through his heart. On the edge of a jutting pinnacle three or four hundred feet above him. There stood a creature somewhat resembling a sheep in appearance but armed with a pair of gigantic horns. The bighorn for so it is called was acting probably as a guardian over a flock which were invisible to the hunter but fortunate lately it was heading in the opposite direction and had not perceived him. Lying on his face he rested his rifle upon a rock and took a long and steady aim before drawing the trigger. The animal sprang into the air chatted for a moment upon the edge of the precipice and then came crashing down into the valley beneath. The creature was too unwieldy to lift so the hunter contented himself with cutting away one haunch and part of the flank. With this trophy over his shoulder he hastened to retrace his steps for the evening was already drawing in. He had hardly started however before he realized the difficulty which faced him. In his eagerness he had wandered far past the ravines which were known to him and it was no easy matter to pick out the path which he had taken. The valley in which he found himself divided and subdivided into many gorges. Which were so like each other that it was impossible to distinguish one from the other. He followed one for a mile while or more until he came to a mountain torrent which he was sure that he had never seen before. Convinced that he had taken the wrong turn he tried another but with the same result. Night was coming on rapidly and it was almost dark before he at last found himself in a defile which was familiar to him. Even then it was no easy match better to keep to the right track for the moon had not yet risen and the high cliffs on either side made the obscurity more profound. Weighed down with his burden and weary from his exertions he stumbled along. Keeping up his heart by the reflection that every step brought him nearer to Lucy and that he carried with him enough to ensure them food for the remainder of their journey. He had now come to the mouth of the very defile in which he had left them. Even in the darkness he could recognize the outline of the cliffs which bounded it. They must he reflected be awaiting him anxiously for he had been absent nearly five hours. In the gladness of his heart he put his hands to his the mouth and made the Glen re echo two allowed hulu as a signal that he was coming. He paused and listened for an answer. None came save his own cry. Which clattered up the dreary silent ravines and was born back to his ears in countless repetitions. Again he sure shouted even louder than before and again no whisper came back from the friends whom he had left such a short time ago. A vague nameless dread came over him and he hurried onwards frantically dropping the precious food in his agitation. When he turned the corner he came full insight of the spot where the fire had been lit. There was still a glowing pile of wood ashes there but it had evidently not been tended since his departure. The same dead silence still rained all round with his fears all changed the convictions he hurried on. There was no living creature near the remains of the fire animals man maiden all were gone. It was only too clear that some sudden and terrible disaster had occurred during his absence. A disaster which had embraced them all and yet had left no traces behind it. Bewildered and stunned by this blow. Jefferson hope felt his head spin round and had to lean upon his rifle to save himself from falling. He was essentially a man of action however and speedily recovered from his temporary impotence. Seizing a half consumed piece of wood from the smoldering fire he blew it into a flame and proceeded with it’s help to examine the little camp. The ground was all stamped down by the feet of horses showing that a large party of mounted men had overtaken the fugitives and the direction of their tracks proved that they had afterwards turned back to salt lake city. Had they carried back both of his companions with them. Jefferson hope had almost persuaded himself that they must have done so when his eye fell upon an object which made every nerve of his body tingle within him. A little way on one side of the camp was a low lying heap of reddish soil which had assuredly not been there before. There was no mistaking it for anything but a newly dug grave. As the young hunter approached it he perceived that a stick had been planted on it with a sheet of paper stuck in the cleft fork of it. The inscription upon the paper was brief but to the point. John ferrier formerly of salt lake city. Died August fourth eighteen sixth d. The sturdy old man whom he had left so short a time before was gone then and this was all his epitaph. Jefferson hope looked wildly round to see if there was a second grave but there was no sign of one. Lucy had been carried back by their terrible pursuers to fulfill her original destiny by becoming one of the harem of the eldest son. As the young fellow realized the certainty of her fate and his own powerlessness to prevent it he wished that he too was lying with the old farmer in his last silent resting place. Again however his active spirit shook off the lethargy which Springs from despair. If there was nothing else left to him he could at least devote his life to revenge with indomitable Patience and perseverance Jefferson hope possessed also a power of sustained vindictiveness which he may have learned from the Indians amongst whom he had lived. As he stood by the desolate fire he felt that the only one thing which could assuage his grief would be thorough and complete retribution. Brought by his own hand upon his enemies. His strong will and untiring energy should he determined be devoted to that one end with a grim white face he retraced his steps to wow he had dropped the food and having stirred up the smoldering fire he cooked enough to last him for a few days. This he made up into a bundle and tired as he was he set himself to walk back through the mountains upon the track of the avenging angels. For five days he toiled foot saw and weary through the defiles which he had already traversed on horseback at night he flung himself down among the rocks and snatched a few hours of sleep but before daybreak he was always well on his way. On the sixth day he reached the eagle canon from which they had commenced their ill fated flight. Then down upon the home of the saints. Worn and exhausted he leaned upon his rifle and shook his gaunt hand fiercely at the silent widespread city beneath him. As he looked at it he observed that there were flags in some of the principal streets and other signs of festivity. He was still speculating as to what this might mean when he heard the clatter of horses’ hoofs and saw a mounted man riding towards him. As he approached he recognized him as a mormon named kalpa to whom he had rendered services at different times he therefore accosted him when he got up to him with the object of finding out what Lucy farriers fate had been mean. I am Jefferson hope he said you remember me. The mormon looked at him with undisguised astonishment. Indeed it was difficult to recognize in this tattered unkempt wanderer with ghastly white face and fierce wild eyes the spruce young hunter a former days. Having however at last satisfied himself as to his identity the man’s surprise changed to consternation. You are mad to come here he cried. It is as much as my own life is worth to be seen talking with you there is a warrant against you from the holy for for assisting the farriers away. I don’t fear them or their warrant hope said earnestly. He must know something of this matter kalpa. I conjure you by everything you hold dear to an answer a few questions. We have always been friends for god’s sake don’t refuse to answer me. What is it the mormon asked uneasily. Be quick the very rocks have ears and the trees eyes. What has become of Lucy ferrier. She was married yesterday to young driver hold up man hold up you have no life left in you. Don’t mind me said hope faintly he was white to the very lips and had sunk down on the stone against which he had been leaning. Married you say. Married yesterday that’s what those flags are for on the endowment house. There were some words between young driver and young stanger sin as to which was to have her. They’d both been in the party that followed them and staggers and had shot her father which seemed to give him the best claim but when they argued it out in council drivers party was the stronger so the prophet gave her over to him. No one won’t have a very long though for i saw death in her face yesterday. She’s more like a ghost than a woman. Are you off then. Yes i’m off said Jefferson hope who had risen from his seat. His face might have been chiseled out of marble so hard and set was it’s expression while it’s eyes glowed with a baleful light where are you going. Never mind he answered and slinging his weapon over his shoulder strode off down the gorge and so away into the heart of the mountains to the haunts of the wild beasts. Amongst them all there was none so fierce and so dangerous as himself. The prediction of the mormon was only too well fulfilled. Whether it was the terrible death of her father or the effects of the hateful marriage into which she had been forced. Poor Lucy never held up her head again but pined away and died within a month. Her Scottish husband who had married her principally for the sake of John farriers property did not affect any great grief at his bereavement but his other wives mourned over her and sat up with her the night before the burial as is the mormon custom. They were grouped round the bear in the early hours of the morning when two they’re inexpressible fear and astonishment the door was flung open and a savage looking weather beaten man in tattered garments strode into the room. Without a glance or a word to the cowering women he walked up to the white silent figure which had once contained the pure soul of Lucy ferrier. Stooping over her he pressed his lips reverently to her cold forehead and then snatching up her hand he took the wedding ring from her finger. She shall not be buried in that he cried with a fierce snarl and before an alarm could be raised sprang down the stairs and was gone. So strange and so brief was the episode that the watchers might have found it hard to believe it themselves or persuade other people have it. Had it not been for the undeniable fact that the circlet of gold which marked her as having been a bride had disappeared. For some months Jefferson hope lingered among the mountains leading us strange wildlife and nursing in his heart the fierce desire for vengeance which possessed him. Tales were told in the city of the weird figure which was seen prowling about the suburbs and which haunted the lonely mountain gorges. Once a bullet whistled through stanger son’s window and flattened it self upon the wall within a foot of him. On another occasion as drever passed under a cliff a great Boulder crashed down on him and he only escaped a terrible death by throwing himself upon his face. The two young mormons were not long in discovering the reason of these attempts upon their lives and lead repeated expeditions into the mountains in the hope of capturing or killing their enemy but always without success. Then they adopted the precaution of never going out alone or after nightfall and of having their houses guarded. After a time they were able to relax these measures. For nothing was either heard or seen of their opponent and they hoped that time had cooled his vindictiveness. Far from doing so it had if anything augmented it. The hunter’s mind was of a hard unyielding nature and the predominant idea of revenge had taken such complete possession of it that there was no room for any other emotion. He was however above all things practical. He soon realized that even his iron constitution could not stand the incessant strain which he was putting upon it. Exposure and want of wholesome food were wearing him out. If he died like a dog among the mountains what was to become of his revenge then and yet such a death was sure to overtake him if he persisted. He felt that that was to play his enemies game so he reluctantly returned to the old Nevada mines. There to recruit his health and to amass money enough to allow him to pursue his object without probation. His intention had been to be absent a year at the most but a combination of unforeseen circumstances prevented his leaving the minds for nearly five. At the end of that time however his memory of his wrongs and his craving for revenge were quite as keen as on that memorable night when he had stood by John farriers grave. Disguised and under an assumed name he returned to salt lake city. Careless what became of his own life as long as he obtained what he knew to be justice. There he found evil tidings awaiting him. There had been a schism among the chosen people a few months before some of the younger members of the church having rebelled against the authority of the elders and the result had been the secession of a certain number of the malcontents who had left Utah and become gentiles. Among these had been drama and standardization and no one knew whether they had gone. Rumor reported that drama had managed to convert a large part of his property into money and that he had departed a wealthy man while his companion staggers and was comparatively poor. There was no clue at all however as to their whereabouts. Many a man however vindictive would have abandoned all thought of revenge in the face of such a difficulty but Jefferson hope never faltered for a moment with the small competence he possessed eked out by such employment as he could pick up he traveled from town to town through the united states in quest of his end Jimmy’s. Year passed into year his black hair turned grizzled but still he wandered on. A human bloodhound with his mind wholly set upon the one object upon which he had devoted his life. At last his perseverance was rewarded. It was but a glance of a face in a window but at one glance told him that Cleveland in Ohio possessed the men whom he was in pursuit of. He returned to his miserable lodgings with his plan of vengeance all arranged. It chanced however that drever looking from his window had recognized the vagrant in the street and had read murder in his eyes. He hurried before a justice of the peace accompanied by stanger son who had become his private cell secretary and represented to him that they were in danger of their lives from the jealousy and hatred of an old rival. That evening Jefferson hope was taken into custody and not being able to find sureties was detained for some weeks. When at last he was liberated it was only to find that Trevor’s house was deserted and that he and his secretary had departed for Europe. Again the avenger had been foiled and again his concentrated high hatred urged him to continue the pursuit. Funds were wanting however and for some time he had to return to work saving every dollar for his approaching journey. At last having collected enough to keep life in him he departed for Europe and tracked his enemies from city to city. Working his way in any menial capacity but never overtaking the fugitives. St Petersburg they had departed for Paris and when he followed them there he learned that they had just set off for Copenhagen. At the Danish capital he was again a few days late for they had journeyed on to London where he at last succeeded in running them to earth. As to what occurred there we cannot do better than quote the old hunters own account. As duly recorded in doctor Watson’s journal to which we are already under such obligations. Chapter six. A continuation of the reminiscences of John Watson doctor of medicine. Our prisoners furious resistance did not apparently indicate any ferocity in his disposition towards ourselves for on finding himself powerless he smiled in an affable manner and expressed his hopes that he had not hurt any of us in the scuffle. I guess you’re going to take me to the police station he remarked to Sherlock Holmes. My cabs at the door if you’ll loose my legs I’ll walk down to it. I’m not so light to lift as i used to be. Gregson and lestrade exchanged glances as if they thought this proposition rather a bold one but homes at once took the prisoner at his word and loosened the towel which we had bound round his ankles. He Rose and stretched his legs as though to assure himself that they were free once more. I remember that i thought to myself as as i eyed him that i had seldom seen a more powerfully built man and his dark sunburned face bore an expression of determination and energy which was as formidable as his personal strength. If there’s a vacant place for a chief of the police i reckon you’re the man for it he said gazing with undisguised admiration my fellow lodger. The way you kept on my trail was a caution. You had better come with me said Holmes to the two detectives. I can drive you said la stroud good and Gregson can come inside with me you to doctor you’ve taken an interest in the case and may as well stick to us. I assented gladly and we all descended together. Our prisoner made no attempt at escape but stepped calmly into the cab which had been his and we followed him. The straw mounted the box whipped up the horse and brought us in a very short time to our destination. We were ushered into a small chamber where a police inspector noted down our prisoners name and the names of the men with whose murder he had been charged. The official was a white faced unemotional man who went through his duties in a dull mechanical way. The prisoner will be put before the magistrates in the course of the week he said. In the meantime mr Jefferson hope have you anything that you wish to say. I must warn you that your words will be taken down and may be used against you. I’ve got a good deal to say our prisoner said slowly. I want to tell you gentlemen all about it. Hadn’t you better reserve that for your trial asked the inspector. I may never be tried he answered. You needn’t look startled it isn’t suicide i’m thinking of. Are you a doctor. He turned his fierce dark eyes upon me as he asked this last question yes. I am i answered. Then put your hand here he said with a smile motioning with his manacled wrists towards his chest. I did so and became at once conscious of an extraordinary throbbing and commotion which was going on inside. The walls of his chest seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at work. In the silence of the room i could hear a dull humming and buzzing noise which proceeded from the same source why i cried you have an aortic aneurysm. That’s what they call it he said placidly i went to a doctor last week about it and he told me that it is bound to burst before many days past. It has been getting worse for years. I got it from over exposure and under feeding among the salt lake mountains. I’ve done my work now and i don’t care how soon i go but i should like to leave some account of the b business behind me i don’t want to be remembered as a common cutthroat. The inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story. Do you consider doctor that there is immediate danger the former asked. Most certainly there is i answered. In that case it is clearly our duty in the interests of justice to take his statement said the inspector. You are at Liberty sir to give your account which i again warn you will be taken down. I’ll sit down with your leave the prisoner said suiting the action to the word. This aneurysm of mine makes me easily tired and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters. I’m on the brink of the grave and i am not likely to lie to you. Every word i say is the absolute truth and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me. With these words Jefferson hope leaned back in his chair and began the following remarkable statement. He spoke in a calm and methodical manner as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough. I can vouch for the accuracy of the sub joint account for I’ve had access to la strides notebook in which the prisoners words were taken down exactly as they were uttered. What it don’t much matter to you why i hated these men he said. It’s enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beings a father and a daughter and that they had therefore forfeited their own lives. After the lapse of time that has passed since their crime. It was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court. I knew of their guilt though and i determined that i should be judge jury and executioner all rolled into one. You’d have done the same. If you have any manhood in you if you had been in my place. That girl that i spoke of was to have married me twenty years ago. She was forced into marrying that same drama and broke her heart over it. I took the marriage ring from her dead finger and i vowed that his dying eyes should rest upon that very ring and that his last thoughts should be of the crime for which he is punished. I have carried it about with me and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until i caught them. They thought to tire me out but they could not do it. If i die tomorrow as is likely enough. I die knowing that my work in this world is done and well done. They have perished and by my hand. There is nothing left for me to hope for or to desire. They were rich and i was poor so that it was no easy matter for me to follow them. When i got to London my pocket was about empty and i found that i must turn my hand to something for my living. Driving and riding are as natural to me as walking so i applied at a cabanas office and soon got employment. I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner and whatever was over that i might keep for myself. There was seldom much over but i managed to scrape along somehow. The hottest job was to learn my way about for i reckon that of all the mazes that ever were contrived this city is the most confusing. I had a map beside me though and when once i had spotted the principal hotels and stations i got on pretty well. It was some time before i found out where my two gentlemen were living but i inquired and inquired until at last i dropped across them. They were at a boarding house at camberwell over on the other side of the river. When once i found them out i knew that i had them at my mercy i had grown my beard and there was no chance of their recognizing me. I would dog them and follow them until i saw my opportunity i was determined that they should not escape me again they were very near doing it for all that go where they worried about London i was always at their heels sometimes i followed them on my cab and sometimes on foot but the former was the best for then they could not get away from me. It was only early in the morning or late at night that i could earn anything. So that i began to get behind hand with my employer. I did not mind that however as long as i could lay my hand upon the men i wanted. They were very cunning though they must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed for they would never go out alone and never after nightfall during two weeks i drove behind them every day and never once saw them separate. Draper himself was drunk half the time but Stan Justin was not to be caught napping. I watch them late and early but never saw the ghost of a chance but i was not discouraged for something told me that the hour had almost come. My only fear was that this thing in my chest might burst a little too soon and leave my work undone. At last one evening i was driving up and down talkie terrace as the street was called in which they boarded. When i saw a cab drive up to their door. Presently some luggage was brought out and after a time drama and staggers and followed it and drove off. I whipped up my horse and kept within sight of them feeling very ill at ease for i feared that they were going to shift their quarters. At euston station they got out and i left a boy to hold my horse and followed them all what form. I heard the ask for the liverpool train and the guard answered that one had just gone and they would not be another for some hours. Stanger son seemed to be put out at that but drever was rather pleased than otherwise. I got so close to them in the bustle that i could hear every word that passed between them. Draper said that he had a little business of his own to do and that if the other would wait for him he would soon rejoin him. His companion remonstrated with him and reminded him that they had resolved to stick together. Draper answered that the matter was a delicate one and that he must go alone. I could not catch what staggers son said to that but the other burst out swearing and reminded him that he was nothing more than his paid servant and that he must not presume to dictate to him. On that the secretary gave it up as a bad job and simply bargained with him that if he missed the last train he should rejoin him at holidays private hotel to which draper answered that he would be back on the platform before eleven and made his way out of the station. The moment for which i had waited so long had at last come. I had my enemies within my power. Together they could protect each other but singly they were at my mercy. I did not act however with undue precipitation. My plans were already formed. There is no satisfaction in vengeance unless the offender has time to realize who it is that strikes him and why retribution has come upon him. I had my plans arranged by which i should have the opportunity of making the man who had wronged me understand that his old sin had found him out. A chance that some days before a gentleman who had been engaged in looking over some houses in the Brixton road had dropped the key of one of them in my carriage. It was claimed that same evening and returned but in the interval i had taken a molding of it and had a duplicate constructed by means of this i had access to at least one spot in this great city where i could rely upon being free from interruption. How to get drever to that house was the difficult problem which i had now to solve. He walked down the road and went into one or two liquor shops staying for nearly half an hour in the last of them. When he came out he staggered in his walk and was evidently pretty well on. There was a handsome just in front of me and he hailed it. I followed it so close that the nose of my horse was within a yard of his driver the whole way we rattled across Waterloo bridge and through miles of streets. Until to my astonishment we found ourselves back in the terrace in which he had boarded. I could not imagine what his intention was in returning there but i went on and pulled up my cab one hundred yards or so from the house. He entered it and his handsome drove away. Give me a glass of water if you please. My mouth gets dry with the talking. I handed him the glass and he drank it down. That’s better he said. While i waited for a quarter of an hour or more when suddenly there came a noise like people struggling inside the house. Next moment the door was flung open and two men appeared one of whom was driver and the other was a young chap whom i’d never seen before. This fellow had grabbed by the collar and when they came to the head of the steps he gave him a shove and a kick which sent him half across the road. You hound he cried shaking his stick at him. I’ll teach you to insult an honest girl. He was so hot that i think he would have thrashed drama with his cudgel only that the curse staggered away down the road as fast as his legs would carry him he ran as far as the corner and then seeing my cab he hailed me and jumped tin. Drive me to holidays private hotel said he when i had him fairly inside my cab my heart jumped so with joy that i feared lest at this last moment my aneurism might go wrong. I drove along slowly weighing in my own mind what it was best to do. I might take him right out into the country and there in some deserted Lane have my last interview with him i had almost decided upon this when he solved the problem for me. The craze for drink had seized him again and he ordered me to pull up outside a dj when palace he went in leaving word that i should wait for him. There he remained until closing time and when he came out he was so far gone that i knew the game was in my own hands. Don’t imagine that i intended to kill him in cold blood. It would only have been rigid justice if i had done so but i could not bring myself to do it. I had long determined that he should have a show for his life if he chose to take advantage of it. Among the many billets which i have filled in america during my wandering life i was once janitor and sweeper out of the laboratory at York college. One day the professor was lecturing on poisons and he showed his students some alkaloid as he called it which he had extracted from some south American arrow poison and which was so powerful that the least grain meant instant death. I spotted the bottle in which this preparation was kept and when they were all gone i helped myself to a little of it. I was a fairly good dispenser so i worked this alkaloid into small soluble pills and each pill i put in a box with a similar pill made without the poison. I determined at the time that when i had my chance my gentleman should each have a drawer out of one of these boxes while i ate the pill that remained. It would be quite as deadly and a good deal less noisy than firing across a handkerchief. From that day i had always my pillboxes about with me and the time had now come when i was to use them. It was nearer one than twelve and a wild bleak night blowing hard and raining in torrents. Dismal as it was outside i was glad within so glad that i could have shouted out from pure exaltation. If any of you gentlemen have ever pined for a thing and longed for it during twenty long years and then suddenly found it within your reach each you would understand my feelings. I lit a cigar and puffed at it to steady my nerves but my hands were trembling and my temples throbbing with excitement. As i drove i could see l John ferrier and sweet Lucy looking at me out of the darkness and smiling at me just as plain as i see you all in this room. All the way they were ahead of me one on each side of the horse until i pulled up at the house in the Brixton road. There was not a soul to be seen nor a sound to be heard except the dripping of the rain. When i looked in the window. I found drever all huddled together in a drunken sleep. I shall him by the arm. It’s time to get out i said alright cabbie said he i suppose he thought we had come to the hotel that he had mentioned for he got out without another word and followed me down the garden. I had to walk beside him to keep him steady for he was still a little top heavy. When we came to the door i opened it and led him into the front room. I give you my word that all the way the father and the daughter were walking in front of us. It’s in fernley dark said he stamping about. We’ll soon have a light i said striking a match and putting it to a wax candle which i had brought with me. Now he knocked reber i continued turning to him and holding the light to my own face who am i. He gazed at me with blared drunken eyes for a moment and then i saw a horror spring up in them and convulse his whole features which showed me that he knew me. He staggered back with a livid face and i saw the perspiration break out upon his brow. While his teeth chattered in his head. At the sight i leaned my back against the door and laughed loud and long. I had always known that vengeance would be sweet but i’d never hoped for the contentment of soul which now possessed me. You dog i said i have hunted you from salt lake city to st Petersburg and you have always escaped me. Now at last your wanderings have come to an end for either you or i shall never see tomorrow’s sunrise. He shrunk still further away as i spoke and i could see on his face that he thought i was mad. So i was for the time. The pulses in my temples beat like sledgehammers and i believe i would have had a fit of some sort if the blood had not gushed from my nose and relieved me. What do you think of Lucy ferrier now i cried locking the door and shaking the key in his face. Punishment has been slow in coming but it has overtaken you at last. I saw his coward lips tremble as i spoke. He would have begged for his life but he knew well that it was useless. Would you murder me he stammered. There is no murder i answered who talks of murdering a mad dog what mercy had you upon my poor darling when you dragged her from her slaughtered father and bore her away to your curse and shameless hire him. It was not i who killed her father he cried but it was you who broke her innocent heart i shrieked thrusting the box before him. Let the high guard judge between us choose and eat. There is death in one and life in the other. I shall take what you leave let us see if there is joy justice upon the earth or if we are ruled by chance. He cowered away with wild cries and prayers for mercy but i drew my knife and held it to his throat until he had obeyed me. Followed the other and we stood facing one another in silence for a minute or more waiting to see which was to live and which was to die. Shall i ever forget the look which came over his face. When the first warning pangs told him that the poison was in his system. I laughed as i saw it and held Lucy’s marriage ring in front of his eyes. It was but for a moment. For the action of the alkaloid is rapid. A spasm of pain contorted his features he threw his hands out in front of him staggered and then with a hoarse cry fell heavily upon the floor i turned him over with my foot and placed my hand upon his heart. There was no movement he was dead. The blood had been streaming from my nose but i had taken no notice of it. I don’t know what it was that put it into my head to write upon the wall with it. Perhaps it was some mischievous idea of setting the police upon a wrong track for i felt light hearted and cheerful i remembered a German being found in new York with rage written up above him and it was argued at the time in the newspapers that the secret society cities must have done it. I guess that what puzzled the new yorkers would puzzle the londoners so i dipped my finger in my own blood and printed it on a convenient place on the wall. Then i walked down to my cab and found that there was nobody about and that the night was still very wild. I had driven some distance when i put my hand into the pocket in which i usually kept Lucy’s ring and found that it was not there. I was thunderstruck at this for it was the only memento that i had of her. Thinking that i might have dropped it when i stooped over drivers body i drove back and leaving my cabin a side street i went boldly up to the house for i was ready to dare anything rather than lose the ring. When i arrived there i was right into the arms of a police officer who was coming out and only managed to disarm his suspicions by pretending to be hopelessly drunk. That was how Enoch driver came to his end. All i had to do then was to do as much for standardization and so pay off John ferry as debt. I knew that he was staying at holidays private hotel and i hung about all day but he never came out. I fancy that he suspected something when draper failed to put in an appearance. He was cunning was staggering and always on his guard. If he thought he could keep me off by staying indoors he was very much mistake when. I soon found out which was the window of his bedroom and early next morning i took advantage of some ladders which were lying in the Lane behind the hotel and so made my way into his room in the gray of the dawn. I woke him up and told him that the hour had come when he was to answer for the life he had taken so long before. I disk bribed rebels death to him and i gave him the same choice of the poisoned pills instead of grasping at the chance of safety which that offered him he sprang from his bed and flew at my throat. In self defense i stabbed him to the heart. It would have been the same in any case for Providence would never have allowed his guilty hand to pick out anything but the poison. I have little more to say and it’s as well for i am about done up. I went on calving it for a day or so intending to keep at it until i could save enough to take me back to america. I was standing in the yard when a ragged youngster asked if there was a cabbie there called Jefferson hope and said that his cab was wanted by a gentleman at two hundred and twenty one b baker street. I went round suspecting no harm and the next thing i knew this young man here had the bracelets on my wrists and as neatly shackled as ever i saw in my life. That’s the whole of my story gentlemen. You may consider me to be a murderer but i hold that i am just as much an officer of justice as you are. So thrilling had the man’s narrative been and his manner was so impressive that we had sat silent and absorbed. Even the professional detectives Plaza as they were in every detail of crime appear to be keenly interested in the man’s story. When he finished we sat for some minutes in a stillness which was one the broken by the scratching of la strides pencil as he gave the finishing touches to his shorthand account. There is only one point on which i should like a little more information Sherlock Holmes said at last. Who was your accomplice who came for the ring which i advertised. The prisoner winked at my friend jokingly. I can tell my own secrets he said but i don’t get other people into trouble. I saw your advertisement and i thought it might be a plant or it might be the ring which i wanted. My friend volunteered to go and see. I think you’ll only did it smartly. Not a doubt of that said Holmes heartily. Now gentlemen the inspector remarked gravely. The forms of the law must be complied with on Thursday the prisoner will be brought before the magistrates and your attendance will be required. Until then. I will be responsible for him. He rang the bell as he spoke and Jefferson hope was led off by a couple of warders. While my friend and i made our way out of the station and took a cab back to baker street. Chapter seven. The conclusion. We had all been worn to appear before the magistrates upon the Thursday but when the Thursday came there was no occasion for our testimony. A higher judge had taken the matter in hand and Jefferson hope had been summoned before a tribunal where strict justice would be meted out to him. On the very night after his capture the aneurysm burst and he was found in the morning stretched upon the floor of the cell with a placid smile upon his face as though he had been able in his dying moments to look back upon a useful life and on work well done. Gregson and lestrade will be wild about his death Holmes remarked as we chatted it over next evening. Where will their grand advertisement be now. I don’t see that they had very much to do with his capture i answered. What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence returned my companion bitterly the question is what can you make people believe leave that you have done. Never mind he continued more brightly after a pause. I would not have missed the investigation for anything. There has been no better case within my recollection simple as it was there were several most instructive points about it. Simple i ejaculated. Well really it can hardly be described as otherwise said Sherlock Holmes smiling at my surprise. The proof of it’s intrinsic simplicity is that without any help save a few very ordinary deductions i was able to lay my hand upon the criminal within three days. That is true said i. I have already explained to you that what is out of the common is usually a guide rather than a hindrance. In solving a problem of this sort the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards. That is a very useful accomplishment and a very easy one but people do not practice it much. In the everyday affairs of life it is more useful to reason forwards and so the other comes to be neglected. There are fifty who can reason synthetically for one who can reason analytically. I confess said i. That i do not quite follow you. I hardly expected that you would. Let me see if i can make it clearer. Most people if you describe a train of events to them will tell you what the result would be. They can put those events together in their minds and argue from them that something will come to pass. There are few people however who if you told them a result would be able to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up to that result. This power is what i mean when i talk of reasoning backwards or analytically. I understand said i. Now this this was a case in which you are given the result and had to find everything else for yourself. Now let me endeavour to show you the different steps in my reasoning. To begin at the beginning. I approached the house as you know on foot and with my mind entirely free from all impressions. I naturally began by examining the roadway and there as i have already explained to you i saw clearly the marks of a cab which i ascertained by inquiry must have been there during the night. I satisfied mine self that it was a cab and not a private carriage by the narrow Gauge of the wheels. The ordinary London growler is considerably less wide than a gentleman’s bro m. This was the first point gained. I then walked slowly down the garden path which happened to be composed of a Clay soil peculiarly suitable for taking impressions. No doubt it appeared to you to be a mere trampled line of slush but to my trained eyes every Mark upon it’s surface had a meaning. There is no branch of detective science which is so important and so much neglected as the art of tracing footsteps. Happily i have always laid great stress upon it and much practice has made it second nature to me. I saw the heavy foot marks of the constables but i saw also the track of the two men who had first passed through the garden. It was easy to tell that they had been before the others because in places their marks had been entirely obliterated by the others coming upon the top of them. In this way my second link was formed which told me that the visitors were two in number one remarkable for his height as i calculated from the length of his stride and the other fashionably dressed to judge from the small and elegant impression left by his boots. On entering the house. This last inference was confirmed. My well booted man lay before me. The tall one then had done the murder if murder there was. There was no wound upon the dead man’s person but the agitated expression upon his face assured me that he had foreseen in his fate before it came upon him. Men who die from heart disease or any sudden natural cause. Never by any chance exhibit agitation upon their features. Having sniffed the dead man’s lips i detected a slightly sour smell and i came to the conclusion that he had had poi poison forced upon him. Again i argued that it had been forced upon him from the hatred and fear expressed upon his face. By the method of exclusion i had arrived at this result. For no other hypothesis would meet the facts. Do not imagine that it was a very unheard of idea. The forcible administration of poison is by no means a new thing in criminal annals. The cases of dulcie in Odessa and of la turia in Montpelier will occur at once to any toxicologist. And now came the great question as to the reason why. Robbery had not been the object of the murder. For nothing was taken. Was it politics then or was it a woman. That was the question which confronted me. I was inclined from the first to the latter supposition. Political assassins are only too glad to do their work and to fly. This murder had on the contrary been done most deliberately and the perpetrator had left his tracks all over the room. Showing that he had been there all the time. It must have been a private wrong and not a political one which called for such a methodical revenge. When the inscription was discovered upon the wall i was more inclined than ever to my opinion. The thing was too evidently a blind. When the ring was found however it settled the question. Clearly the murderer had used it to remind his victim of some dead or absent woman. It was at this point that i asked Gregson whether he had inquired in his telegram to Cleveland as to any particular point in mister driver’s former career he answered. You remember in the negative. I then proceeded to make a careful examination of the room which confirmed me in my opinion as to the murderer’s height and furnished me with the additional details as to the tricky napali cigar and the length of his nails. I’d already come to the conclusion since there were no signs of a struggle that the blood which covered the floor had burst from the murderers no nose in his excitement. I could perceive that the track of blood coincided with the track of his feet. It is seldom that any man unless he is very full-blooded breaks out in this way through emotion. So i hazarded the opinion that the criminal was probably a robust and ruddy faced man events proved that i had judged correctly. Having left the house i proceeded to do what Gregson had neglected. I telegraph to the head of the police at Cleveland. Limiting my inquiry to the circumstances connected with the marriage of Enoch drever. The answer was conclusive. It told me that draper had already applied for the protection of the law against an old rival in love named Jefferson hope and that this same hope was at present in Europe. I knew now that i held the clue to the mystery in my hand and all that remained was to secure the murderer. I had already determined in my own mind that the man who had walked into the house with drever was none other than the man who had driven the cab. The marks in the road showed me that the horse had wandered on in a way which would have been impossible had there been any one in charge of it. Where then could the driver be unless he were inside the house. Again it is absurd to suppose that any sane man would carry out a deliberate crime under the very eyes as it were of a third person who was sure to betray him. Lastly supposing one man wish to dog another through London what better means could he adopt than to turn cab driver. All these considerations lead me to the irresistible conclusion that Jefferson hope was to be found among the Jarvis of the Metropolis. If he had been one there was no reason to believe that he had ceased to be. On the contrary from his point of view any sudden change would be likely to draw attention to himself he would probably for a time at least continue to perform his duties. There was no reason to suppose that he was going under an assumed name. Why should he change his name in a country where no one knew his original one. I therefore organized my street arab detective corps and sent them systematically to every cab proprietor in London until they ferreted out the man that i wanted. How well they succeeded and how quickly i took advantage of it are still fresh in your recollection. The murder of stanger son was an incident which was entirely unexpected but which could hardly in any case have been prevented. Through it as you know i came into possession of the pills. The existence of which i had already surmised. You see the whole thing is a chain of logical sequences without a break or floor. It is wonderful i cried your marriage should be publicly recognized you should publish an account of the case if you won’t i will for you. You may do what you like doctor he answered see here he continued handing a paper over to me look at this. It was the echo for the day and the paragraph to which he pointed was devoted to the case in question. The public it said have lost a sensational treat through the sudden death of the man hope who was suspected of the murder of mr Enoch drama and of mr Joseph staggering. The details of the case will probably be never know now though we are informed upon good authority that the crime was the result of an old standing and romantic feud in which love and Mormonism bore apart. It seems that both the victims belonged in their younger days to the latter day saints and hope the deceased prisoner hales also from salt lake city. If the case has had no other effect it at least brings out in the most striking manner the efficiency of our detective police force and will serve as a lesson to all foreigners that they will do wisely to settle their feuds at home and not to carry them onto Britta fish soil. It is an open secret that the credit of this smart capture belongs entirely to the well known Scotland yard officials messrs lestrade and Gregson. The man was apprehended it appears in the rooms of a certain mister Sherlock Holmes who has himself as an amateur. Shown some talent in the detective line and who with such instructors may hope in time to attain to some degree of their skill. It is expected that a testimonial of some sort will be presented to the two officers as a fitting recognition of their services. Didn’t i tell you so when we started cried Sherlock Holmes with a laugh that’s the result of all our study in Scarlet to get them a testimonial. Never mind i answered. I have all the facts in my journal and the public shall know them in the meantime you must make yourself contented by the consciousness of success. Like the Roman miser. Populace may simulate at me he plowed over ip said Tommy Seymour lucknow most contemporary in arca. The end. The sign of four. Chapter one. The science of deduction. Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantlepiece and his hypodermic syringe from it’s neat Morocco case with his long white nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle and rolled back his left shirt cuff. For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy a forearm and wrist all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture marks. Finally he thrust the sharp point home pressed down the tiny piston and sank back into the velvet lined arm chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. Three times a day for many months i had witnessed this performance but custom i had not reconciled my mind to it. On the contrary from day to day i had become more irritable at the site and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that i had lacked the courage to protest. Again and again i had registered a vow that i should deliver my soul upon the subject but there was that in the cool nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a Liberty. His great powers his masterly manner and the experience which i had had of his many extraordinary qualities all made me different and backward and crossing him. Yet upon that afternoon whether it was the bone which i had taken with my lunch or the additional exasperate produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner. I suddenly felt that i could hold out no longer. Which is it today i asked morphine or cocaine. Used his eyes languidly from the old black letter volume which he had opened. It is cocaine he said a seven percent solution would you care to try it. No indeed i answered brusquely my constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. He smiled at my vehemence. Perhaps you are right Watson he said. I suppose that it’s influence is physically a bad one i find it however so transcendent the stimulating and clarifying to the mind that it’s second reaction is a matter of small moment but consider i said earnestly. Count the cost. Your brain may as you say a be roused and excited but it is a pathological and morbid process which involves increased tissue change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. You know to what a black reaction comes upon you. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. Why should you for a mere passing pleasure risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed. Remember that i speak not only as one comrade to another but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. He did not seem offended. On the contrary he put his fingertips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair like one who has a relish for conversation. My mind he said rebels at stagnation. Give me problems give me work give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis and i am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants but i abhor the dull routine of existence. I ca crave for mental exaltation. That is why i have chosen my own particular profession. Or rather created it for i am the only one in the world. The only unofficial detective i said raising my eyebrows. The only unofficial consulting detective he answered. I am the last and highest court of a appeal in detection. When Gregson or astride or Anthony Jones are out of their depths which by the way is their normal state the matter is laid before me. I examined the data as an expert and pronounce a specialist’s opinion. I claim no credit in such cases my name figures in no newspaper. The work itself the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers is my highest reward but you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson hope case. Yes indeed said i cordially. I was never so struck by anything in my life i even embodied it in a small brochure with a somewhat fantastic title of a study in Scarlet. He shook his head sadly. I glanced over it said he. Honestly i cannot congratulate you upon it. Detection is or ought to be an exact science and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism which produces much the same effect as if you he worked a love story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of euclid but the romance was there i remonstrated. I could not tamper with the facts some facts should be suppressed or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which i succeeded in unraveling it. I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. I confess to that i was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. More than once during the years that i had lived with him in baker street i had observed that a small Van entity underlay my companions quiet and didactic manner. I made no remark however but sat nursing my wounded leg. I had a jezebel bullet through it some time before and though it did not prevent me from walking it ached wearily at every change of the weather. My practice has extended recently to the continent said Holmes after a while filling up his old briar root pipe. I was consulted last week by francois la villa who as you probably know has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service he has all the Celtic power of quick intuition but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. The case was concerned with a will and possess some features of interest. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. The one at rieger in eighteen fifty seven and the other at st Louis in eighteen seventy one y which have suggested to him the true solution. Here is the letter which i had this morning acknowledging my assistance. He tossed over as he spoke a crumpled sheet of foreign notepaper. I glanced my eyes down it catching a profusion of notes of admiration with stray magni fix coup de matress and tour de force all testifying to the ardent admiration of the frenchman. He speaks as a pupil to his master said i. Oh he writes my assistance to highly said Sherlock Holmes lightly. He has considerable gifts himself he possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective he has the power of observation and that of deduction he is only wanting in knowledge and that may come in time. He is now translating my small works into French. Your works. Oh didn’t you know he cried laughing. Yes i have been guilty of several monographs they are all upon technical subjects here for example is one upon the distinction between the ashes of the various tobaccos. In it i enumerate one hundred and forty forms of cigar cigarette and pipe tobacco with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. If you can say definitely for example that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunker. It obviously narrows your field of search to the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a tricky napali and the white fluff of bird’s eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae i remarked. I appreciate their importance here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses. Here too is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand with litho types of the hands of slater’s sailors cord cutters composite is weavers and diamond polishes. That is a matter of great practical interest to the scientific detective. Especially in cases of unclaimed bodies or in discovering the antecedents of criminals but i weary you with my hobby. Not at all i answered earnestly. It is of the greatest interest to me especially since i have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it but you spoke just now of observation and deduction surely the one to some extent implies the other. Why hardly he answered leaning back luxurious easily in his arm chair and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. For example observation shows me that you’ve been to the wigmore street post office this morning but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram. Right said i write on both points but i confess that i don’t see how you arrived at it. It was a sudden impulse upon my part and I’ve mentioned it to no one. It is simplicity itself he remarked chuckling at my surprise so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mold adhering to your instep. Just opposite the wigmore street office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering. The earth is have this peculiar reddish tint which is found as far as i know nowhere else in the neighborhood. So much as observation the rest is deduction. How then did you deduce the telegram. Why of course i knew that you had not written a letter since i sat opposite to you all morning. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of postcards. What could you go into the post office for then but to send a wire. Eliminate all other factors and the one which remains must be the truth. In this case it certainly is so i replied after a little thought. The thing however is as you say of the simplest. Would you think me impertinent if i were to put your theories to a more severe test on the country he answered it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. I’ve heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. Now i have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. Would you have the kindness to opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner. I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart for the test was as i thought an impossible one and i intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed he balanced the watch in his hand gazed hot at the dial opened the back and examined the works first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case too and handed it back. There are hardly any data he remarked the watch has been recently cleaned which robs me of my most suggestive facts. You are right i answered it was cleaned before being sent to me. In my heart i accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch. Though unsatisfactory my research has not been entirely barren he observed sir staring up at the ceiling with dreamy lackluster eyes. Subject to your correction i should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother who inherited it from your father. That you gather no doubt from the hw upon the back. Quite so the w suggests your own name the date of the watch is nearly fifty years back and the initials are as old as the watch so it was made for the last generation. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. Your father has if i remember right been dead many years it has therefore been in the hands of your eldest brother. Right so far said i. Anything else. He was a man of untidy habits very untidy and careless. He was left with good prospects but he threw away his chances lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity and finally taking to drink he died. That is all i can gather. I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. This is unworthy of you homes i said. I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch. It is unkind and to speak plainly has a touch of Charlotte aneurysm in it. My dear doctor said he can kindly pray accept my apologies. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem i had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you. I assure you however that i never even knew that you had a brother until you handed me the watch. Then how in the name of all that is wonderful did you get these facts. They are absolutely correct in every particular. Ah that is good luck. I could only say what was the balance of probability i did not at all expect to be so accurate but it was not mere guesswork. No no i never i guess. It is a shocking habit destructive to the logical faculty. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. For example i began by stating that your brother was careless. When you observe the lower part of that watch case you notice that it is not only dented in two places but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects such as coins or keys in the same pocket. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats or fifty Guinea watch so cavalierly must be a care Ellis man. Neither is it a very far fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects. I nodded to show that i followed his reasoning. It is very customary for pawnbrokers in england when they take a watch to scratch the number of the ticket with a pinpoint upon the inside of the case. It is more handy than a label as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case. In fair since. That your brother was often at low water secondary inference. That he had occasional bursts of prosperity or he could not have redeemed the pledge. Finally i ask you to look at the inner plate which contains the keyhole. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the whole marks were the key is slipped. What sober man’s key could have scored those grooves but you will never see a drunkard’s watch without them. He winds it at night and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. Where is the mystery in all this. It is as clear as daylight i answered. I regret the injustice which i did you. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. May i ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present. None. Hence the cocaine. I cannot live without brain work. What else is there to live for stand at the window here was ever such a dreary dismal unprofitable world. See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun colored houses what could be more hopelessly prosaic and material. What is the use of having powers doctor when one has no field upon which to exe ert them. Crime is commonplace existence is commonplace and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. I’d open my mouth to reply to this tirade when with a crisp knock our landlady entered bearing a card upon the brass salver. A young lady for you sir she said addressing my companion. Miss Mary marston he read hm. I have no recollection of the name. Asked the young lady to step up mrs Hudson. Don’t go doctor i should prefer that you remain. Chapter two. The statement of the case. Miss marsden entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner. She was a blonde young lady small dainty well gloved and dressed in the most perfect taste. There was however a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited mean jeans. The dress was a somber greyish beige untrimmed and ungraded and she wore a small turban of the same dull huh relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion but her expression was sweet and amiable and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents i have never looked upon a face which gave a clear promise of a refined and sensitive nature. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her her lip trembled her hand quivered and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. I have come to you mr Holmes she said. Because you once enabled my employer mrs Cecil forrester to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill. Mrs Cecil forrester he repeated thoughtfully. I believe that i was of some slight service to her the case however as i remember it was a very simple one. She did not think so but at least you cannot say the same of mine. I can hardly imagine anything more strange more utterly inexplicable than the situation in which i find myself. Holmes rubbed his hands and his eyes glistened he leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear cut hawk like features. State your case said he in brisk business tones. I felt that my position was an embarrassing one. You will i am sure excuse me i said rising from my chair to my surprise the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. If your friend she said would be good enough to stop he might be of inestimable service to me. I relapsed into my chair. Briefly she continued. The facts are these. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when i was quite a child. My mother was dead and i had no relative in england. I was placed however in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh and there i remained until i was seventeen years of age. In the year eighteen seventy eight my father who was senior captain of his regiment obtained twelve months’ leave and came home. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe and directed me to come down at once giving the langham hotel as his address. His message as i remember was full of kindness and love. On reaching London i drove to the langham and was informed that captain marsden was staying there but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned. I waited all day without news of him. That night on the advice of the manager of the hotel. I communicated with the police and next morning we advertised in all the papers. Our inquiries led to no result and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father he came home with his heart full of hope to find some peace some comfort and instead. She put her hand to her throat and choking sob cut short the sentence. The date asked Holmes opening his notebook. He disappeared upon the third of December eighteen seventy eight nearly ten years ago. His luggage. Remained at the hotel. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue some clothes some books and a considerable number of curiosities from the andaman islands. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict guard there. Had he any friends in town. Only one that we know of major sharlto of his own regiment the thirty fourth Bombay infantry. The major had retired some little time before and lived at upper norwood. We communicated with him of course but he did not even know that his brother officer was in england. A singular case remarked Holmes. I have not yet described to you the most singular part. About six years ago to be exact upon the fourth of may eighteen eighty two. An advertisement appeared in the times asking for the address of miss Mary marston and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. There was no name or address appended i had at that time just entered the family of mrs Cecil forrester in the capacity of governess. By her advice i published my address in the advertisement column. The same day there arrived through the post a small cardboard box addressed to me which i found to contain a very large and lustrous Pearl. No word of writing was enclosed since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box containing a similar Pearl without any clue ooo as to the sender. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. She opened a flat box as she spoke and showed me six of the finest pearls that i had ever seen. Your statement is most interesting said Sherlock Holmes has anything else occurred to you. Yes and no later than today. That is why i have come to you this morning i received this letter which you will perhaps read for yourself. Thank you said Holmes. The envelope to please postmark London sw date July seventh mm. Man’s thumb Mark on corner probably postman. Best quality paper envelopes at sixpence a packet particular man in his stationery no address. Be at the third pillar from the left outside the lyceum theatre tonight at seven o’clock if you are distrustful bring two friends. You are a wronged woman and shall have justice do not bring police. If you do all will be in vain. Your unknown friend. Well really this is a very pretty little mystery. What do you intend to do miss marsden. That is exactly what i want to ask you. Then we shall most certainly go. You and i and yes why dr Watson is the very man. Your correspondent says two friends. He and i have worked together before. But would he come she asked with something appealing in her voice and expression. I should be proud and happy said i fervently if i can be of any service. You are both very kind she answered. I have led a retired life and have no friends whom i could appeal to. If i am here at six it will do i suppose. You must not be later said Holmes. There is one other point however is this handwriting the same as that upon the Pearl box addresses. I have them here she answered producing half a dozen pieces of paper. You are certainly a model client you have the correct intuition. Let us see now. He spread out the papers upon the table and gave little darting glances from one to the other. They are disguised hands except the letter he said presently but there can be no question as to the authorship see how the irrepressible Greek he will break out and see the twirl of the final s. They are undoubtedly by the same person. I should not like to suggest false hopes miss marsden but is there any risk semblance between this hand and that of your father. Nothing could be more unlike. I expected to hear you say so. We shall look out for you then at six pray allow me to keep the papers. I may look into the matter before then. It is only half past three. Or revoir then. Pour avoir said our visitor and with a bright kindly glance from one to the other of us she replaced her Pearl box in her bosom and hurried away. Standing at the window i watched her walking briskly down the street until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the somber crowd. What a very attractive woman i exclaimed turning to my companion he had lit his pipe again and was leaning back with drooping eyelids. Is she he said languidly. I did not observe. You really are an automaton a calculating machine i cried. There is something positively inhuman in you at times he smiled gently. It is of the first importance he said. Not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. A client is to me a mere unit. A factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear read evening. I assure you that the most winning woman i ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance money and the most repellent man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. In this case however i never make exceptions and exception disproves the rule have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting. What do you make of this fellow scribble. It is legible and regular i answered. A man of business habits and some force of character. Home shook his head. Look at his long letters he said they hardly rise above the common herd that might be an a and that Ellen he. Men of character always differentiate their long letters however a legibly they may write. There is vacillation in his case and self esteem in his capitals cause. I’m going out now i have some few references to make let me recommend this book one of the most remarkable ever penned it is windward reads martyrdom of man. I shall be back in an hour. I sat in the window with the volume in my hand but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. My mind ran upon our late visitor her smiles the deep rich tones of her voice. The strange mystery which overhung her life. If she was seventeen at the time of her father’s disappearance she must be seven and twenty now a sweet age when youth has lost its self consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. So i sat and mused until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that i hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the the latest treatise upon pathology. What was i an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking account that i should dare to think of such things. She was a unit a factor nothing more. If my future were black it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will of the west isps of the imagination. Chapter three. Inquest have a solution. It was half past five before Holmes returned he was bright eager and in excellent spirits a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. There is no great mystery in this matter he said taking the cup of tea which i had poured out for him. The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. What you’ve solved it already. While that would be too much to say. I have discovered a suggestive fact that is all. It is however very suggestive the details are still to be added. I have just found on consulting the back files of the times that major sharlto of upper norwood late of the thirty fourth Bombay infantry died upon the twenty eighth of April eighteen eighty two. I may be very abuse homes but i fail to see what this suggests. No you surprise me. Look at it in this way then. Captain marsden and disappears the only person in London whom he could have visited is major shelter. Major shelter denies having heard that he was in London four years later shelter dies. Within a week of his death captain Boston’s daughter receives a valuable present which is repeated from year to year and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father and why should the presents begin immediately after shelter’s death. Unless it is that shelters air know something tree and desires to make compensation have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts. But what a strange compensation and how strangely made. Why two should he write a letter now rather than six years ago. Again the letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have. It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. There is no other injustice in her case that you know of. There are difficulties there are certainly difficulties said Sherlock Holmes pensively but our expedition of tonight will solve them all. Ah here is a four Wheeler and miss marsden is inside. Are you already. Then we had better go down. For it is a little past the hour. I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick but i observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. It was clear that he thought that our night’s work might be a serious one. Miss marsden was muffled in a dark cloak and her sensitive face was composed but pale. She must have been more than we woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. Yet her self control was perfect and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her. Major sharlto was a very particular friend of papa’s she said. His letters were full of allusions to the major he and papa were in command of the troops at the andaman islands so they were thrown a great deal together. By the way a curious paper was found in papa’s desk which no one could understand. I don’t suppose that it is of the slightest importance but i thought you might care to see it so i brought it with me. It is here. Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. He then very methodically examined it all over with his w lens. It is paper of native Indian manufacture he remarked. It has at some time been pinned to a board. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numa this halls corridors and passages. At one point is a small cross done in reading and above it is three point three seven from left in faded pencil writing. In the left hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like for crosses in a line with their arms touching. Beside it is written. In very rough and coarse characters. The sign of the four. Jonathan small. Mohammed Singh. Abdullah Khan dost akbar. No i confess that i do not see how this bears upon the matter. Yet it is evidently a document of importance it has been kept carefully in a pocketbook for the one side is as clean as the other. It was in his pocket book that we found it. Preserve it carefully then miss marsden for it may prove to be of use to us. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than i at first supposed. I must reconsider my ideas. He leaned back in the cab and i could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. Miss marsden and i chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and it’s possible outcome but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. It was a September evening and not yet seven o’clock but the day had been a dreary one and a dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city. Mud colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Down the strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which through a feed able circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement. The yellow glare from the shop window streamed out into the steamy vaporous air and through a murky shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. There was to my mind something eerie and ghostlike in the endless procession of faces which flitted occur crossed these narrow bars of light. Sad faces and glad haggard and merry. Like all humankind they flitted from the gloom into the light and so back into the gloom once more. I am not subject to impressions but the dull heavy evening with the strange business upon which we were engaged. Combined to make me nervous and depressed. I could see from miss marston’s manner that she was suffering from the same feeling homes alone could rise superior to petty influences he held his open notebook upon his knee and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket lantern. At the lyceum theatre the crowds were already thick at the side entrances. In front a continuous stream of Hansen’s and four wheelers were rattling up discharging their cargoes of shirt fronted men and behold Betty amended women. We had hardly reached the third pillar which was our rendezvous before a small dark brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us. Are you the parties who come with miss marsden he asked. I am miss marsden and these two gentlemen are my friends said she. He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us. You will excuse me miss he said with a certain dogged manner but i was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police officer. I give you my word on that she answered. He gave a shrill whistle on which a street arab led across a four Wheeler and opened the door. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box while we took our places inside we had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse and we plunged away at a furious pace through the foggy streets. The situate ocean was a curious one we were driving to an unknown place on an unknown errand. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax which was an inconceivable hypothesis or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey. Miss marston’s demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan but to tell the truth. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved to this day she declares that i told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket i looked into my tent at the dead of night and how i fired a double barreled tiger cub at it. At first i had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving but soon what with our pace the fog and my own limited knowledge of London. I lost my bearings a new nothing save that we seemed to be going a very long way. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault however and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by streets Rochester row said he now Vincent square. Now we come out on the vauxhall bridge road we are making for the surrey side apparently yes i thought so now we are on the bridge you can catch glimpses of the river. We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the thames with the lamps shining upon the broad silent water but our cab dashed on and was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side. Wordsworth road said my companion. Priory road larkhall Lane stockwell place Robert street coldharbour Lane. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. We had indeed reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the course glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. Then came row rows of two story villas each with a fronting of miniature garden and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. None of the other houses were inhabited and that at which we stopped was as dark as it’s neighbors save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. On our knocking however the door was instantly thrown open by a hindu servant clad in a yellow turban white loose fitting clothes and a yellow sash. There was something strangely incongruous in this oriental figure framed in the commonplace doorway of a third rate suburban dwelling house. The sahib awaits you said he and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. Show them into me kit my god he cried show them straight into me. Chapter four. The story of the bald headed man. We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage ill lit and worse furnished until he came to a door upon the right which he threw open. A Blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us and in the center of the glare there stood a small man with a very high head a bristle of red hair all round the fringe of it and a bold shining scalp which shot out from among it like a mountain peak from fir trees he writhed his hands together as he stood and his features were in a perpetual jerk now smiling now scowling but never for an instant in repose. I had given him a pendulous lip and a two visible line of yellow and irregular teeth which he strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower part of his face. In spite of his obtrusive boldness he gave the impression of youth in point of fact he had just turned his thirtieth year. Your servant miss marsden he kept repeating in a thin high voice your servant gentlemen pray step into my little sanctum. A small place miss but furnished to my own liking. An oasis of art in the howling desert of south London. We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us. In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. The richest and glossier of curtains and tapestries draped the walls looped back here and there to expose some richly mounted painting or oriental vase. The carpet was of Amber and black so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it as into a bed of moss to great tiger skins thrown a thwarted increased the suggestion of eastern luxury. As did a huge hooker which stood upon a mat in the corner. A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the center of the room. As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor. Mr Thaddeus sharlto said the little man still jerking and smiling. That is my name you are miss marsden of course and these gentlemen. This is mr Sherlock Holmes and this is doctor Watson. A doctor i cried he much excited have you your stethoscope might i ask you would you have the kindness i have grave doubts as to my metal valve if you would be so very good the aortic i may rely upon but i should value your opinion upon the Metro. I listened to his heart as requested but was unable to find anything amiss. Save indeed that he was in an ecstasy of fear. For he shivered from head to foot. It appears to be normal i said you have no cause for uneasiness. You will excuse my anxiety miss marsden he remarked airily. I am a great sufferer and i have long had suspicions as to that valve i am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted. Had your father mr marsden refrain from throwing a strain upon his heart. He might have been alive now. I could have struck the man across the face so hot was i at this callous and offhand reference to so delicate a matter. Miss marsden sat down and her face grew white to the lips. I knew in my heart that he was dead said she. I can give you every information said he and what is more i can do you justice and i will to. Whatever brother Bartholomew may say. I’m so glad to have your friends here. Not only as an escort to you but also as witnesses to what i’m about to do and say. The three of us can show a bold front to brother Bartholomew but let us have no outsiders no police or officials. We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves without any interference. Nothing would annoy brother Bartholomew more than any publicity. He sat down upon a low city and blinked at us inquiring lie with his weak watery blue eyes. For my part said Holmes whatever you may choose to say will go no further. I nodded to show my agreement. That is well that is well said he may i offer you a glass of chianti mr marsden or of tokai i keep no other wines. Shall i open a flask no. Well then. I trust that you have no objection to tobacco smoke to the mild balsamic odor of the eastern tobacco. I am a little nervous and i find my hookah an invaluable sedative. He applied a taper to the great bowl and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rosewater. We sat all three in a semicircle with our heads advanced and our chins upon our hands. While the strange jerky little fellow with his high shining head puffed uneasily in the center. When i first determined to make this communication to you said he. I might have given you my address but i feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with you. I took the Liberty therefore of making an appointment in such a way that my man Williams might be able to see you first. I have complete call confidence in his discretion and he had orders if he were dissatisfied to proceed no further in the matter. You will excuse these precautions but i am a man of somewhat retiring and i might even say refined tastes and there is nothing more anaesthetic than a policeman. I have a natural shrinking from all forms of rough materialism. I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd. I live as you see with some little atmosphere of elegance around me. I may call myself a patron of the arts it is my weakness the landscape is a genuine choro and though a connoisseur might perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvador Rosa that cannot be the least question about the booger row. I am partial to the modern French school. You will excuse me mr sharlto said miss marsden but i’m here at your request to learn something which you desire to tell me. It is very late and i should desire the interview to be as short as possible. At the best it must take some time he answered for we shall certainly have to go to norwood and see brother Bartholomew. We shall all go and try if we can get the better of br other Bartholomew he’s very angry with me for taking the course which has seemed right to me. I had quite high words with him last night. You cannot imagine what a terrible fellow he is when he is angry. If we are to go to norwood it would perhaps be as well to start at once i ventured to remark. He laughed until his ears were quite red. That would hardly do he cried i don’t know what he would say if i brought you who in that sudden way no i must prepare you by showing you how we all stand to each other. In the first place. I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which i am myself ignorant. I can only lay the facts before you as far as i know them myself. My father was as you may have guessed major John shelter once of the Indian army. He retired some eleven years ago and came to live at pondicherry lodge in upper norwood. He had prospered in India and brought back with him a considerable sum of money a large collection of valuable curiosities and a staff of native servants with these advice vantage’s he bought himself a house and lived in great luxury. My twin brother Bartholomew and i were the only children. I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of captain marsden. We read the details in the papers and knowing that he had been a friend of our fathers we discussed the case freely in his presence he used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened. Never for an instant did we suspect that he had the whole scene secret hidden in his own breast. That of all men he alone knew the fate of Arthur marston. We did know however that some mystery some positive danger overhung our father. He was very fearful of going out alone and he always employed to prize fighters to act as porters at pondicherry lodge. Williams who drove you tonight was one of them he was once lightweight champion of england and our father would never tell us what it was he feared but he had a most marked aversion to men with wooden legs. On one occasion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden leg man who proved to be a harmless tradesman canvassing for orders. We had to pay a large sum to hush the matter up. My brother and i used to think this a mere whim of my father’s but events have since led us to change our opinion. Early and eighteen eighty two my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. He nearly fainted at the breakfast table when he opened it and from that day day he sickened to his death. What was in the letter we could never discover but i could see as he held it that it was short and written in a scrawling hand. He had suffered for years from an enlarged spleen but he now became rapidly worse and towards the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope and that he wished to make a last communication to us. When we entered his room he was propped up with pillows and breathing heavily. He besought us to lock the door and to come upon either side of the bed then grasping our hands he made a remarkable statement to us. In a voice which was broken as much by emotion as by pain. I shall try and give it to you in his own very words. I have only one thing he said which weighs upon my mind at this supreme moment. It is my treatment of poor marston’s orphan. The curse it greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure. Half at least of which should have been hers and yet i have made no use of it myself so blind and foolish a thing is a virus. The mere feeling of possession has been so dear to me that i could not bear to share it with another see that chaplet dipped with pearls beside the queen nine bottle. Even that i could not bear to part with although i had got it out with the design of sending it to her. You my sons will give her share of the agra treasure but send her nothing not even the chaplet until i am gone. After all men have been as bad as this and have recovered. I will tell you how most and died he continued he had suffered for years from a weak heart but he concealed it from everyone. I alone knew it. When in India he and i threw a remarkable chain of circumstances came into possession of a considerable treasure. I brought it over to england and on the night of marston’s arrival he came straight over here to claim his share. He walked over from the station and was admitted by my faithful old Lao chowder who is now now dead. Marsden and i had a difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure and we came to heated words. Marsden had sprung out of his chair in a paroxysm of anger when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side his face turned a dusky huh and he fell backwards cutting his head against the corner of the treasure chest. When i stooped over him i found to my horror. That he was dead. For a long time i sat half distracted wondering what i should do. My first impulse was of course to call for assistance but i could not but recognize that there was every chance that i would be accused of his murder. His death at the moment of a quarrel and the gash in his head would be black again asked me. Again an official inquiry could not be made without bringing out some facts about the treasure which i was particularly anxious to keep secret. He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where he had gone. There seemed to be no necessity why any soul ever should know. I was still pondering over the matter when looking up i saw my servant Lao chowder in the doorway he stolen and bolted the door behind him. Do not fear sahib he said no one need know that you have killed him. Let us hide him away and who is the wiser. I did not kill him said i. Loud shout out shook his head and smiled. I heard it also he said he i heard you quarrel and i heard the blow but my lips are sealed all are asleep in the house. Let us put him away together. That was enough to decide me. If my own servant could not believe my innocence how could i hope to make it good before twelve foolish tradesmen in a jury box. Loud shout and i disposed of the body that night and within a few days the London papers were full of the mysterious disappearance of captain marsden. You will see from what i say that i can hardly be blamed in the matter. My fault lies in the fact that we concealed not only the body but also the treasure and that i have clung to most unsure share as well as to my own. I wish you therefore to make restitution. Put your ears down to my mouth the treasure is hidden in at this instant a horrible change came over his expression. His eyes stared wildly his jaw dropped and he yelled in a voice which i can never forget to. Keep him out for Christ’s sake keep him out. We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. A face was looking in at us out of the darkness. We could see the whitening of the nose where it was pressed against the glass. It was a bearded hairy face with wild cruel eyes and an expression of concentrated malevolence. My brother and i rushed towards the window but the man was gone. When we returned to my father his head had dropped and his pulse had ceased to beat. We searched the garden that night but found no sign of the intruder. Save that just under the window a single foot Mark was visible in the flower bed but for that one trace we might have thought that our imaginations had conjured up that wild fierce face. We soon however had another and a more striking proof that there were secret agencies at work all around us. The window of my father’s room was found open in the morning. His cupboards and boxes had been rifled and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper with the words the sign of the four scrawled across it. What the phrase meant or who our secret visitor may have been we never knew. As far as we can judge none of my father’s property had been actually stolen though everything had been turned out. My brother and i naturally associated this peculiar incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life but it is still a complete mystery to us. The little man stopped to relight his hooker and puffed thoughtfully for a few moments. We had all sat absorbed listening to his extraordinary narrative. At the short account of her father’s death miss marsden had turned deadly white and for a moment i feared that she was about to faint. She rallied however on drinking a glass of water which i quietly poured out for her from a venetian Cara upon the side table. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair with an abstracted expression and the lids drawn low over his glittering eyes. As i glanced at him i could not but think how on that very day he had complained bitterly of the commonplaces of life here at least was a problem which would tax his sagacity to the utmost. Mr Thaddeus shelter looked from one to the other of us with an obvious pride at the effect which his story had produced and then continued between the puffs of his overgrown pipe. My brother and i said he were as you may imagine much excited as to the treasure which my father had spoken of. For weeks and for months we dug and delved in every part of the garden without discovering it’s whereabouts. It was maddening to think that the hiding place was on his very lips at the moment that he died. We could judge the splendor of the missing riches by the chaplet which he had taken out. Over this chaplet my brother Bartholomew and i had some little discussion. The pearls were evidently of great value and he was averse to part with them for between friends my brother was himself a little inclined to my father’s fault. He thought too that if we parted with the chaplet it might give rise to gossip and finally bring us into trouble. It was all that i could do to persuade him to let me find out mr marston’s address and send her a detached Pearl at fixed intervals so that at least she might never feel destitute. It was a kindly thought said our companion earnestly. It was extremely good of you. The little man waved his hand deprecating lie. We were your trustees he said. That was the view which i took of it. Though brother Bartholomew could not altogether see it in that light. We had plenty of money ourselves i desired no more. Besides it would have been such bad taste to have treated a young lady so scurvy a fashion le move a good mini or cream. The French have a very neat way of putting these things. Are difference of opinion on this subject went so far that i thought it best to set up rooms for myself so i left pondicherry lodge taking the old kit mudguard and Williams with me. Yesterday however i learned that an event of extreme importance has occurred the treasure has been disk covered. I instantly communicated with miss marsden and it only remains for us to drive out to norwood and demand our share. I explained my views last night to brother Bartholomew so we shall be expected if not welcome visitors. Mr Thaddeus sharlto ceased and sat twitching on his luxurious city. We all remained silent with our thoughts upon the new development which the mysterious business had taken. Holmes was the first to spring to his feet. You have done well sir from first to last said he. It is possible that we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you but as miss marsden remark just now. It is late and we had best put the matter through without delay. Our new acquaintance very deliberately coiled up the tube of his hooker and produced from behind a curtain a very long be frogged topcoat with astrakhan collar and cuffs. This he buttoned tightly up in spite of the extreme closeness of the night and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit skin cap with hanging lap it which covered the ears so that no part of him was visible save his mobile and peaky face. My health is somewhat fragile he remarked as he led the way down the passage. I am compelled to be a valid to denarius. Our cab was awaiting us outside and our program was evidently prearranged for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace. Thaddeus sharlto talked incessantly in a voice which Rose high above the rattle of the wheels. Bartholomew is a clever fellow said he. How do you think he found out where the treasure was he had come to the conclusion that it was somewhere indoors. So he worked out all the cubic space of the house and made measurements everywhere so that not one inch should be unaccounted for. Among other things he found that the height of the building was seventy four feet but on adding together the heights of all the separate rooms and making every allowance for the space between which he ascertained by borings he could not bring the total to more than seventy feet. There were four feet unaccounted for. These could only be at the top of the building. The whole therefore in the lath and plaster ceiling of the highest room and there sure enough he came upon another little garret above it. Which had been sealed up and was known to no one. In the center stood the treasure chest resting upon two rafters. He lowered it through the hole and there it lies. He computes the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling. At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open i’d. Miss marsden. Could we secure her rights would change from a needy governess to the richest heiress in england. Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news. Yet i’m ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. I stammered out some few halting words of congratulation and then sat downcast with my head drooped deaf to the babble of our new acquaintance. He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac and i was dreamily conscious that he he was pouring forth interminable trains of symptoms and imploring information as to the composition and action of innumerable quack nostrums some of which he bore about in a leather case in his pocket. I trust that he may not remember any of the answers which i gave him that night. Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor oil while i recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative. However that may be i was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door. Please miss marsden is pondicherry lodge said mr Thaddeus chateau as he handed her out. Chapter five. The tragedy of pondicherry lodge. It was nearly eleven o’clock when we reached this final stage of our nights adventures we had left the damp fog of the great city behind us and the night was fairly fine. A warm wind blew from the westward and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. It was clear enough to see for some distance but Thaddeus chateau took down one of the side lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. Pondicherry lodge stood in it is one grounds and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. A single narrow iron clamp door formed the only means of entrance. On this guide knocked with a peculiar postman like rat tat. Who is there cried a gruff voice from within. It is i McMurdo you surely know my knock by this time. There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys the door swung heavily back and a short deep chested man stood in the opening with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. That you mr Thaddeus but who are the others. I had no orders about them from the master. No McMurdo. You surprise me. I told my brother last night that i should bring some friends. He ain’t been out of his room today mr Thaddeus and i have no orders you know very well that i must stick to regulations i can let you in but your friends must just stop where they are. This was an unexpected obstacle Thaddeus shelter looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner. This is too bad of you McMurdo he said if i guarantee them that is enough for you. There is the young lady too she cannot wait on the public road at this hour. Very sorry mister Thaddeus said the poor water inexorably. Folk may be friends of yours and yet no friends of the masters he pays me well to do my duty and my duty I’ll do. I don’t know none of your friends. Oh yes you do McMurdo cried Sherlock Holmes genially. I don’t think you can have forgotten me. Don’t you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison’s rooms on the night of your benefit four years back. Not mister Sherlock Holmes road the prize fighter god’s truth how could i have mistook you if instead of standing there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross hit of yours under the jaw. I’d have known you without a question. You’re one that has wasted your gifts you have you might have aimed high if you had joined the fancy. You see Watson. If all else fails me i have still one of the scientific professions open to me said Holmes laughing our friend won’t keep us out in the cold now i am sure. In you come sir in you come you and your friends he answered very sorry mister Thaddeus but orders are very strict huh to be certain of your friends before i let them in. Inside a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house square in passaic all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. The vast size of the building with it’s gloom and it’s deathly silence struck a chill to the heart. Even Thaddeus sharlto seemed ill at ease and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand. I cannot understand it he said. There must be some mistake i distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here and yet there is no light in his window i do not know what to make of it. Does he always guard the premises in this way asked Holmes. Yes he has followed my father’s custom he was the favorite son you know and i sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. That his Bartholomew’s window up there where the moonshine strikes. It is quite bright but there is no light from within i think. None said Holmes but i see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. Ah that is the housekeepers room. That is where old mrs Bernstein sits. She can tell us all about it but perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed but hush what is that. He held up the land chin and his hands shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all around us. Miss marsden seized my wrist and we all stood with thumping hearts straining our ears. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. The shrill broken whimpering of a frightened woman. It is mrs Bernstein said shelter she is the only woman in the house wait here i shall be back in a moment. He hurried for the door and knocked in his peculiar way. We could see a tall old woman admit him and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. Oh mister Thaddeus sir. I am so glad you have come. I am so glad you have come mr Thaddeus sir. We heard her reiterated rejoicing until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. Our guide had left us the lantern home swung it slowly round and peered keenly at the house and at the great rubbish heaps which combat the grounds. Miss marsden and i stood together and her hand was in mine. A wondrous subtle thing is love for here were we to who had never seen each other before that day. Between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. I’ve marveled at it since but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that i should go out to her so and as she has often told me there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. So we stood hand in hand like two children and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. What a strange place she said looking round. It looks as though all the moles in england had been let loose in it. I’ve seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat where the prospectors had been at work and from the same cause said homes. These are the traces of the treasure seekers. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. No wonder that the grounds looked like a gravel pit. At that moment the door of the house burst open and Thaddeus shelter came running out with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes. There is something amiss with Bartholomew he cried i’m frightened my nerves cannot stand it. He was indeed half blubbering with fear and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the greater struck and caller had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child. Come into the house said Holmes in his crisp firm way. Yes do pleaded Thaddeus shelter. I really do not feel equal to giving directions. We all followed him into the housekeepers room. Which stood upon the left hand side of the passage. The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers but the sight of miss marsden appeared to have a soothing effect upon her. God bless your sweet calm face she cried with an hysterical sob it does me good to see you oh but i have been sorely tried this day. Our companion patted her thin work worn hand and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the other’s bloodless cheeks. It has locked himself in and will not answer me she explained all day i have waited to hear from him for he often likes to be alone but an hour ago i feared that something was amiss. So i went up and peeped through the keyhole. You must go up mr Thaddeus you must go up and look for yourself. I have the scene mr Bartholomew sharlto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years but i never saw him with such a face on him as that. Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. For Thaddeus shelters teeth were chattering in his head. So shaken was he that i had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs for his knees were trembling under him. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the coconut matting which served as a stair carpet. He walked slowly from step to step holding the lamp and shooting keen glances to right and left. Miss marsden had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way while we kept close at his heels with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor. The third door was that which we were seeking. Homes knocked without receiving any answer and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. It was locked on the inside however and by abroad and powerful bolt as we could see when we set our lamp up against it. The key being turned however the hole was not entirely closed. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it and instantly Rose again with a sharp in taking of the breath. There is something devilish in this Watson said he more moved than i had ever before seen him. What do you make of it. I stooped to the hull and recoiled in horror. Moonlight was streaming into the room and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. Looking straight at me and suspended as it were in the air for all beneath was in shadow. There hung a face. The very face of our companion Thaddeus. There was the same high shining head the same circular bristle of red hair the same bloodless countenance. The features were set however in a horrible smile a fixed and unnatural grin. Which in that still in moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves then any scowl or contortion. So like was the face to that of our little friend that i looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us. Then i recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins. This is terrible i said to homes what is to be done. The door must come down he answered and springing against it he put all his weight upon the lock it creaked and groaned but did not yield. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more and this time it gave way with a sudden snap and we found ourselves within Bartholomew shelters chamber. It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. A double line of glass stopper bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door and the table was littered over with bunsen burners test tubes and retorts. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets one of these appeared to leak or to have been broken. For a stream of dark colored liquid had trickled out from it and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent tar like odor. A set of steps stood at one side of the room in the midst of a letter of law lath and plaster and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. By the table in a wooden arm chair. The master of the house was seated all in a heap with his head sunk upon his lie left shoulder and that ghastly inscrutable smile upon his face he was stiff and cold and had clearly been dead many hours. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrum want a brown close grained stick with a stone head like a hammer rudely lashed on with coarse twine. Beside it was a torn sheet of notepaper with some words scrawled upon it. Holmes glanced at it and then handed it to me. You see he said with a significant raising of the eyebrows. In the light of the lantern i read with a thrill of horror. The sign of the four. In god’s name what does it all mean i asked. It means murder said he stooping over the dead man. Ah i expected it. Look here. He pointed to what looked like a long dark Thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. It looks like a Thorn said i. It is a Thorn you may pick it out but be careful for it is poisoned. I took it up between my finger and thumb. It came away from the skin so readily that hardly any Mark was left behind. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. This is all an insoluble mystery to me said i it grows darker instead of clearer. On the contrary he answered. It cl clears every instant i only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. We had almost forgotten our companions presence since we entered the chamber. He was still standing in the doorway the very picture of terror wringing his hands and moaning to himself. Suddenly however he broke out into a sharp querulous cry. The treasure is gone he said they have robbed him of the treasure there is the hole through which we lowered it i helped him to do it i was the last person who saw him i left him here last night and i heard him lock the door as i came downstairs. What time was that. It was ten o’clock and now he is dead and the police will be called in and i shall be suspected of having had a hand in it. Oh yes i’m sure i shall but you don’t think so gentlemen. Surely you don’t think that it was i. Is it likely that i would have brought you here if it were i. Oh dear oh dear i know that i shall go mad. He jerked his arm arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. You have no reason for fear mister shelter said Holmes kindly putting his hand upon his shoulder. Take my advice and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police. Offered to assist them in every way we shall wait here until your return. The little man obeyed in a half stupefied fashion and we heard him say tumbling down the stairs in the dark. Chapter six. Sherlock Holmes gives a demonstration. Now Watson said Holmes rubbing his hands. We have half an hour to ourselves let us make good use of it. My cases as i have told you almost complete but we must not err on the side of overconfidence simple as the case seems now there may be something deeper underlying it. Simple i ejaculated. Surely said he with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. Just sit in the corner there that your footprints may not complicate matters now to work. In the first place how did these folk come and how did they go. The door has not been opened since last night however the window. He carried the lamp across to it muttering his observations allowed the while but addressing them to himself rather than to me. Window is snipped on the inner side framework is solid no hinges at the side let us open it. No water pipe near roof quite out of reach yet a man has mounted by the window it rained a little last night here is the print of a foot in mold upon the sill and here as a circular muddy Mark and here again upon the floor and here again by the table see here Watson this is really a very pretty demonstration. I looked at the round well-defined muddy discs. This is not a foot Mark said i it is something much more valuable to us. It is the impression of a wooden stump. You see here on the sale is the boot Mark a heavy boot with broad metal heel and beside it is the Mark of the timber to. It is the wooden legged man. Quite so but there has been someone else a very able and efficient ally could you scale that wall Dr. I looked out of the open window the moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house we were a good sixty feet from the ground and look where i would i could see no foothold nor as much as a crevice in the brickwork. It is absolutely impossible i answered without aid it is so but suppose you had a phd send up here who lowered you this good stout rope which i see in the corner. Securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. Then i think if you were an active man. You might swarm up wooden leg and all. You would depart of course in the same fashion and your ally would draw up the rope and tie it from the hook shut the window snip it on the inside and get away in the way that he originally came. Out point it may be noted he continued fingering the rope. That are wooden legged friend though affair climber was not a professional sailor his hands were far from horny. My lens discloses more than one blood Mark especially towards the end of the rope from which i gather that he slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hand. This is all very well said i but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever. How about this mysterious ally how came he into the room. Yes the ally repeated homes pensively. There are features of interest about this ally he lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. I fancied this ally breaks fresh ground in the annals of crime in this country. Though parallel cases suggest themselves from India and if my memory serves me from senegambia. How came he then i reiterated. The door is locked the window is inaccessible was it through the chimney. The great is much too small he answered. I had already considered that possibility. How then i persisted. You will not apply my precept he said shaking his head. How often have i said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth. We know that he did not come through the door the window or the chimney. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room as there is no concealment possible. Whence then did he come. He came through the hole in the roof i cried of course he did he must have done so. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me we shall now extend our researches to the room above. The secret room in which the treasure was found. He mounted the steps and seizing a rafter with either hand he swung himself up into the garret. Then lying on his face he reached down for the lamp and held it while i i followed him. The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six of the other. The floor was formed by the rafters with thin lath and plaster between so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. The roof ran up to an apex and was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. There was no furniture of any sort and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. Here you are you see said Sherlock Holmes putting his hand against the sloping wall. This is a trap door which leads out onto the roof i can press it back and here is the roof itself sloping at a gentle angle this then. Is the way by which number one entered. Let us see if we can find any of traces of his individuality. He held down the lamp to the floor and as he did so i saw for the second time that night a startled surprised look come over his face. For myself as i followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot put clear well defined perfectly formed but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. Homes i said in a whisper a child has done the horrid thing. He had recovered his self possession in an instant. I was staggered for the moment he said but the thing is quite natural my memory failed me. Or i should have been able to foretell it. There is nothing more to be learned here let us go down. What is your theory then as to those foot marks i asked eagerly. When he had regained the lower room once more. My dear Watson try a little analysis yourself said he with a touch of impatience. You know my methods. Apply them and it will be instructive to compare results. I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts i answered. It will be clear enough to you soon he said in an offhand way. I think that there is nothing else of importance here but i will look. He whipped out his lens and a tape measure and hurried about the room on his knees measuring comparing examining with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks and his beady eyes gleaming and deep set like those of a bird. So swift silent and furtive were his movements i like those of a trained bloodhound picking out a scent. That i could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law instead of exerting them in it’s defense. As he hunted about he kept muttering to himself and finally he broke out into a loud cry of delight. We are certainly in luck said he we ought to have very little trouble now number one has had the misfortune to trade in the creosote. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil smelling mess. The carboy has been cracked you see and the stuff has leaked out. What then i asked. Why we have got him that’s all said he. I know a dog that would follow that sent to the world’s end. If a pack can track a trailed herring across the shire. How far can a specially trained hound follow soap pungent smell as this. It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. The answer should give us that but hallow here are the accredited representatives of the law. Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below and the whole door shut with a loud crash. Before they come said Holmes just put your hand here on this poor fellows arm and here on his leg. What do you feel. The muscles are as hard as a board i answered. Quite so. They are in a state of extreme contraction far exceeding the usual rigor mortis coupled with this distortion of the face this hippocratic smile or rhesus sardonic us as the old writers called it. What conclusion would it suggest to your mind. Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid i answered. Some strychnine like substance which would produce tetanus. That was the idea which occurred to me the instant i saw the drawn muscles of the face. On getting into the room i at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. As you saw i discovered a Thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. You observed that the part struck was that which would be turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair now examine the Thorn. I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern. It was long sharp and black with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. Is that an English Thorn he asked no it certainly is not with all these data you should be able to draw some just inference but here are the regulars so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. As he spoke the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage and a very stout portly man in a grey suit strode heavily into the room. He was red-faced burly and plethora Rick with a pair of very small twinkling eyes which looked keenly out from between swollen and puffy pouches. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform and by the still palpitating Thaddeus shelter. Here’s a business he cried in a muffled husky voice. Here’s a pretty business but who are all these why the house seems to be as full as a rabbit Warren. I think you must recollect me mr Anthony Jones said Holmes quietly. Why of course i do he wheezed. It’s mr Sherlock Holmes the theorist. Remember you. I’ll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and influences and effects in the bishop gate Jewel case. It’s true you said us on the right track but yolo now that it was more by good luck than good guidance. It was a piece of very simple reasoning. Oh come now come never be ashamed to own up but what is all this bad business bad business. Stern facts here no room for theories. How lucky that i happened to be out at norwood over another case. I was at the station when the message arrived. What do you think the man died of. Oh this is hardly a case for me to theorize over said Holmes dryly. No no. Still we can’t deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Dear me. Door locked i understand. Jewels worth half a million missing. How was the window. Fastened but there are steps on the sill. Well well if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter that’s common sense. Man might have died in a fit but then the jewels are missing ha. I have a theory these flashes come upon me at times just step outside sergeant and you mister shelter your friend can remain. What do you think of this home’s. Shelter was on his own confession with his brother last night. The brother died in a fit on which shelter walked off with the treasure. How’s that. On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. Hmm. There’s the floor there. Let us apply common sense to the matter. This Thaddeus shelter was with his brother there was a quarrel so much we know. The brother is dead and the jewels are gone. So much also we know. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him his bed had not been slept in. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. His appearances. Well not attractive. You see that i am weaving my way brown Thaddeus the net begins to close upon him. You are not quite in possession of the facts yet said Holmes. This splinter of wood which i have every reason to believe to be poisoned was in the man’s scalp where you still see the Mark this card inscribed as you see it was on the table and beside it lay this rather curious stone headed instrument. How do does all that fit into your theory. Confirms it in every respect said the fat detective pompously houses full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus brought this up and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. The card is some hocus pocus. A blind as like as not. The only question is how did he depart ah of course here is a hole in the roof with great activity considering his bulk he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap door. He can find something remarked Holmes shrugging his shoulders he has occasional glimmerings of reason. In a party so sian commodes cursor Kian de l’esprit. You see said Anthony Jones reappearing down the steps again. Facts are better than mere theories after all. My view of the cases confirmed. There is a trapdoor communicating with the roof and it is partly open. It was i who opened it oh indeed you did notice it then. He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery while whoever noticed it it shows how our gentlemen got away inspector. Yes sir from the passage asked mr sharlto to step this way. Mister chateaux it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you i arrest you in the queens name as being concerned in the death of your brother. There now didn’t i tell you cried the poor little man throwing out his hands and looking from one to the other of us. Don’t trouble yourself about it mr sharlto said Holmes. I think that i can engage to clear you of the charge. Don’t promise too much mister theorist don’t promise too much snap the detective. You may find it a harder matter than you think. Not only will i clear him mister Jones but i will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. His name i have every reason to believe. Is Jonathan small. He is a poorly educated man small active with his right leg off and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. His left boot has a coarse square toed sole with an iron band around the heel. He is a middle aged man much sunburned and has been convict. These few indications may be of some assistance to you coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand. The other man. Ah. The other man asked a felony Jones in a sneering voice but impressed nonetheless as i could easily see by the precision of the others manner. Is a rather curious person said Sherlock Holmes turning upon his heel i hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. A word with you Watson. He led me out to the head of the stair. This unexpected occurrence he said. Has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our job Ernie. I’ve just been thinking so i answered it is not right that miss marsden should remain in this stricken house. No you must escort her home. She lives with mrs Cecil forrester in lower camberwell so it is not very far. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again or perhaps you are too tired. By no means i don’t think i could rest until i know more of this fantastic business. I have seen something of the rough side of life but i give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises tonight has shaken my nerve completely. I should like however to see the matter through with you now i have got so far. Your presence will be of great service to me he answered we shall work the case out independently and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare’s nest which he may choose to construct. When you have dropped miss marsden i wish you to go onto number three pinching Lane down near the water’s edge at lambeth. The third house on the right hand side is a bird stuffers sherman is the name. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window knock old sherman up and tell him with my compliments that i want Toby at once you will bring Toby back in the cab with you. A dog i suppose. Yes. A queer mongrel with the most amazing power of scent. I would rather have Toby’s help than that of the whole detective force of London. I shall bring him then said i it is one now i ought to be back before three if i can get a fresh horse and i said homes shall see what i can learn from mrs Bernstein and from the Indian servant who mister Thaddeus tell me sleeps in the next garret then i shall study the great Jones’s methods and listen to him not too delicate sarcasm games. Were seen given dusty dimension Vernon was sie nicht verstehen. Gerda is always pithy. Chapter seven. The episode of the barrel. The police had brought a cab with them and in this i escorted miss marsden back to her home. After the angelic fashion of women she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was someone weaker than herself to support and i had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. In the cab however she first turned faint and then burst into a passion of weeping so sorely had she been trying ride by the adventures of the night. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey. She little guessed the struggle within my breast or the effort of self restraint which held me back. My sympathies and my love went out to her. Even as my hand had in the garden. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. She was weak and helpless shaken in mind a nerve. It was to take you’re at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time worse still she was rich. If Holmes’s researches were successful she would be an heiress. Was it fair was it honorable. That a half pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about. Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune seeker. I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. This agra treasure intervened like an impossible barrier between us. It was nearly two o’clock when we reached mrs Cecil foresters. The servants had retired hours ago but mrs forrester had been so interested by the strange message which miss marsden had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. She opened the door herself a middle aged graceful woman and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the other’s waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her. She was clearly no mere paid dependent but an honored friend. I was introduced and mrs forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. I explained however the import once of my errand and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. As we drove away i stole a glance back and i still seem to see that little group on the step the two graceful clinging figures the half open door the whole light shining through stained glass the barometer and the bright steroids. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home i’m in the midst of the wild dark business which had absorbed us and the more i thought of what had happened the Wilder and darker it grew. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as i rattled on through the silent gas lit streets. There was the original problem. That at least was pretty clear now the death of captain marsden the sending of the pearls the advertisement the letter. We had had light upon all those events. They had one he led us however to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. The Indian treasure. The curious plan found among more stones baggage. The strange scene at major shelters death. The rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. The very singular accompaniments to the crime the footsteps the remarkable weapons the words upon the card corresponding with those upon captain Morton’s chart. Here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. In Lane was a row of shabby two story brick houses in the lower quarter of lambeth. I had to knock for some time at number three before i could make my impression at last however there was the glint of a candle behind the blind and a face looked out at the upper window. Go on you drunken vagabond said the face if you kick up any more row I’ll open the kennels and let out forty three dogs upon you. If you’ll let one out it’s just what I’ve come for said i go on yelled the voice so help me gracious i have a wiper in the bag and I’ll drop it on your head if you don’t hook it but i want a dog i cried. I won’t be argued with shouted mister sherman now stand clear for when i say three down goes the wiper. Mr Sherlock Holmes i began but the words had the most magical effect for the window instantly slammed down and within a minute the door was unbothered and open. Mr sherman was a lanky lean old man with stooping shoulders a stringy neck and blue tinted glasses. A friend of mr Sherlock is always welcome said he. Step in sir keep clear of the badger for he bites. Ah naughty naughty would you take a nip at the gentleman. This to a stoat which thrust it’s wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. Don’t mind that sir it’s only a slow yo worm it ain’t got no fangs so i gives it the run of the room for it keeps the Beatles down. You must not mind my being just a little short were you at first from guided by the children and as many a one just comes down this Lane to knock me up. What was it that mr Sherlock Holmes wanted sir. He wanted a dog of yours. Ah that would be Toby. Yes Toby was the name. Toby lives at number seven on the left here. He moved slowly forward with his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him. In the uncertain shadowy light i could see dimly that there were glancing glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fouls who lately shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. Toby proved to be an ugly long haired lop eared creature half spaniel and half lurcher brown and white in color with a very clumsy waddling gait. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me and having thus sealed an alliance it followed me to the cab and made no difficulties about accompanying me. It had just struck three on the palace clock when i found myself back once more at pondicherry lodge the x prize fighter McMurdo had i found been arrested as an accessory and both he and mr chateau had been marched off to the station. Two constables guarded the narrow gate but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective’s name. Holmes was standing on the doorstep with his hands in his pockets smoking his pipe. Ah you have him there said he good dog then Anthony Jones is gone we have had an immense display of energy since you left he is arrested not only friend Thaddeus but the guy gatekeeper the housekeeper and the Indian servant we have the place to ourselves but for a sergeant upstairs leave the dog here and come up. We tied Toby to the whole table and re ascended the stairs. The room was as he had left it save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. A weary looking police sergeant reclined in the corner. Lend me your bowls i sergeant said my companion now tie this bit of card around my neck so as to hang it in front of me thank you. Now i must kick off my boots and stockings just to carry them down with you Watson. I’m going to do a little climbing and dipped my handkerchief into the creosote. That will do. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment. We clambered up through the whole. Homes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust i wish you particularly to notice these foot marks he said. Do you observe anything noteworthy about them. They belong i said to a child or a small woman. Apart from their size though is there nothing else. They appear to be much as other foot marks. Not at all look here this is the print of a right foot in the dust now i make one with my naked foot beside it what is the chief difference. Your toes are all cramped together the other print has each to distinctly divided quite so that is the point. Bear that in mind. Now would you kindly step over to that flap window and smell the edge of the woodwork. I shall stay here as i have this handkerchief in my hand. I did as he directed and was instantly conscious of a strong Terry smell. That is where he put his foot in getting out if you can trace him i should think that Toby will have no difficulty. Now run downstairs lose the dog and look out for blondin. By the time that i got out into the grounds Sherlock Holmes was on the roof and i could see him like an enormous glow worm crawling very slowly along the Ridge. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys but he presently reappeared and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. When i made my way round there i found him seated at one of the corner eaves. That you Watson he cried. Yes. This is the place. What is that black thing down there. A water barrel top on it. Yes. No sign of a ladder. No. Confound the fellow it’s the most breakneck place. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up the waterpipe feels pretty firm here goes anyhow. There was a scuffling of feet and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. Then with a light spring he came onto the barrel and from there to the earth. It was easy to follow him he said drawing on his stockings and boots. Tiles were loosened the whole way along and in his hurry he had dropped this. It confirms my diagnosis as you doctors express it. The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung around it. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette case. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood shop at one end and rounded at the other like that which had stay truck Bartholomew sharlto. They are hellish things said he look out that you don’t prick yourself i’m delighted to have them for the chances are that they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. I would sooner face a Martini bullet myself are you game for a six mile trudge Watson. Certainly i answered. Your leg will stand it. Oh yes. Here you are Dougie. Good old Toby smell it Toby smell it. He pushed the creosote handkerchief under the dog’s nose while the creature stood with it’s fluffy legs separated and with the most comical cock to it’s head like a connoisseur sniffing the bouquet of a famous vintage. Homes then threw the handkerchief to a distance fastened a stout cord to the mongrels color and low led him to the foot of the water barrel. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high tremulous yelps and with his nose on the ground and his tail in the air patted off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. The east had been gradually widening and we could now see some distance in the cold grey light. The square massive house with it’s black empty windows and high bare walls towered up sad and forlorn behind us. Our course lead right across the grounds in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. The whole place with it’s scattered dirt heaps and ill grown shrubs had a blighted illumined look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along whining eagerly underneath it’s shadow and stopped finally in a corner screened by a young beach where the two walls joined several bricks had been loosened and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. Holmes clambered up and taking the dog for me he dropped it over upon the other side. There’s the print of wooden legs hand he remarked as i mounted up beside him. You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday. The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight and twenty hours start. I confessed that i had my doubts myself when i reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. My fears were soon appeased however Toby never hesitated or swerved but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. Clearly the pungent smell of the creosote Rose high above all other contending cents. Do not imagine said homes. That i depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical. Which now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. This however is the radiused and since fortune has put it into our hands i should be culpable if i neglected it it has however prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to b. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it but for this too palpable clue. There is credit and despair said i i assure you homes that i marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case even more than i did in the Jefferson hope murder. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable how for example could you describe with such confidence the wooden legged man. Sure my dear boy. It was simplicity itself i don’t wish to be theatrical. It is all patent and above board to officers who are in command of a convict guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure. A map is drawn for them by an englishman named Jonathan small. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in captain marston’s possession. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates the sign of the four as he somewhat dramatically called it. Aided by this chart the officers or one of them gets the treasure and brings it to england leaving way we will suppose some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. Now then. Why did not Jonathan small get the treasure himself. The answer is obvious. The chart is dated at a time when marsden was brought into close association with convicts. Jonathan small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away. But that is mere speculation said i it is more than that. It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. Major shelter remains at peace for some years happy in the possession of his treasure. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright what was that. A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. Or had escaped. That is much more likely for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was it would not have been a surprise to him. What does he do then he guards himself against a wooden legged man a white man Mark you for he mister makes a white tradesman for him and actually fires a pistol at him. Now only one white man’s name is on the chart the others are hindus or Muhammad ans. There is no other white man. Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden legged man is identical with Jonathan small. Does the reason ning strike you as being faulty. No it is clear and concise. Well now. Let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan small. Let us look at it from his point of view. He comes to england with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. He found out where chateau lived and very poor possibly he established communications with someone inside the house. There is this Butler law row whom we have not seen. Mrs Bernstein gives him far from a good character small could not find out however where the treasure was head for no one ever knew save the major and one faithful serve hunt who had died. Suddenly small learns that the major is on his deathbed. In a frenzy less the secret of the treasure die with him he runs the gauntlet of the gods makes his way to the dying man’s window and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. Mad with hate however against the dead man he enters the room that night searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure and finally leaves a memento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder but from the point of view of the four associates something in the nature of an act of justice whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. Do you follow all this. Very very clearly. Now what could Jonathan small do he could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. Possibly he leaves england and only comes back at intervals. Then comes the discovery of the garret and he is instantly informed of it. We again traced the presence of some confederate in the household. Jonathan with his wooden leg is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew sharlto he takes with him however a rather curious associate who gets over this difficulty but dips his naked foot into creosote whence comes Toby and a six mile limp for a half pay officer with a damaged tendo achilles but it was the associate and not Jonathan who committed the crime. Quite so and rather to Jonathan’s disgust to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room he bore no grudge against Bartholomew sharlto and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged he did not wish to put his head in a halter. There was no help for it however the savage instincts of his companion had broken out and the poison had done it’s work so Jonathan small left his record lowered the treasure box to the ground and followed it himself. That was the train of events as far as i can decipher them. Of course as to his personal appearance he must the middle aged and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the andamans his height is readily calculated from the length of his stride and we know that he was bearded his hairiness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus shelter when he saw him at the window. I don’t know that there is anything else. The associate. Ah well there is no great mystery in that but you will know all about it soon enough how sweet the morning aires see how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud bank. It shines on a good many folk but on none i dare bet who are on a stranger errand then you and i. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature. Are you well up in your Jean Paul. Fairly so i worked back to him through Carlisle. That was like following the brook to the parent lake. He makes one curious but profound remark. It is that the chief proof of man’s real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. It argues you see a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility eighty. There is much food for thought in Richter. You have not a pistol have you. I have my stick. It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. Jonathan i shall leave to you but if the other turns nasty i shall shoot him dead. He took out his revolver as he spoke and having loaded two of the chambers he put it back into the right hand pocket of his jacket. We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half rural villa lined roads which lead to the Metropolis. Now however we were beginning to come among continuous streets where labourers and doc men were already a stir and slat the women were taking down shutters and brushing doorsteps. At the square topped corner public houses business was just beginning and rough looking men were emerging rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wondering lie at us as we passed but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left but trot onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eeg of wine which spoke of a hot scent. We had traverse stratum Brixton camberwell and now found ourselves in kennington Lane having borne away through the side streets to the east of the oval. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road with the idea probably of escaping observation. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side street would serve their turn. At the foot of kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through bond street and miles street. Where the latest great turns into nights place to be ceased to advance but began to run backwards and forwards with one ear cocked and the other drooping. The very picture of canine indecision. Then he waddled round in circles looking up to us from time to time as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. What the deuce is the matter with the dog growled homes they surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon. Perhaps they stood here for some time i suggested. Ah it’s all right he’s off again said my companion in a tone of relief. He was indeed off. For after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind and darted away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown. The it’ll be much hotter than before for he had not even to put his nose on the ground but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run. I could see by the gleam in homes his eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. Our course now ran down nine elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson’s large timber yard just past the white eagle tavern. Here the dog frantic with excitement turned down through the side gate into the enclosure where the soils were already at work. On the dog race through sawdust and shavings down an alley round a passage between two woodpiles and finally with a triumphant yelp sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand trolley on which it had been brought with lolling tongue and blinking eyes Toby stood upon the cask looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creosote. Sherlock Holmes and i looked blankly at each other and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Chapter eight. The baker street irregulars. What now i asked. Toby has lost his character for infallibility. He acted according to his lights said Holmes lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber yard. If you consider how much Chris out is carted about London in one day it is no great wonder that our trail should have been cross last it is much used now especially for the seasoning of wood poor Toby is not to blame. We must get on the main scent again i suppose. Yes unfortunately we have no distance to go. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of nights place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. We took the wrong one. It only remains to follow the other. There was no difficulty about this one leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction. We must take care that he does not now bring us to the place where the creosote barrel came from i observed. I had thought of that but you notice that he keeps on the pavement whereas the barrel pass down the roadway. Know. We are on the true sense now. It tended down towards the riverside running through belmont place and princes street. At the end of broad street it ran right down to the water’s edge where there was a small wooden wharf. Toby led us to the very edge of this and there stood whining looking out on the dark current beyond. We are out of luck said homes they have taken to a boat here. Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. We took Toby round two each in turn but though he sniffed earnestly he made no sign. Close to the rude landing stage was a small brick house with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. Mordecai Smith was printed across it enlarge letters and underneath boats to hire by the hour or day. A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. A statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round and his face assumed an ominous expression. This looks bad said he. These fellows are sharper than i expected they seem to have covered their tracks. There has i fear been pre concerted management here. He was approaching the door of the house when it opened and a little curly headed lad of six came running out followed by a stout ish red faced woman with a large sponge in her hand you come back and be washed Jack she shouted come back you young imp for if your father comes home and finds you like that he’ll let us hear of it. Dear little chap said home strategically what a rosy cheeked young rascal. Now Jack is there anything you would like. The youth pondered for a moment. I’d like a shilling said he nothing you would like better. I’d like to schilling better the prodigy answered after some thought. Here you are then catch a fine child mrs Smith. Lord bless you sir he is that and forward he gets almost too much for me to manage specially when my man is away days at a time. Away as he said homes in a disappointed voice. I’m sorry for that for i wanted to speak to miss does Smith. He’s been away since yesterday morning sir and truth to tell i am beginning to feel frightened about him but if it was about a boat sir maybe i could serve as well. I wanted to hire his steam launch why bless you sir it is in the steam launch that he has gone that’s what puzzles me for i know there ain’t more coles in her them would take her to about woolwich and back. If he’d been away in the barge i’d have thought nothing for many a time a job has taken him as far as graves end and then if there was much doing there he might have stayed over but what good is a steam launch without coles. He might have bought some at a wolf down the river. He might sir but it weren’t his way. Many a time I’ve heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. Besides i don’t like that wooden legged man with his ugly face and outlandish talk. What did he want always knocking about here for. A wooden legged man said homes with bland surprise yes sir a brown monkey faced chap that’s called more than once for my old man it was him that roused him up yesterday night and what’s more my man knew he was coming for he had steam up in the launch. I tell you straight sir i don’t feel easy in my mind about it but my dear mrs Smith said Holmes shrugging his shoulders. You are frightening yourself about nothing. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden legged man who came in the night. I don’t quite understand how you can be so sure. His voice sir. I knew his voice which is kind of thick and foggy he tapped at the window about three it would be. Show a leg Matey says he time to turn out guard. My old man woke up Jim that’s my eldest and away they went without so much as a word to me. I could hear the wooden leg clacking on the stones and was this wooden legged man alone. Couldn’t say i’m sure sir i didn’t hear no one else lse. I’m sorry mrs Smith for i wanted a steam launch and i have heard good reports of the. Let me see what is her name. The Aurora sir. Ah she’s not that old green launch with a yellow line very broad in the beam. No indeed. She’s as trim a little thing as any on the river. She’s been fresh painted black with two red streaks. Thanks. I hope that you will hear soon from mr Smith. I’m going down the river and if i should see anything of the Aurora i shall let him know that you are uneasy. A black funnel you say. No sir black with a white band. Ah of course. It was the sides which were black. Good morning mrs Smith if. There is a boatman here with a wary Watson we shall take it and cross the river. The main thing with people of that sort said Holmes as we sat in the sheets of the wary. Is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. If you do they will instantly shut up like an oyster. If you listen to them under protest as it were you are very likely to get what you want. Of course now seems pretty clear said i. What would you do then. I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. My dear fellow it would be a colossal task she may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and greenwich. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing places for mine miles. It would take you days and days to exhaust them if you set about it alone. Employ the police then no. I shall probably call Anthony Jones in at the last moment he is not a bad fellow and i should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally but i have a fancy for working it out myself now that we have gone so far. Could we advertise then asking for information from morphing us. Worse and worse our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels and they would be off out of the country. As it is they are likely enough to leave but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. Jones’s energy will be of use to us there for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press and the runaways will think that everyone is off on the wrong scent. What are we to do then i asked as we landed near millbank penitentiary. Take this handsome drive home have some breakfast and get an hour’s sleep. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot tonight again stop at a telegraph of his cabbie. We will keep Toby for he may be of use to us yet. We pulled up at the great Peter street post office and homes dispatched his wire. Whom do you think that is too he asked as we resumed our journey. I’m sure i don’t know. You remember the baker street division of the detective police force whom i employed in the Jefferson hope case. Well said i laughing. This is just the case where they might be invaluable. If they fail i have other resources but i shall try them first. That wire was to my dirty little left wiggins and i expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. It was between eight and nine o’clock now and i was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. I was limp and weary before g-d in mind and fatigued in body. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on nor could i look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. As far as the death of Bartholomew shelter went i had heard little good of him and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. The treasure however was a different matter that or part of it belonged rightfully to miss marsden. While there was a chance of recovering it i was ready to devote my life to the one object. True if i found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. If homes could work to find the criminals i had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. A bath at baker street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully when i came down to our room i found the breakfast laid and homes pouring out the coffee here it is said he laughing and pointing to an open newspaper. The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter fixed it up between them but you have had enough of the case better have your ham and eggs first. I took the paper from him and read the short notice which was headed mysterious business at upper norwood. About twelve o’clock last night said the standard mister Bartholomew sharlto of pondicherry lodge upper norwood. Was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. As as far as we can learn no actual traces of violence were found upon mr shelters person but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. The discovery was first made by mr Sherlock Holmes and dr Watson. Who had called at the house with mr Thaddeus shelter oh brother of the deceased. By a singular piece of good fortune mr Anthony Jones the well known member of the detective police force happened to be at the norwood police station and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection one of the criminals with the gratifying result that the brother Thaddeus sharlto has already been arrested together with the housekeeper mrs birdstone an Indian Butler named Laura and a Porter or gatekeeper named McMurdo. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house for mr Jones is well known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window but must have made their way across the roof of the building and so through a trap door into a room which communicated with that in which the body was found. This fact which has been very clearly made out proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law shows the great advantage of the press ants on such occasions have a single vigorous and masterful mind. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. Isn’t it gorgeous said Holmes grinning over his coffee cup what do you think of it. I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime. So do i. I wouldn’t answer for our safety now if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell and i could hear mrs Hudson our landlady raising her voice in a whale of expansion nation and dismay. By heaven homes i said half rising i believe that they are really after us. No it’s not quite so bad as that. It is the Anna official force. The baker street irregulars. As he spoke there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs a clatter of high voices and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street arabs. There was some show of discipline among them despite their tumultuous entry for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. One of their number taller and older than the others stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. Got your message sir said he and brought him on sharp three Bob and a Tanner for tickets. Here you are said Holmes produce sing some silver in future they can report to you wiggins and you to me. I cannot have the house invaded in this way however it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions. I want to find the whereabouts of esteem launched called the Aurora owner mordecai Smith black with two red streaks for funnel black with a white band. She is down the river somewhere. I want one boy to be at mordecai Smith’s landing stage opposite millbank to say if the boat comes back. You must divide it out among yourselves and do both banks thoroughly let me know the moment you have news is that all clear. Yes governor said wiggins. The old scale of pay and a Guinea to the boy who finds the boat here’s a day in advance now off you go. He handed them a shilling each and away they buzzed down the stairs and i saw them a moment later streaming down the street if the launch is above water they will find her said Holmes as he Rose from the table and lit his pipe. They can go everywhere see everything over here every one. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. In the meanwhile we can do nothing but await results. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or mister mordecai Smith. Toby could eat these scraps i dare say. Are you going to bed homes. No. I’m not tired. I have a curious constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work. Though idleness exhausts me completely. I’m going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. If ever man had an easy task this of ours ought to be wooden legged men are not so common but the other man must i should think be absolutely unique. That other man again. I have no wish to make a mystery of him to you anyway but you must have formed your own opinion. Now do consider the data diminutive foot marks toes never fettered by boots naked feet stone headed wooden mace great agility small poison darts. What do you make of all this. A savage i exclaimed. Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan small. Hardly that said he. When first i saw signs of strange weapons i was inclined to think so but the remarkable character of the foot marks caused me to reconsider my views. Some of the inhabitants of the Indian peninsula killer a small men but none could have left such marks as that. The hindu proper has long and thin feet. The sandal wearing mohammedan has the great to well separated from the others because the song is commonly passed between. These little dots two could only be shot in one way they are from a blowpipe. Now then where are we to find our savage. South American i hazarded he stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published it may be looked upon as the very latest authority. What have we here and amen islands situated three hundred and forty miles to the north of sumatra in the bay of bengal. Hmm hmm. What’s all this moist climate coral reefs sharks port Blair convict barracks rutland island cottonwoods ah here we are. The aborigines of the andaman islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. Though some anthropologists prefer the bushmen of Africa the digger Indians of america and the terra del fusions. The average height is rather below four feet although many full grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this. They are a fierce morose and intractable people though capable of forming the most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. Mark that Watson. Now then listen to this. They are naturally hideous having large misshapen heads small fierce eyes and distorted features their feet and hands however are remarkably small. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over or in any degree. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews braiding the survivors with their stone headed clubs or shooting them with their poisoned arrows these massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. Nice amiable people Watson. If this fellow had been left to him in unaided devices this affair might have taken an even more ghastly turn. I fancy that even as it is Jonathan small would give a good deal not to have employed him but how came he to have so singular a companion. That is more than i can tell. Since however we had already determined that small had come from the andamans it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. Look here Watson you look regularly done. Lie down there on the sofa and see if i can put you to sleep. He took up his violin from the corner and as i stretched myself out he began to play some low dreamy melodious air. His own no doubt. For he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs his earnest face and the rise and fall of his bow. Then i seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. Until i found myself in dreamland with the sweet face of Mary marston looking down upon me. Chapter nine. A break in the chain. It was late in the afternoon before i awoke strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as i had left him save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. He looked across at me as i stirred and i noticed that his face was dark and troubled. You have slept soundly he said. I feared that our talk would wake you. I heard nothing i answered have you had fresh news then. Unfortunately no i confess that i am surprised and disappointed. I expected something definite by this time. Wiggins has just been up to report. He says that no trace can be found of the launch it is a provoking check for every hour is of importance. Can i do anything. I am perfectly fresh now and quite ready for another night’s outing. Know we can do nothing. We can only wait. If we go ourselves the message might come in our absence and delay because. You can do what you will but i must remain on guard. Then i shall run over to camberwell and call upon mrs Cecil forrester she asked me to yesterday. On mrs Cecil forrester asked Holmes with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes well of course miss marsden too they were anxious to hear what happened. I would not tell them too much said Holmes women are never to be entirely trusted. Not the best of them. I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. I shall be back in an hour or two i remarked. Alright good luck but i say if you’re crossing the river you may as well return Toby for i don’t think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. I took our mongrel accordingly and left him together with a half sovereign at the old naturalists in pinch in Lane. At camberwell i found miss marsden a little weary after her night’s adventures but very eager to hear the news. Mrs forrester too was full of curiosity. I told them all that we had done suppressing however the ma more dreadful parts of the tragedy thus although i spoke of mr shelters death. I said nothing of the exact manner and method of it with all my emissions however there was enough to startle and amaze them. It is a romance cried mrs forrester. An injured lady half a million in treasure a black cannibal in a wooden legged room often. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked Earl and two night errands to the rescue added miss marsden with a bright glance at me. Why marry your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. I don’t think that you are nearly excited enough. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich and to have the world at your feet. It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. On the contrary she gave a toss of her proud head. As though the matter were one in which she took small interest. It is for mr Thaddeus shelter that i am anxious she said. Nothing else is of any consequence but i think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. It was evening before i left camberwell and quite dark by the time i reached home. My companions book and pipe lay by his chair but he had disappeared. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note but there was none. I suppose that mister Sherlock Holmes has gone out i said to mrs Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. No sir he has gone to his room sir. Do you know sir sinking her voice into an impressive whisper. I am afraid for his health. Why so mrs Hudson. While he’s that strange sir after he was gone. He walked and he walked up and down and up and down until i was weary of the sound of his footstep. Then i heard him talking to himself and muttering and every time the bell rang out he came on the stair head with what is that me mrs Hudson and now he has slammed off to his room but i can hear him walking away the same as ever. I hope he’s not going to be ill sir. I venture to say something to him about cooling medicine but he turned on me sir with such a look that i don’t know however i got out of the room. I don’t think that you have any cause to be uneasy mrs Hudson i answered. I have seen him like this before. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless. I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady but i was myself somewhat uneasy went through the long night i still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. At breakfast time he looked worn and haggard with a little fleck of feverish color upon eye the cheek. You are knocking yourself up old man i remarked. I heard you marching about in the night. No. I could not sleep he answered. This infernal problem is consuming me. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle when all else had been overcome. I know the men the launch everything and yet i can get no news. I have set other agencies at work and used a every means at my disposal. The whole river has been searched on either side but there is no news nor has mrs Smith heard of her husband. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft but there are objections to that. Or that mrs Smith has put us on a wrong cent. No i think that may be dismissed. I had inquiries made and there is a launch of that description. Could it have gone up the river. I’ve considered that possibility too and there is a search party who will work up as far as Richmond if no news comes today i shall start off myself tomorrow and go for the men rather than the boat but surely surely we shall hear something. We did not however not a word came to us either from wiggins or from the other agencies there were articles in most of the papers upon the norwood tragedy. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus chateaux. No fresh details were to be found however in any of them save that an inquest was to be he held upon the following day. I walked over to camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies and on my return i found homes dejected and somewhat morose. He would hardly reply to my questions and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. Up to the small hours of the morning i could hear the clinking of his test tubes which told the me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment. In the early dawn i woke with a start and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea jacket and a coarse red scarf round his neck. I’m off down the river Watson said he. I’ve been turning it over in my mind and i can see only one way out of it it is worth trying at all events. Surely i can come with you then said i. Know. You can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. I am loathe to go for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day though wiggins was despondent about it last night. I want you to open all notes and telegrams oh and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. Can i rely upon you. Most certainly. I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me for i can hardly tell yet where i may find myself. If i am in luck however i may not be gone so very long. I shall have news of some sort or other before i get back. I had heard nothing of him by breakfast time. On opening the standard however i found that there was a fresh allusion to the business with reference to the upper norwood tragedy it remarked. We have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. Fresh air has shown that it is quite impossible that mr Thaddeus shelter could have been in any way concerned in the matter. He and the housekeeper mrs Bernstein were both released yesterday evening. It is believed however that the police have a clue as to the real culprits and that it is being prosecuted by mr Anthony Jones of Scotland yard with all his well known energy and sagacity. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. That is satisfactory so far as it goes thought i a friend shelter is safe at any rate. I wonder what the fresh clue may be though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder. I tossed the paper down upon the table but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. It ran in this way. Lol last. Whereas mordecai Smith boatman and his son Jim left Smith’s wolf after about three o’clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch. Aurora black with two red stripes funnel black with a white band the sum of five pounds will be paid to anyone who can give information to mrs Smith at Smith’s wharf or at two hundred and twenty one b baker street. As to the whereabouts of the said mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. This was clearly Holmes is doing. The baker street address was enough to prove that. It struck me as rather ingenious because it might be read by the fugitives without they’re seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband. It was a long day. Every time that a knock came to the door or a sharp step passed in the street i imagined that it was either homes returning or an answer to his advertisement. I tried to read but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest until the ill assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. Could there be i wondered some radical flaw in my companions reasoning. Might he be suffering from some huge self deception. Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises. I had never known him to be wrong and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He was likely i thought to fall into error through the over refinement of his logic. His preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. Yet on the other hand i had myself seen the evidence and i had heard the reasons for his deductions. When i looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. Many of them trivial in themselves but all tending in the same direction. I could not disguise for myself that even if Holmes’s explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally ooh tray and startling. At three o’clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell and authoritative voice in the hall and to my surprise no less a person than mr Anthony Jones was shown up to me. Very different was he however from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at upper norwood. His expression was downcast and his bearing meek and even apologetic. Good day sir good day said he. Mr Sherlock Holmes is out i understand. Yes and i cannot be sure when he will be back but perhaps you would care to wait. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. Thank you. I do mind if i do said he mopping his face with a red bandana handkerchief and a whiskey and soda. Well half a glass it is very hot for the time of year and i have had a good deal to worry and try me. You know my theory about this norwood case. I remember that you expressed one. Well i have been obliged to reconsider it. I had my net drawn tightly round mr sharlto sir when poppy went through a hole in the middle of it he was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. From the time that he left his brother’s room he was never out of sight of some one or other. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap doors. It’s a very dark case and my professional credit is at stake. I should be very glad of a little assistance. We all need help sometimes said i. Your friend mister Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful mansour said he in a husky and confer potential voice. He’s a man who is not to be beat. I have known that young man go into a good many cases but i never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is irregular in his methods and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories but on the whole i think he would have made a most promising officer and i don’t care who knows it. I have had a wire from him this morning by which i understand that he has got some clue to the shelter business here is the message. He took the telegram out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was dated from poplar at twelve o’clock. Go to baker street at once it said if i have not returned wait for me i’m close on the track of the shelter gang. You can come with us tonight if you want to be in at the finish. This sounds well he has evidently picked up the scent again said i. Ah. Then he has been at fault to exclaim Jones with evident satisfaction. Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip but there is someone at the door. Perhaps this is he. A heavy step was heard ascending the stair with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. Once or twice he stopped as though the climb were too much for him but at last he made his way to our door and entered. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard he was an aged man man clad in seafaring garb with an old pie jacket buttoned up to his throat his back was bowed his knees were shaky and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs he had a colored scarf round his chin and i could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes overhung by bushy white brows and long gray side whiskers. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty. What is it my man i asked he looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age. Is mr Sherlock Holmes here said he. No but i am acting for him. You can tell me any message you have for him. It was to him himself i was to tell it said he but i tell you that i am acting for him. Was it about mordecai Smith’s boat. Yes. I knows well where it is and i knows where the money is after all and i knows where the treasure is i knows all about it. Then tell me and i shall let him know. It was to him i was to tell it he repeated with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. Well you must wait for him. No no i ain’t going to lose a whole day to please no one. If mr Holmes ain’t here then mr Holmes must find it all out for himself i don’t care about the look of either of you and i won’t tell away word. He shuffled towards the door but a felony Jones got in front of him. Wait a bit my friend said he. You have important information and you must not walk off. We shall keep you whether you like or not until our friend returns. The old man made a little run towards the door but as author Tony Jones put his broad back up against it he recognized the uselessness of resistance. Pretty sorta treatment this he cried stamping his stick. I come here to see a gentleman and YouTube who i never saw in my life sees me and treat me in this fashion. You will be none the worse i said we shall recompense you for the loss of your time. Sit over here on the sofa and you will not have long to wait. He came across sullenly enough and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. Jones and i resumed our cigars and our talk. Suddenly however his voice broken upon us. I think that you might offer me a cigar too he said. We both started in our chairs. There was home sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement. Homes i exclaimed you here but where is the old man. Here is the old man said he holding out a heap of white hair here he is wig whiskers eyebrows and all. I thought my disguise was pretty good but i hardly expected that it would stand that test. Ah you rogue cry Jones highly delighted. You would have made an actor and a rare one. You had the proper workhouse cough and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pounds a week. I thought i knew the glint of your eye though. You didn’t get away from us so easily you see. I’ve been working in that get up all day said he lighting his cigar. You see a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases. So i can only go on the warpath under some simple disguise like this. You got my wire. That was what brought me here. How has your case prospered. It has all come to nothing. I’ve had to release two of my prisoners and there is no evidence against the other two. Never mind we shall give you to others in the place of them but you must put yourself under my orders. You are welcome to all the official credit but you must act on the line that i point out. Is that agreed. Entirely if you will help me to the men. Well then in the first place i shall want a fast police boat esteem launch to be at the westminster stairs at seven o’clock. That is easily managed there is always one about there but i can step across the road and telephone to make sure. Then i shall want to stanch men in case of resistance. There will be two or three in the boat what else. When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. Let her be the first to open it. A Watson. It would be a great pleasure to me. Rather an irregular proceeding said Jones shaking his head however the whole thing is irregular and i suppose we must wink at it. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. Certainly that is easily managed. One other point. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan small himself you know i like to work the detail of my cases out. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him either here in my rooms or elsewhere as long as he is efficiently gg guarded. While you are master of the situation. I’ve had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan small. However if you can catch him i don’t see how i can refuse you an interview with him. That is understood then. Perfectly is there anything else. Only that i insist upon you’re dining with us it will be ready in half an hour i have oysters and a brace of grouse with something a little choice in white wines. Watson. You have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper. Chapter ten. The end of the islander. Our meal was a merry one. Homes could talk exceedingly well when he chose and that night he did choose he appeared to be in a state of nervous exhortation. I have never known him so brilliant. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects on miracle plays on medieval pottery on stradivarius violins on the buddhism of ceylan and on the warships of the future. Handling each as though he had made a special study of it. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. Anthony Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. For myself i felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task and i caught something of Holmes’s gaiety. None of us alluded during dinner to the cause which had brought us together. When the cloth was cleared Holmes glanced at his watch and filled up three glasses with port. One bumper said he to the success of our little expedition and now it is high time we were off have your pistol Watson. I have my old service revolver in my desk. You’d best take it then it is well to be prepared. I see that the cab is at the door i ordered it for half past six. It was a little past seven before we reached the westminster wolf and found our launch awaiting us homes i did critically. Is there anything to market as a police boat. Yes that green lamp at the side then take it off. Small change was made we stepped on board and the ropes were cast off. Jones Holmes and i sat in the stern. There was one man at the rudder one to tend the engines and two burly police inspectors forward. Were to ask Jones to the tower tell them to stop opposite Jacobson’s yard. Our craft was evidently a very fast one we shot past the long le lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. Homes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. We ought to be able to catch anything on the river he said. While hardly that but there are not many launches to beat us. We shall have to catch the Aurora and she has a name for being a clipper. I will tell you how the land lies Watson. You recollect how annoyed i was at being bulked by so small a thing. Yes. While i gave my mind a thorough arrest by plunging into a chemical analysis. One of our greatest statesman has said that a change of work is the best rest. So it is. When i had succeeded in dissolving the hydrocarbon which i was at work at i came back to our problem of the shelters and thought the whole matter out again. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. The launch was not at any landing stage or wolf nor had it returned. Yet it could hardly have been sca titled to hide their traces. Though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. I knew this man small had a certain degree of low cunning but i did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. That is usually a product of higher education. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over pondicherry lodge he could hardly leave at a moment’s notice but would need some little time if it were only a day to arrange his affairs. That was the balance of probability at any rate. It seems to me to be a little weak said i. It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. Know i hardly think so this lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it but a second consideration struck me. Jonathan small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. However much he may have top coated him would give rise to gossip and possibly be associate hated with this norwood tragedy. He was quite sharp enough to see that. They had started from their headquarters under cover of darkness and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. Now it was past three o’clock according to mrs Smith when they got the boat. It would be quite bright and people would be about in an hour or so. Therefore i argued they did not go very far. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue reserved his launch for the final escape and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure box. In a couple of nights when they had time to see what view the papers took and whether there was any suspicion. They would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at graves end or in the downs where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to america or the colonies. But the launch. They could not have taken that to their lodgings. Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off in spite of it’s invisibility. I then put myself in the place of small and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track. How then could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted. I wondered what i should do myself if i were in his shoes. I could only think of one way of doing it. I might hand the launch over to some boatbuilder or repairer with directions to make a trifling change in her she would then be removed to his shed or yard and so be effectually concealed while at the same time i could have her at a few hours notice. That seems simple enough. It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. However i determined to act on the idea. I started at once in this harmless Siemens rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. I drew blanket fifteen but at the sixteenth Jacobson’s i learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden legged man with some trivial directions as to her rudder. There ain’t naught amiss with her rudder said the foreman there she lies with the red streaks. At that moment who should come down but mordecai Smith the missing owner. He was rather the worse for liquor. I should not of course have known him but he bellowed out his name and the name of his launch. I want her tonight at eight o’clock said he eight o’clock sharp mind for i have two gentlemen who won’t be kept waiting. They had evidently paid him well for he was very flush of money chucking shillings about to the men. I followed him some distance but he subsided into an ale house. So so i went back to the yard and happening to pick up one of my boys on the way i stationed him as a century over the launch he has to stand at water’s edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. We shall be lying off in the stream and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men treasure and all. You have planned it all very neatly whether they are the right men or not said Jones but if the affair were in my hands i should have had a body of police in Jacobson’s yard and arrested them when they came down. Which would have been never. This man small is a pretty shrewd fellow he would send a scout on ahead and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. But you might have stuck to mordecai Smith and so been led to their hiding place said i. In that case i should have wasted my day. I think that it is one hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. As long as he has liquor and good pay why should he ask questions. They sent him messages what to do no i thought over every possible course and this is the best. While this conversation had been proceeding we had been shooting the long series of Bridges which span the thames. As we passed the city the last rays of the sun was gilding the cross upon the summit of st Paul les. It was twilight before we reached the tower. That is Jacobson’s yard said Holmes pointing to a bristle of Mars then rigging on the surrey side. Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. He took a pair of night glasses from his pocket and gave some time at the shore. I see my century at his post he remarked but no sign of a handkerchief. Suppose we go downstream a short way and lie in wait for them said Jones eagerly we were all eager by this time even the policemen and stoker’s who had a very vague idea of what was going forward. We have no right to take anything for granted Holmes answered it is certainly tend to one that they go downstream but we cannot be certain from this point we can see the entrance of the yard and they can hardly see us. It will be a clear night and plenty of light. We must stay where we are see how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight. They are coming from work in the yard. Dirty looking rascals but i suppose everyone has some little immortal spark concealed about him you would not think it to look at them there is no a priori probability about it a strange enigma is man. Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal i suggested. Wynnewood read is good upon the subject said Holmes he remarks that while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. In the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. You can for example never foretell what any one man will do but you can say with precision what an average number will be be up to. Individuals vary but percentages remain constant. So says the statistician but do i see a handkerchief surely there is a white flutter over yonder. Yes it is your boy i cried i can see him plainly. And there is the Aurora exclaimed homes and going like the devil full speed ahead engineer. Make after that launch with the yellow light. By heaven i shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us. She had slipped unseen through the yard entrance and passed behind two or three small craft so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. Now she was flying down the stream near into the shore going at a tremendous rate Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. She is very fast he said i i doubt if we shall catch her we must catch her cried Holmes between his teeth heap it on stalkers make her do all she can if we burn the boat we must have them. We were fairly after her now. The furnaces roared and the powerful engines wisdom clanked like a great metallic heart. Her sharp steep prow cut through the river water and sent to rolling waves to right and left of us with every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. One great yellow lantern in our bows through a long flickering funnel of light in front of us. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going. We flashed past barges steamers merchant vessels in and out out behind this one and round the other voices hailed us out of the darkness but still the Aurora thundered on and still we followed close upon her track. Pilot on men pilot on cried Holmes looking down into the engine room while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager aqualung face. Get every pound of steam you can. I think we gain a little said Jones with his eyes on the Aurora. I’m sure of it said i we shall be up with her in a very few minutes. At that moment however as our evil fate would have it. A tug with three barges into blended in between us. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. She was still however well in view and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. Our boilers were strained to the utmost and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with a fierce energy which was driving us along. We had shot through the pool past the west India docks down the long deptford reach and up again after rounding the isle of dogs. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. Jones turned our searchlight upon her so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. One man sat by the stern with something black between his knees over which he stooped beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a new newfoundland dog. The boy held the tiller while against the red glare of the furnace i could see old Smith stripped to the waist and shoveling coals for dear life. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took they could no longer be any question about it. At greenwich we were about three hundred paces behind them. At blackwall we could not have been more than two hundred and fifty. I have caused many creatures in many countries during my checkered career but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad flying man hunt down the thames. Steadily we drew in upon them yard by my yard. In the silence of the night we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck and his arms were moving as though he were busy. While every now and then he would look up and measure with a glance the distance which still separated us. Nearer we came and nearer. Jones yelled to them to stop we were not more than four boats lengths behind them both boats flying at a tremendous pace. It was a clear reach of the river with barking level upon one side and the melancholy plumstead marshes upon the other. At our hail the man in the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two two clenched fists at us. Cursing the while in a high cracked voice. He was a good sized powerful man and as he stood poison himself with legs astride i could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. At the sound of his strident angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. It straightened itself into a little black man the smallest i have ever seen with a great misshapen head and a shock of tangled disheveled hair. Holmes had already drawn his revolver and i whipped out mine at the sight of this savage distorted creature he was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket which left only his face exposed but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night never have i seen features so deeply marked with all best reality and cruelty he. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light and his thick lips were arrived back from his teeth which grinned and chatted at us with a half animal fury. Fire if he raises his hand said Holmes quietly. We were within a boat’s length by this time and almost within touch of our quarry. I can see the two of them now as they stood the white man with his legs far apart shrieking out curses and the unalloyed dwarf with his hideous face and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern. It was well that we had so clear view of him. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short round piece of wood like a school ruler and clapped it to his lips. Our pistols rang out together he whirled round threw up his arms and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. I caught why one glimpse of his venomous menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. At the same moment the wooden legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank while we shot past her stern only clearing her by a few feet. We were around after her in an inch distant but she was already nearly at the bank it was a wild and desolate place. Where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marshland with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mud bank with her bow in the air her stern flush with the water. The fugitive sprang out but his stump instantly sank it’s whole length into the sodden soil. In vain he struggled and writhed. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. He yelled in impotent rage and kicked frantically into them mud with his other foot but his struggles only bought his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out and to drag him like some evil fish over our side. The to Smith’s father and son sat sullenly in their launch but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to our stern. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck this there could be no question was the same that had contained the ill omen treasure of the shelters. There was no key but it was of considerable weight so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. As we steamed slowly upstream again we flashed our searchlight in every direction but there was no sign of the islander. Somewhere in the dark ooze at the bottom of the thames lie the bones of that strange visitor to our shores. See here said Holmes pointing to the wooden hatchway. We were hardly quick enough with our pistols. There sure enough just behind where we had been standing stuck one of those murderous dots which we knew so well. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired. Home smiled at it and shrugged his shell elders in his easy fashion but i confess that it turned me sick to think of the horrible death which had passed so close to us that night. Chapter eleven. The great agra treasure. Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. He was a sunburned reckless eyed fellow with a network of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features which told of a hard open air life. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts for his black curly hair was thickly shot with grey. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one. Though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him a as i had lately seen a terrible expression when moved to anger. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap and his head sunk upon his breast. While he looked with his keen twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill doings. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. Once he looked up at me with a gleam of something like humor in his eyes. Well Jonathan small said Holmes lighting a cigar. I’m sorry that it has come to this. And so am i sir he answered frankly. I don’t believe that i can swing over the job. I give you my word on the book that i never raised hand against mister shelter. It was that little hellhound Tonga who shot one of his curse darts into him. I had no part in it sir. I was as grieved as if it had been my blood relation. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it but it was done and i could not undo it again have a cigar said homes and you had best take a pull out of my flask for you are very wet. How could you expect so small and weak a man as this boy black fellow to overpower mister shelter and hold him while you are climbing the rope. You seem to know as much about it as if you were there sir. The truth is that i hope to find the room clear i knew the habits of the house pretty well and it was the time when mr shelter usually went down to his supper. I shall make no secret of the business the best defense that i can make is just the simple truth. Now if it had been the old major i would have swung for him with a light heart i would have thought no more of knifing him than of smoking this cigar but it’s cursed hard that i should be lagged over this young shelter with whom i had no quarrel whatever. You are under the charge of mr Anthony Jones of Scotland yard. He is going to bring you up to my rooms and i shall ask you for a true account of the matter. You must make a clean breast of it for if you do i hope that i may be of use to you. I think i can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the a man was dead before ever you reached the room. That he was sir. I never got such a turn in my life as when i saw him grinning at me with his head on his shoulder as i climbed through the window. It fairly shook me sir. I’d have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off that was how he came to leave his club and some of his darts too as he tells me which i daresay helped to put you on our track though how you kept on it is more than i can tell. I don’t feel no malice against you for it but it does seem a queer thing he added with a bitter smile while. That i who have a fair claim to NY upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the UN demands and i’m like to spend the other half digging drains at dartmoor. It was an evil day for me when first i clapped eyes upon the merchant achmat and had to do with the agra treasure which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it to him it brought murder to major shelter it brought fear and guilt to me it has meant slavery for life. At this moment Anthony Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. Quite a family party he remarked. I think i shall have a pull at that flask homes. While i think we may all congratulate each other. Pity we didn’t take the other alive but there was no choice. I say homes you must confess that you cut it rather fine it was all we could do to overhaul her. All is well that ends well said Holmes but i certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. Smith says she has one of the fastest launches on the river and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have quarter. He swears he knew nothing of this nor would business. Neither he did cried our prisoner not a word. I chose his launch because i heard that she was a flier. We told him nothing but we paid him well and he was to get something handsome if we reached our vessel the Esmeralda at Gravesend outward bound for the Brazil’s. Well if he has done no wrong we shall see that no wrong comes to him. If we are pretty quick in catching our men we are not so quick in condemning them. It was amusing to notice how the consequential Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the strength of the capture. From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes’s face nice. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him. We will be at vauxhall bridge presently said Jones and shall land you dr Watson with the treasure box. I need hardly tell you that i am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this. It is most irregular but of course an agreement is an agreement i must however as a matter of duty send an inspector with you since you have so valuable a charge. You will drive no doubt. Yes i shall do Dr. It is a pity there is no key that we may make an inventory first. You will have to break it open. Where is the key my man. At the bottom of the river said small shortly hmm. There was no use you’re giving this unnecessary trouble. We have had work enough already through you however doctor i need not warn you to be coy careful. Bring the box back with you to the baker street rooms you will find us there on our way to the station. They landed me at vauxhall with my heavy iron box and with a bluff genial inspector as my companion. A quarter of an hour’s drive brought us to mrs Cecil foresters. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor mrs Cecil forrester was out for the evening she explained and likely to be very late. Miss marsden however was in the drawing room so to the drawing room i went box in hand leaving the obliging insp sector in the cab. She was seated by the open window dressed in some sort of white diaphanous material with a little touch of Scarlet at the neck and waist. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair playing over her sweet grave face and tinting with a dull metallic spark will the rich coils of her luxuriant hair one white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy. At the sound of my footfall she sprang to her feet however and a bright flash of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. I heard a cab drive up she said i thought that mrs forrester had come back very early but i never dreamed that it might be you. What news have you brought me. I have brought something better the news said i putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously though my heart was heavy within me. I have brought you something which is worth all the news in the world. I have brought you a fortune. She glanced at the iron box. Treasure then she asked coolly enough. Yes this is the great agra treasure half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus shelters. You will have a couple of hundred thousand each. Think of that. An annuity of ten thousand pounds there will be few rich young ladies in england is it not glorious. I think that i must have been rather overacting my delight and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations for i saw her eyebrows rise a little and she glanced at me curious only if i have it said she i owe it to you. No no i answered not to me but to my friend Sherlock Holmes with all the will in the world i could never have followed up a clue which is taxed even his analytical genius. As it was we very nearly lost it at the last moment. Pray sit down and tell me all about it dr Watson said she. I narrated briefly what had occurred since i’d seen her last Holmes’s new method of search the discovery of the Aurora the appearance of a thorny Jones our expedition in the evening and the wild chase down the thames she listened with parted lips GPS and shining eyes to my recital of our adventures. When i spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us she turned so white that i feared that she was about to faint. It is nothing she said as i hastened to pull her out some water. I am all right again. It was a shock to me to hear that i had placed my friends in such horrible peril. That is all over i answered. It was nothing i will tell you no more gloomy details. Let us turn to something brighter there is the treasure what could be brighter than that. I got leave to bring it with me thinking that it would interest you to be the first to see it. It would be of the greatest interest to me she said. There was no eagerness in her voice however it had struck her doubtless that it might seem ungracious upon her part to be indifferent to a prize which had cost so much to win. What a pretty box she said stooping over it. This is Indian work i suppose. Yes it is banaras metalwork and so heavy she exclaimed trying to raise it. The box alone must be of some value where is the key. Small threw it into the thames i answered i must borrow mrs forrester’s poker. There was in the front a thick and broad hasp wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha. Under this i thrust the end of the poker and twisted it outward as a lever. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap with trembling fingers i flung back the lid. We both stood gazing in astonishment the box was empty. No wonder that it was heavy the ironwork was to third have an inch thick all round it was massive well made and solid like a chest constructed to carry things of great price but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it it was absolutely and completely empty. The treasure is lost said mr marsden calmly. As i listened to the words and realized what they meant. A great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. I did not know how this agra treasure had weighed me down until now that it was finally removed. It was selfish no doubt disloyal wrong but i could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us. Thank god. I ejaculated from my very heart. She looked at me with a quick questioning smile. Why do you say that she asked. Because you are within my reach again i said taking her hand. She did not withdraw it. Because i love you Mary as truly as ever a man loved a woman. Because this treasure these riches sealed my lips. Now that they are gone i can tell you how i love you. That is why i said thank god. Then i say thank god too she whispered as i drew her to my side. Whoever had lost a treasure i knew that night that i had gained one. He so chapter twelve. The strange story of Jonathan small. A very patient man was that inspector in the cab for it was a weary time before i rejoined him. His face clouded over when i showed him the empty box. There goes the reward said he gloomily. Where there is no money there is no pay. This night’s work would have been worth a tenner each to Sam brown and me if the treasure had been there. Mr Thaddeus shelter is a rich man i said he will see that you are rewarded treasure or no. The inspector shook his head despondently however it’s a bad job he repeated and so mr Anthony Jones will think. His forecast proved to be correct. For the detective looked blank enough when i got to baker street and showed him the empty box. They had only just arrived homes the prisoner and he for they had changed their plan so far as to report themselves at a station upon the way. My companion lounged in his arm chair with his usual listless expression. While small sat solidly opposite to him with his wooden leg cocked over his sound one. As i exhibited the empty box he leaned back in his chair and laughed aloud. This is your doing small said ath only Jones angrily. Yes i have put it away where you shall never lay hand upon it he cried exultantly. It is my treasure and if i can’t have the loot I’ll take darned good care that no one else does. I tell you that no living man has any right to it unless it is three men who are in the andaman convict barracks and myself. I know now that i cannot have the use of it and i know that they cannot. I have acted all through for them as much as for myself. It’s been the sign of four with us always. While i know that they would have had me do just what i have done and throw the treasure into the thames rather than let it go to kith or kin of shelter or i have marsden. It was not to make them rich that we did for akhmed. You’ll find the treasure where the key is and where little Tonga is when i saw that your launch must catch us i put the loot away in a safe place there are no rupees for you this journey. You are deceiving a small said atholl ne Jones sternly. If you had wished to throw the treasure into the thames it would have been easier for you to have thrown box and all. Easier for me to throw and easier for you to recover he answered with a shrewd sidelong look. The man that was clever enough to hunt me down is clever enough to pick an iron box from the bottom of a river. Now that they are scattered over five miles or so it may be a harder job. It went to my heart to do it though i was half mad when you came up with us. However there is no good grieving over it. I’ve had ups in my life and I’ve had downs but I’ve learned not to cry over spilled milk. This is a very very serious matter small said the detective if you had help justice instead of thwarting it in this way. You would have had a better chance at your trial. Justice snarled the ex-convict a pretty justice whose loot is this if it is not ours where is the justice that i should give it up to those who have never earned it look how i have earned it. Twenty long years in that fever ridden swamp all day at work under the mangrove tree all night chained up in the filthy convict huts bitten by mosquitoes racked with aig you bullied by every cursed blackface policeman who loved to take it out of a white man. That was how i earned the agra treasure and you talked to me of justice because i cannot bear to feel that i have paid this price only that another may enjoy it. I would rather swing a score of times or have one of Tonga darts in my hide than live in a convict cell and feel that another man is at his ease in a palace with the money that should be mine. Small had dropped his mask of stoicism and all this came out in a wild world of words while his eyes blazed and the handcuffs clank together with the impassioned movement of his hands. I could understand as i saw the fury and the passion of the man that it was no groundless or unnatural terror which had possessed major shelter when he first learned that the injured convict was upon his track. You forget that we know nothing of all this said Holmes quietly. We have not heard your story and we cannot tell how far justice may originally have been on your side. Well sir you have been very fair spoken to me though i can see that i have you to thank that i have these bracelets upon my wrists still i bear no grudge for that. It is all fair and above board. If you want to hear my story i have no wish to hold it back. What i say to you is god’s truth every word of it. Thank you you can put the glass beside me here and I’ll put my lips to it if i am dry. I am a worcestershire man myself born near peshawar. I dare say you would find a heap of smalls living there now if you were to look. I’ve often thought of taking a look round there but. The truth is that i was never much of a credit to the family and i doubt if they would be so very glad to see me. They were all steady chapel going folk. Small farmers well known and respected over the countryside while i was always a bit of a rover. However when i was about eighteen. I gave them no more trouble for i got into a mess over a girl and could only get out of it again by taking the queen’s shilling and joining the third buffs which was just starting for India. I wasn’t destined to do much soldiering however i just got past the goose step and learn to handle my musket when i was fool enough to go swimming in the Ganges. Luckily for me my company sergeant John holder was in the water at the same time and he was one of the finest swimmers in the service. A crocodile took me just as i was halfway across and nipped off my right leg as clean as a surgeon could have done it just above the knee. What with the shock and the loss of blood i fainted and should have drowned if holder had not caught hold of me and paddled for the bank. I was five months in hospital over it and when at last i was able to limp out of it with this timber to strapped to my stump i found myself invalided out of the army and unfitted for any act the occupation. I was as you can imagine pretty down on my luck at this time for i was a useless cripple though not yet in my twentieth year. However my misfortune soon proved to be a blessing in disguise. A man named Abel white who had come out there as an indigo planter wanted an overseer to look after his coolies and keep them up to their work. He happened to be a friend of our colonels who had taken an interest in me since the accident to make a long story short the colonel recommended me strongly for the post and as the work was mostly to be done on horseback my leg was no great obstacle for i had enough knee left to keep good grip on the saddle. What i had to do was to ride over the plantation to keep an eye on the men as they worked and to report the idlers. The pay was fair i had comfortable quarters and altogether i was content to spend the remainder of my life in indigo planting. Mr Abel white was a kind man and he would often drop into my little shanty and smoke a pipe with me for white folk out there feel their hearts warm to each other as they never do here at home. While i was never in luck’s way long. Suddenly without a note of warning the great mutiny broke upon us. One month India lay as still and peaceful to all appearance as surrey or Kent. The next there were two hundred thousand black devils let loose and the country was a perfect hell. Of course you know all about it gentlemen. A deal more than i do very like since reading is not in my line. I only know what i saw with my own eyes. Our plantation was at a place called matra near the border of the northwest provinces night after night the whole sky was alight with the burning bungalows and day after day we had small companies of Europeans passing through our estate with their wives and children on their way to agra where were the nearest troops. Mr Abel white was an obstinate man he had it in his head that the affair had been exaggerated and that it would blow over as suddenly as it had sprung up. There he sat on his veranda drinking whiskey pegs and smoking sure routes while the country was in a Blaze about him. Of course we stuck by him i and Dawson who with his wife used to do the book work and the managing. While one fine day the crash came. I’d been away on a distant plantation and was riding slowly home in the evening when my eye fell upon something all huddled together at the bottom of a steep nulla. I rode down to see what it was and the cold struck through my heart when i found it was Dawson’s wife. All cut into ribbons and half eaten by jackals and native dogs. A little further up the road Dawson himself was lying on his face quite dead with an empty revolver in his hand and four sepoy ‘s lying across each other in front of him. I reined up my horse wondering which way i should turn but at that moment i saw thick smoke curling up from able whites bungalow and the flames beginning to burst through the roof. I knew then that i could do my employer no good but would only throw my own life away if i meddled in the matter from where i stood i could see hundreds of the black fiends with their red coats still on their backs dancing and howling round the burning house. Some of them pointed at me and a couple of bullets sang past my head. So i broke away across the paddy fields and found myself late at night safe within the walls at agra. As it proved however there was no great safety there either. The whole country was up like a swarm of bees. Wherever the English could collect in little bands they held just the ground that their guns commanded everywhere else they were helpless fugitives it was a fight of the millions against the hundreds and the cruelest part of it was that these men that we fought against foot horse and gunners were our own pick troops whom we had taught and trained handling our own weapons and blowing our own bugle calls. At agra there were the third bengal fusiliers some seeks to troops of horse and a battery of artillery. A volunteer corps of clerks and merchants had been fought formed and this i joined wooden leg and all. We went out to meet the rebels at shougang early in July and we beat them back for a time but our powder gave out and we had to fall back upon the city. Nothing but the worst news came to us from every side which is not to be wondered at for if you look at the map you will see that we were right in the heart of it. Luck now is rather better than one hundred miles to the east and corn pour about as far to the south from every point on the compass there was nothing but torture and murder and outrage. The city of agra is a great place swarming with fanatics and fierce devil worshippers of all sorts are handful of men were lost among the narrow winding streets. Our leader moved across the river therefore and took up his position in the old fort at agra. I don’t know if any of you gentlemen have ever read or heard anything of that old fort. It is a very queer place the cuirass that ever i was in and I’ve been in some rum corners to. First of all it is enormous in size. I should think that the enclosure must be acres and acres there is a modern part which took all our garage then women children stores and everything else with plenty of room over but the modern part is nothing like the size of the old quarter where nobody goes and which is given over to the scorpions and the centipedes. It is all full of great deserted holes and winding passages and long corridors twisting in and out so that it is easy enough for folk to get lost in it. For this reason it was seldom that any one went into it though now and again a party with torches might go exploring. The river washes along the front of the old fort and so protects it but on the sides and behind there are many doors and these had to be guarded of course in the old quarter as well as in that which was actually held by our troops. We were shorthanded with hardly men enough to man the angles of the building and to serve the guns. It was impossible for us therefore to station a strong guard at every one of the innumerable gates. What we did was to organize a central guard house in the middle of the fort and to leave each gate under the charge of one white man and two or three natives. I was selected to take charge during certain hours of the night of a small isolated door upon the southwest side of the building to seek troopers were placed under my command and i was instructed if anything went wrong to fire my musket when i might rely upon help coming at once from the central guard. As the guard was a good two hundred paces away however and as the space between was cut up into a labyrinth of passages and corridors i had great doubts as to whether they could arrive in time to be of any use in case of an actual attack. While i was pretty proud at having this small command given me since i was a raw recruit and a game legged one at that. For two nights i kept the watch with my punjabi is they were tall fierce looking chaps Mohammed Singh and Abdullah Khan by name both old fighting men who had borne arms against us at Chilean waller. They could talk English pretty well but i could get little out of them. They preferred to stand together and jabber all night in their queer seek lingo. For myself i used to stand outside the gateway looking down on the broad winding river and on the twinkling lights of the great city. The beating of drums the rattle of Tom Toms and the yells and howls of the rebels drunk with opium and with bang were enough to remind us all night of our dangerous neighbors across the stream. Every two hours the officer of the night used to come round to all the posts to make sure that all was well. The third night of my watch was dark and dirty with a small driving rain. It was dreary work standing in the gateway hour after hour in such weather. I tried again and again to make my seeks talk but without much success. At two in the morning the rounds passed and broke for a moment the weariness of the night. Finding that my companions would not be led into conversation i took out my pipe and lay down my musket to strike the match. In an instant the two seeks whereupon me. One of them snatched my fire lock up and leveled it at my head while the other held a great knife to my throat and swore between his teeth that he would plunge it into me if i moved a step. My first thought was that these f in league with the rebels and that this was the beginning of an assault. If our door were in the hands of the sea poise the place must fall and the women and children be treated as they were in corn pour. Maybe you gentlemen think that i am just making out a case for myself but i give you my word that when i thought of that. Though i felt the point of the knife at my throat. I opened my mouth with the intention of giving a scream. If it was my last one which might alarm the main guard. The man who held me see seemed to know my thoughts for even as i braced myself to it he whispered. Don’t make a noise. The fort is safe enough there are no rebel dogs on this side of the river. There was the ring of truth in what he said and i knew that if i raised my voice i was a dead man. I could read it in the fellows brown eyes. I waited therefore in silence to see what it was that they wanted from me. Listen to me sahib said the taller and fiercer of the pair the one whom they called Abdul oh la con. You must either be with us now or you must be silenced forever. The thing is to greater one for us to hesitate. Either you are heart and soul with us on your oath on the cross of the christians or your body this night shall be thrown into the ditch and we shall pass over to our brothers in the rebel army. There is no middle way. Which is it to be death or life. We can only give you three minutes to decide for the time is passing and all must be done before the rounds come again. How can i decide said i. You have not told me what you wanted me but i tell you now that if it is anything against the safety of the fort i will have no truck with it. So you can drive home your knife and welcome. It is nothing against the fort said he. We only ask you to do that which your countrymen come to this landfall. We ask you to be rich. If you will be one of us this night we will swear to you upon the naked knife and by the threefold oath which no sake was ever known to break that you shall have your fair share of the loot. A quarter of the treasure shall be yours we can say no farah. But what is the treasure then i asked. I am as ready to be rich as you can be. If you will but show me how it can be done. You will swear then said he by the bones of your father by the honor of your mother by the cross of your faith to raise no hand and speak no word against us either now or afterwards. I will swear it i answer it. Provided that the fort is not endangered. Then my comrade and i will swear that you shall have a quarter of the treasure which shall be equally divided among the four of us. There are but three said i know dost akhbar must have his share. We can tell the tale to you while we await them. Do you stand at the gate Muhammad sing and give notice of their coming. The thing stands thus saheb and i tell it to you because i know that an oath is binding upon a fairing gay and that we may trust you. Had you been a lying hindu. Though you had sworn by all the gods in their false temples your blood would have been upon the knife and your body in the water but the sikh knows the ink leishman and the englishman knows the seek. Harkin then to what i have to say. There is a Roger in the northern provinces who has much wealth. Though his lands a small. Much has come to him from his father and more still he has set by himself. For he is of a low nature and hoards his gold rather than spend it. When the troubles broke out he would be friends both with the lion and the tiger with the sepoy and with the companies raj. Soon however it seemed to him that the white man’s day was come for through all the land he could hear of nothing but of their death and their overthrow. Yet being a careful man he made such plans that come what might half at least of his treasure should be left to him. That which was in gold and silver he kept by him in the vaults of his palace but the most precious stones and the choicest pearls that he had he put in an iron box and sent it by a trusty servant who under the guise of a merch agent should take it to the fort at agra there to lie until the land is at peace. Thus if the rebels won he would have his money but if the company conquered his jewels would be saved to him. Having thus divided his horde he threw himself into the cause of the sea poise since they were strong upon his borders. By doing this Mark you sahib his property becomes the due of those who have been true to their salt. This pretended merchant who travels under the name of akhmed is now in the city of agra and desires to gain his way into the fort. He has with him his traveling companion my foster brother dust akbar who knows his secret. Dost akbar has promised this night to lead him to a side posten of the fort and has chosen this one for his purpose. Here he will come presently and here he will find Mohamed Singh and myself awaiting him. The places lonely and none shall know of his coming. The world shall know of the merchant akhmed no more but the great treasure of the raja shall be divided among us what say you to it sahib. In Westchester share the life of a man seems a great and a sacred thing but it is very different when there is fire and blood all round you and you have been used to meeting death at every turn. Whether accurate the merchant lived or died was a thing as light as air to me but at the talk about the treasure my heart turned to it and i thought of what i might do in the old country with it and how my folk would stare when they saw their ne’er do well coming back with his pockets full of gold my doors. I had therefore already made up my mind. Abdullah Khan however thinking that i hesitated press the matter more closely. Consider sahib said he. That if this man is taken by the commandant he will be hung or shot and his jewels taken by the government. So that no man will be a rupee the better for them. Now since we do the taking of him why should we not do the rest as well the jewels will be as well with us as in the company the coffers there will be enough to make every one of us rich men and great chiefs no one can know about the matter for here we are cut off from all men. What could be better for the purpose say again then sabe whether you are with us or if we must look upon you as an enemy. I am with you heart and soul said i. It is well he answered handing me back my file ok. You see that we trust you for your word like ours is not to be broken. We have now only to wait for my brother and the merchant. Does your brother know then of what you will do i asked. The plan is his he has devised it. We will go to the gate and share the watch with Mohamed sing. The rain was still falling steadily. For it was just the beginning of the wet season brown heavy clouds were drifting across the sky and it was hard to see more than a stone cast. A deep moat lay in front of our door but the water was in places nearly dried up and it could easily be crossed. It was strange to me to be standing there with those two wild punjabi is waiting for the man who was coming to his death. Suddenly my eye caught the glint of a shaded lantern at the other side of the moat. It vanished among the mound heaps and then appeared again coming slowly in our direction. Here they are i exclaimed. You will challenge him sahib as usual whispered Abdullah give him no cause for fear centers in with him and we shall do the rest while you stay here on guard have the lantern ready to uncover that we may be sure that it is indeed the man. The lights flickered onwards now stopping and now advancing. Until i could see two dark figures upon the other side of the moat. I let them scramble down the sloping bank splashed through the mire and climb halfway up to the gate before i challenged them. Who goes there said i in a subdued voice. Friends came the answer. I uncovered my lantern and threw a flood of light upon them. The first was an enormous seek with a black beard which swept nearly down to his cummerbund. Outside of a show i have never seen so tall a man. The other was a little fat round fellow with a great yellow turban and a bundle in his hand done up in a shawl. He seemed to be all in a quiver with fear for his hands twitched as if he had the aig you and his head kept turning to left and right with two bright little twinkling eyes like a mouse when he ventures out from his hole. It gave me the chills to think of killing him but i thought out of the treasure and my heart set as hard as a flint within me. When he saw my white face he gave a little cheer up of joy and came running up towards me. Your protection sahib he panted your protection for the unhappy merchant admit. I have travelled across rajputana that i might seek the shelter of the fort at agra. I have been robbed and beaten and abused by because i have been the friend of the company. It is a blessed night this when i am once more in safety. I and my poor possessions. What have you in the bundle i asked. An iron box he answered which contains one or two little family matters which are of no value to others but which i should be sorry to lose. Yet i am not a beggar and i shall reward you young sahib and your governor also. If he will give me the shelter i ask. I could not trust myself to speak longer with the man. The more i looked at his fat frightened face the harder did it seem that we should slay him in cold blood. It was best to get it over. Take him to the main guard said i. The two seeks closed in upon him on each side and the giant walked behind while they marched in through the dark gateway. Never was a man so compressed round with death. I remained at the gateway with the lantern. I could hear the measured tramp of their footsteps sounding through the lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased and i heard voices and a scuffle with the sound of blows. A moment later they came to my horror a rush of footsteps coming in my direction with a loud breathing of a running man. I turn my lantern down the long straight passage and there was the fat man running like the wind with a smear of blood across his face and close at his heels bounding like a tiger the great black bearded sikh with a knife flashing in his hand. I’ve never seen a man run so fast as that little merchant. He was gaining on the seek and i could see that if he once passed me and got to the open air he would save himself yet. My heart softened to him but again the thought of his treasure turned me hard and bitter i cast my fire lock between his legs as he raced past and he rolled twice over like a shot rabbit. Air he could stagger to his feet the seek was upon him and buried his knife twice in his side the man never uttered moan nor move muscle but lay where he had fallen. I think myself that he may have broken his neck with the fall you see gentlemen that i am keeping my promise. I’m telling you every work of the business just exactly as it happened whether it is in my favor or not. He stopped and held out his manacled hands for the whiskey and water which Holmes had brewed for him. For myself i confessed that i had now conceived the utmost horror of the man not only for this cold blooded business in which he had been concerned but even more for the somewhat flippant and careless way in which he narrated it it. Whatever punishment was in store for him i felt that he might expect no sympathy from me. Sherlock Holmes and Joan sat with their hands upon their knees deeply interested in the story but with the same disgust written upon their faces. He may have observed it for there was a touch of defiance in his voice and manner as he proceeded. It was all very bad no doubt said he. I should like to know how many fellows in my shoes would have refused a share of this loot when they knew that they would have their throats cut for their pains. Besides it was my life or his when once he was in the fort. If he had got out the whole business would come to light and i should have been court martialed and shot as likely as not. For people were not very lenient at a time like that. Go on with your story said Holmes shortly. While we carried him in Abdullah akhbar and i are fine weight he was too for all that he was so short. Mohammed Singh was left to guard the door we took him to a place which the sikhs had already prepared. It was some distance off. Where a winding passage leads to a guy great empty hall the brick walls of which were all crumbling to pieces. The earth floor had sunk in at one place making a natural grave. So we left admit the merchant there having first covered him over with loose bricks. This done we all went back to the treasure. It lay where he had dropped it when he was first attacked. The box was the same which now lies open upon your table. A key was hung by a silken cord to that carved handle upon the top. We opened it and the light of the lantern gleamed upon a collection of gems such as i have read of and thought about when i was a little lad at persia. It was blinding to look upon them. When we had feasted our eyes we took them all out and made a list of them. There were one hundred and forty three diamonds of the first water including one which has been called i believe the great mogul and is said to be the second largest stone in existence. Then there were ninety seven very fine emeralds and one hundred and seventy rubies. Some of which however were small. There were forty carbuncle two hundred and ten sapphires sixty one a gates and a great quantity of barrels on axes cat’s eyes turquoise and other stones the very names of which i did not know at the time though i have become more familiar with them since. Besides this there were nearly three hundred very fine pearls twelve of which was set in a gold coronet by the way these last had been taken out of the chest and were not there when i recovered it. After we had counted our treasures we put them back into the chest and carried them to the gateway to show them to mahomet Singh. Then we solemnly renewed our oath to stand by each other oh and be true to our secret. We agreed to conceal our loot in a safe place until the country should be at peace again and then to divided equally among ourselves. There was no use dividing it at present for if gems of such value were found upon us it would cause suspicion and there was no privacy in the fort nor any place where we could keep them. We carried the box therefore into the same hall where we had buried the body and there under certain bricks in the best preserved wall we made a hollow and put our treasure. We made careful note of the place and next day i drew four plans one for each of us and put the sign of the four of us at the bottom for we had sworn that we should each always act for all so that none might take advantage. That is an oath that i can put my hand to my heart and swear that i have never broken. Well there’s no use my telling you gentlemen what came of the Indian mutiny. After Wilson took Delhi and sir Colin relieved luck now the back of the business was broken. Fresh troops came pouring in. A nanosized made himself scarce over the frontier. A flying column under colonel great head came round to agra and Clay weird the panties away from it. Peace seemed to be settling upon the country and we four were beginning to hope that the time was at hand when we might safely go off with our shares of the plunder. In a moment however our hopes were shattered by our being arrested as the murderers of akhmed. It came about in this way. When the Roger put his jewels into the hands of akhmat he did it because he knew that he was a trusty man. They are suspicious folk in the east however so what does this Roger do but take a second even more trusty servant and set him to play the spy upon the first. The second man was ordered never to let achmat out of his sight and he followed him like his shadow. He went after him that night and saw him pass through the doorway. Of course he thought he had taken refuge in the fort and applied for admission there himself next day but could find no trace of akhmed. This seemed to him so strange that he spoke about it to a sergeant of guides who brought it to the ears of the commandant. A thorough search was quickly made and the body was discovered. Thus at the very moment that we thought that all was safe we were all for seized and brought to trial on a charge of murder. Three of us because we had held the gate that night and the fourth because he was known to have been in the company of the murdered man. Not a word about the jewels came out at the trial. For the Roger had been deposed and driven out of India so no one had any particular interest in them. The murder however was clearly made out and it was certain that we must all have been concerned in it. The three sikhs got penal servitude for life and i was condemned to death though my sentence was afterwards commuted into the same as the others. It was rather a queer position that we found ourselves in then there we were all four tied by the leg and with precious little chance of ever getting out again while we each held a secret which might have put each of us in a palace if we could only have made use of it. It was enough to make a man eat his heart out to have to stand the kick and the cuff of every petty Jack in office to have rice to eat and water to drink when that gorgeous fortune was ready for him outside just waiting to be picked up it might have driven me mad but i was always a pretty stubborn one so i just held on and bided my time. At last it seemed to me to have come. I was changed from agra Tim address and from there to Blair island in the andamans. There are very few white convicts at this settlement and as i had behaved well from the first i soon found myself a sort of privileged person. I was given a hut in hope town which is a small place on the slopes of mount Harriet and i was left pretty much to myself. It is a dreary fever stricken place and all beyond our little clearings was infested with wild cannibal natives who were ready enough to blow a poison darted us if they saw a chance. There was digging and ditching and yam planting and a dozen other things to be done so we were busy enough all day. Though in the evening we had a into ourselves. Among other things i learned to dispense drugs for the surgeon and picked up a smattering of his knowledge. All the time i was on the lookout for a chance of escape but it is hundreds of miles from any other land and there is little or no wind in those seas so it was a terribly difficult job to get away way. The surgeon dr somerton was a fast sporting young chap and the other young officers would meet in his rooms of an evening and play cards. The surgery where i used to make up my drugs was next to his sitting room with a small window between us often if i felt lonesome i use to turn out the lamp in the surgery and then standing there i could hear their talk and watch their play. I’m fond of a hand at cards myself and it was almost as good as having one to watch the others. There was major sharlto captain marsden and lieutenant bromley brown who were in command of the native troops and there was the surgeon himself and two or three prison officials crafty old hands who played a nice sly safe game a very snug little party they used to make. While there was one thing which very soon struck me and that was that the soldiers used always to lose and the civilians to win. Mind i don’t say that there was anything unfair but so it was. These prison chaps had done little else than play cards ever since they had been at the andamans and they knew each other’s game to a point while the others just play played to pass the time and threw their cards down anyhow. Night after night the soldiers got up. Poor men and the poorer they got the more keen they were to play. Major shelter was the hardest hit. He used to pay in notes and gold at first but soon it came to notes of hand and for big sums. He sometimes would win for a few deals just to give him heart and then the luck would set in against him worse than ever. All day he would wander about as black as thunder and he took to drinking a deal more than was good for him one night he lost even more heavily than usual. I was sitting in my heart when he and captain mawston came stumbling along on the way to their quarters they were bosom friends those two and never far apart. The major were is raving about his losses. It’s all up marsden he was saying as they passed my hut i shall have to send in my papers i am a ruined man. Nonsense old chap said the other slapping him upon the shoulder I’ve had a nasty face of myself but. That was all i could hear but it was enough to set me thinking. A couple of days later major shelter was strolling on the beach. So i took the chance of speaking to him. I wish to have your advice major said i. Well small what is it he asked taking his shirt from his lips. I wanted to ask you sir said i who is the proper person to whom hidden treasure should be handed over. I know where half a million worth lies and as i cannot use it myself i thought perhaps the best thing that i could do would be to hand it over to the proper authorities and then perhaps they would get my sentence shortened for me. Half a million small he gasped looking hard at me to see if i was in earnest. Quite that sir in jewels and pearls it lies there ready for any one and the queer thing about it is that the real owner is outlawed and cannot hold property so that it belongs to the first comer to government small he stammered to government but he said it in a halting fashion and i knew in my heart that i had got him. You think fencer that i should give the information to the governor general said i quietly. Well well you must not do anything rash or that you might repent. Let me hear all about it small. Give me the facts. I told him the whole story with small changes so that he could not identify the places. When i had finished he stood stock still and full of thought. I could see by the twitch of his lip that there was a struggle going on within him. This is a very important matter small he said at last. You must not say a word to anyone about it and i shall see you again soon. Two nights later he and his friend captain marsden came to my hut in the dead of the night with a lantern. I want you just to let captain marsden hear that story from your own lips small said he. I repeated it as i had told it before. It rings true i said he is good enough to act upon. Captain master nodded. Look here small said the major. We have been talking it over my friend here and i and we have come to the conclusion that this secret of yours is hardly a government matter after all but is a private concern of your own which of course you have the power of disposing of as you think best. Now the question is what price would you ask for it. We might be inclined to take it up and at least look into it if we could agree as to terms. He tried to speak in a cool careless way but his eyes were shining with excitement and greed. Why as to that gentleman i answered trying also to be cool but feeling as excited as he did. There is only one bargain which a man in my position can make. I shall want you to help me to my freedom and to her help my three companions to theirs we shall then take you into partnership and give you a fifth share to divide between you. He. Said he and a fifth share that is not very tempting. It would come to fifty thousand a piece said i but how can we gain your freedom you know very well that you ask an impossibility. Nothing of the sort i answered. I’ve thought it all out to the last detail. The only bar to our escape is that we can get no boat fit for the voyage and no provisions to last us for so long a time. There are plenty of little yachts and yours at Calcutta or Madras which would serve our turn well. Do you bring one over. We shall engage to get aboard her by night right and if you will drop us on any part of the Indian coast you will have done your part of the bargain. If there were only one he said. None at all i answered we have sworn it the four of us must always act together. You see mawston said he small is a man of his word he does not flinch from his friend. I think we may very well trust him. It’s a dirty business the other answered yet as you say the money would save our commissions handsomely. Well small said the major we must i suppose try and meet you. We must first of course test the truth of your story. Tell me where the box is head and i shall get leave of absence and go back to India in the monthly relief boat to inquire into the affair. Not so fast said i growing colder as he got hot. I must have the consent of my three comrades i tell you that it is four or none with us. Nonsense he broke in what have three black fellows to do with our agreement black or blue said i they are in with me and we all go together. While the matter ended by a second meeting at which Muhammad Singh Abdullah Khan and dost akbar were all present. We talked the matter over again and at last we came to an arrangement. We were to provide both the officers with charts of the part of the agra fort and Mark the place in the wall where the treasure was hid. Major shelter was to go to India to test our story. If he found the box he was to leave it there to send out a small yacht provisioned for a voyage which was to lie off rutland island and to which we were to make our way and finally to return to his duties. Captain marsden was then to apply for leave of absence to meet us at agra and there we were to have a final division of the treasure he taking the major share as well as his own. All this we sealed by the most solemn oaths that the mind could think or the lips utter. I sat up all night with paper and ink and by the morning i had the two charts already. Signed with the sign of four that is of Abdullah akbar Muhammad and myself. Well gentlemen i wear you with my long story and i know that my friend mr Jones is impatient to get me safely stowed in jokey. I’ll make it as short as i can. The villain sharlto went off to India but he never came back again. Captain marsden showed me his name among a list of passengers in one of the mail boats very shortly afterwards his uncle had died leaving him a fortune and he had left the army yet he could stoop to treat five men as he had treated us. Marsden went over to agra shortly afterwards and found as we expected that the treasure was indeed gone. The scoundrel had stolen it all without carrying out one of the conditions on which we had sold him the secret. From that day i lived only for vengeance. I thought of it by day and i nursed it by night. It became an overpowering absorbing passion with me. I cared nothing for the law nothing for the gallows to escape to track down shelter to have my hand upon his throat. That was my one thought. Even the agra treasure had come to be a smaller thing in my mind than the slaying of sharlto. Well. I have set my mind on many things in this life and never one which i did not carry out. Erie years before my time came. I have told you that i had picked up something of medicine. One day when doctor somerton was down with a fever. A little andaman islander was picked up by a convict gang in the woods he was sick to death and had gone to a lonely place to die. I took him in hand though he was as venomous as a young snake and after a couple of months i got him all right and able to walk he took a kind of fancy to me then and would hardly go back to his woods but was always hanging about my hut. I learned a little of his lingo from him and this made him all the fonder of me Tonga for that was his name was a fine boatman and owned a big roomy canoe of his own. When i found that he was devoted to me and would do anything to serve me. I saw my chance of escape. I talked it over with him. He was to bring his boat round on a certain night to an old wharf which was never guarded and there he was to pick me up i gave him directions to have several gods of water and a lot of Yang ems coconuts and sweet potatoes. He was staunch and true was little Tonga no man ever had a more faithful mate. At the knight named he had his boat at the wolf as it chanced however there was one of the convict guard down there. A vile patton who had never missed a chance of insulting and injuring me. I had always vowed vengeance and now i had my chance. It was as if fate had placed him in my way that i might pay my debt before i left the island. He stood on the bank with his back to me and his carbine on his shoulder. I looked about for stone to beat out his brains with but none could i see. Then a queer thought came into my head and showed me where i could lay my hand on a weapon. I sat down in the darkness and on strapped my wooden leg with three long hop ps i was on him. He put his carbine to his shoulder but i struck him full and knocked the whole front of his skull in. You can see the split in the word now where i hit him we both went down together for i could not keep my balance but when i got up i found him still lying quiet enough. I made for the boat and in an hour we were well out at sea. Tonga had brought all his earthly possessions with him his arms and his gods. Among other things he had a long bamboo spear and some andaman cocoanut matting with which i made a sort of sale. For ten days we were beating about trusting to luck and on the eleventh we were picked up by a trader which was going from Singapore to jiddah with a cargo of melee pilgrims. They were a rum crowd and Tonga and i soon managed to settle down among them. They had one very good quality they let you alone and asked no questions. Well if i were to tell you all the adventures that my little chairman i went through you would not thank me for i would have you here until the sun was shining. Here and there we drifted about the world something always turning up to keep us from London. All the time however i never lost sight of my purpose i would dream of shelter at night. One hundred times i have killed him in my sleep. At last however some three or four years ago we found ourselves in england. I had no great difficulty in finding where shelter lived and i set to work to discover whether he had realized the treasure or if he still had it. I made friends with someone who could help me i name no names for i don’t want to get anyone else in a hole and i soon found that he still had the jewels. Then i tried to get at him in many ways but he was pretty sly and had always to prize fighters besides his sons and his kitten mudguard on guard over him. One day however i got word that he was dying. I hurried at once to the garden mad that he should slip out of my clutches like that and looking through the wind bdo i saw him lying in his bed with his sons on each side of him. I’d have come through and taken my chance with the three of them. Only even as i looked at him his jaw dropped and i knew that he was gone. I got into his room that same night though and i searched his papers to see if there was any record of where he had hidden or jewels. There was not a line however so i came away bitter and savage as a man could be. Before i left i thought me that if i ever met my sikh friends again it would be a sir satisfaction to know that i had left some Mark of our hatred. So i scrolled down the sign of the four of us as it had been on the chart and i pinned it on his bosom. It was too much that he should be taken to the grave without some token from the men whom he had robbed and be fooled. We earned a living at this time by my exhibiting poor Tonga at fairs and other such places as the black cannibal. He would eat raw meat and dance his war dance. So we always had a hatful of pennies after a day’s work. I still heard all the news from pondicherry lodge and for some years there was no news to hear except that they were hunting for the treasure. At last however came what we had waited for so long. The treasure had been found. It was up at the top of the house in mr Bartholomew shelters chemical laboratory. I came at once and had a look at the place but i could not see how with my wooden leg i was to make my way up to it. I learned however about a trapdoor in the roof and also about mister to supper hour. It seemed to me that i could manage the thing easily through Tonga. I brought him out with me with a long rope wound round his waist he could climb like a cat and he soon made his way through the roof but as ill luck would have it Bartholomew salto was still in the room to his cost. Tonga thought he had done something very clever and killing him for when i came up by the rope i found him strutting about as proud as a peacock. Very much surprised was he when i made it him with the ropes end and cursed him for a little blood thirsty imp. I took the treasure box and let it down and then slid down myself having first left the sign of the four upon the table to show that the jewels had come back at last to those who had most right to them. Tonga then pulled up the rope closed the window and made off the way that he had come. I don’t know that i have as anything else to tell you. I’d heard a waterman speak of the speed of Smith’s launch the Aurora so i thought she would be a handicraft for our escape. I engaged with old Smith and was to give him a big sum if he got a safe to our ship he knew no doubt that there was some screw loose but he was not in our secrets. All this is the truth and if i tell it to you gentlemen it is not to amuse you for you have not done me a very good turn but it is because i believe the best defense i can make is just to hold back nothing but let all the world know how badly i have myself been served by major shelter and how innocent i am i of the death of his son. A very remarkable account said Sherlock Holmes a fitting wind up to an extremely interesting case. There is nothing at all new to me in the latter part of your narrative except that you brought your own rope. That i did not know. By the way i had hoped that Tonga had lost all his darts yet he managed to shoot one at us in the boat. He had lost them all sir except the one which was in his blowpipe at the time. Ah of course said Holmes i had not thought of that. Is there any other point which you would like to ask about asked the convict affably. I think not thank you my companion answered. Well Holmes said Anthony Jones. You are a man to be humid and we all know that you are a connoisseur of crime but do duty is duty and i have gone rather far in doing what you and your friend asked me. I shall feel more at ease when we have our storyteller here safe under lock and key the cab still waits and there are two inspectors downstairs. I am much obliged to you both for your assistance of course you will be wanted at the trial good night to you. Good night gentlemen both said Jonathan small. You first small remarked the wary Jones as they left the room. I’ll take particular care that you don’t club me with your wooden leg whatever you may have done to the gentleman at the andaman isles. Well and there is the end of our little drama i remarked we set some time smoking in silence. I fear that it may be the last investigation in which i shall have the chance of studying your methods. Miss marsden has done me the honor to accept me as a husband in perspective. He gave a most dismal grown. I feared as much said he. I really cannot congratulate you. I was a little hurt. Have you any reason to be dissatisfied with my choice i asked. Not at all. I think she is one of the most charming young ladies i ever met and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing. She had a decided genius that way witness the way in which she preserved that agra plan from all the other papers of her father but love is an emotional thing and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which i place above all things. I should never marry myself lest i bias my judgment i trust said i laughing that my judgment may survive the ordeal but you look weary. Yes the reaction is already upon me i shall be as ag for a week. Strange said i haue terms of what in another man i should call laziness alternate with your fits of splendid energy and vigor. Yes he answered. There are in me the makings of a very fine loafer and also have a pretty spry sort of fellow. I often think of those lines of old gutter shot das dinner to honor iron mench our dear schiff Denzel word again man were one zim shallman dashed off. By the way apropos of this norwood business you see that they had as i surmised a confederate in the house who could be none other than lau Raul the Butler so Jones actually has the undivided honor of having caught one fish in his great hall. The division seems rather unfair i remarked. You have done all the work in this business i get a wife out of it Jones gets the credit pray what remains for you. For me said Sherlock Holmes there still remains the cocaine bottle and he stretched his long white hand up for it. The adventures of Sherlock Holmes. A scandal in bohemia. Chapter one. To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene adler all emotions and that one particularly were abhorrent to his cold precise but admirably balanced mind. He was i take it the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position he never spoke of the softer passions save with a jibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer excellent for drawing the veil from men’s motives and actions but for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument or a crack in one of his own high power lenses would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his and yet there was but one woman to him and that woman was the late Irene adler. Of dubious and questionable memory. I’d seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other my own complete happiness and the home centered interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment was sufficient to absorb all my attention. While Holmes who loathed every form of society with his whole bohemian soul remained in our lodgings in baker st buried among his old books and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition. The drowsiness of the drug and the fierce energy of his own keen nature he was still as ever deeply attracted by the study of crime and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of all observation in following out those clues and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to time i heard some vague account of his doings. Of his summons to Odessa in the case of the trap of murder. Of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at trincomalee ally and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of his activity however which i merely shared with all the readers of the daily press. I knew little of my former friend and companion. One night it was on the twentieth of march eighteen eighty eight. I was returning from a journey to a patient for i had now returned to civil practice when my way led me through baker street. As i passed the well remembered door which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing and with the dark incidents of this study in Scarlet i was seized with a keen desire to see homes again and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms were brilliantly lit and even as i looked up i saw his tall spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly eagerly with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him to me who knew his every mood and habit his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again he had risen out of his drug created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own. His manner was not abusive it seldom was but he was glad i think to see me with hardly a word spoken but with a kindly eye he waved me to an armchair threw across his case of cigars and ind located a spirit case and a gathered gene in the corner. Then he stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular introspective fashion. Wedlock suits you he remarked. I think Watson that you have put on seven and a half pounds since i saw you. Seven i answered indeed i should have thought a little more just a trifle more i fancy Watson and in practice again i observe. You did not tell me that you intended to go into harness. Then how do you know. I see it i deduce it. How do i know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl. My dear Holmes said i this is too much you would certainly have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that i had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess but as i have changed my clothes i can’t imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane she is incorrigible and my wife has given her notice but there again i fail to see how you work it out. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long nervous hands together. It is simplicity itself said he. My eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe just where the firelight strikes it the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusts mud from it hence you see my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather and that you had a particularly malignant boot slitting specimen of the London slavery. As to your practice. If a gentleman walks into my room smelling of iota form with a black Mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger and a bulge on the right side of his top hat to show where he has secret ID his stethoscope i must be dull indeed if i do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction. When i hear you give your reasons i remarked the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that i could easily do it myself though at each successive instance of your reasoning i am baffled until you explain your process and yet i believe that my eyes are as good as yours. Quite so he answered lighting a cigarette and throwing himself down into an arm chair. You see but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room. Frequently. How often. Well well some hundreds of times. Then how many are there. How many i don’t know. Quite so you have not observed and yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now i know that there are seventeen steps because i have both seen and observed. By the way since you are interested in these little problems and since you are good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences you may be interested in this he threw over a sheet of thick pink tinted notepaper which had been lying open upon the table. It came by the last post said he. Read it aloud. The note was undated and without either signature or address. There will call upon you tonight at a quarter to eight o’clock it said. A gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all quarters received be in your chamber then at that hour and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask. This is indeed a mystery i remarked. What do you imagine that it means. I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts but the note itself. What do you deduce from it. I carefully examined the writing and the paper upon which it was written. The man who wrote it was presumably well to do i remarked endeavoring to imitate my companions processes. Such paper could not be bought and a half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff. Peculiar that is the very word said Holmes. It is not an English paper at all hold it up to the. I did so and saw a large e with a small g a p and a large g with a small t woven into the texture of the paper. What do you make of that asked Holmes. The name of the maker no doubt or his monogram rather. Not at all the gay with the smolt stands for gasol shaft which is the German for company. It is a customary contraction like our company p of course stands for papier. Now for the egg. Let us glance at our continental gazetteer. He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. A glow aglow nets here we are a greer. It is in a German speaking country in bohemia not far from carlsbad. Remarkable as being the scene of the day eth or violence Stein and for it’s numerous glass factories and paper mills haha my boy what do you make of that. His eyes sparkled and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette. The paper was made in bohemia i said precisely and the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence this account of you we have from all quarters received. A frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so and courteous to his verbs. It only remains therefore to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face and here he comes if i am not mistaken to resolve all our doubts. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horse’s hoofs and grating wheels against the curb followed by a sharp pull at the bell Holmes whistled. A pair by the sound said he. Yes he continued glancing out of the window. A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. One hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There’s money in this case Watson if there is nothing else. I think that i’d better go homes. Not a bit doctor stay where you are i am lost without my boswell and this promises to be interesting it would be a pity to miss it but your client never mind him i may want your help and so may he here he comes sit down in that armchair doctor and give us your best attention. A slow and heavy step which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap. Come in said Holmes. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would in england be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan was slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double breasted coat. While the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming barrel. Boots which extended halfway up his calves and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was subdued bested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad brimmed hat in his hand while he wore across the upper part of his face extending down past the cheekbones. A black vizard mask which he had apparently adjusted that very moment for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appear to be a man of strong character with a thick hanging lip and a long straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. You had my note he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. I told you that i would call. He looked from one to the other of us as if uncertain which to address. Pray take a seat said Holmes this is my friend and colleague doctor Watson who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases whom have i the honor to address. You may address me as the count Von cram a bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman your friend is a man of honor and discretion whom i may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not i should much prefer to communicate with you alone. I Rose to go but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. It is both or none said he. You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me. The count shrugged his broad shoulders. Then i must begin said he by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years. At the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it may have an influence upon European history. I promise said Holmes and i. You will excuse this mask continued our strange visitor. The August person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you and i may confess at once that the title by which i have just called myself is not exactly my own. I was aware of it said Holmes dryly. The circumstances are of great delicacy and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe to speak plainly the matter implicates the great house of ornstein hereditary kings of both hermia. I was also aware of that murmured Holmes settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Home slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client. If your majesty would condescend to state your case he remarked. I should be better able to advise you. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room and uncontrollable agitation then with a gesture of desperation he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. You are right he cried i am the king. Why should i attempt to conceal it. Why indeed murmured Holmes. Your majesty had not spoken before i was aware that i was addressing vilhelm god’s reich sigismund Von arm Stein grand Duke of cassel feldstein and hereditary king of bohemia but you can understand said our strange visitor sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead. You can understand that i am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person yet the matter was so delicate that i could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you. Then pray consult said Holmes shutting his eyes once more. The facts are briefly these. Some five years ago during a lengthy visit to Warsaw i made the acquaintance of the well known adventuress. Irene adler the name is no doubt familiar to you. Kindly look her up in my index doctor murmured Holmes without opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things so that it was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not at once furnish information. In this case i found her biography sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff commander who had written a monograph upon the deep sea fishes. Let me see said Holmes hm born in new Jersey in the year eighteen fifty eight contralto him la scala. Prima Donna imperial opera of Warsaw oh yes retired from operatic stage ha living in London quite so. Your majesty as i understand became entangled with this young person wrote her some compromising letters and is now desirous of getting those letters back. Precisely so but how. Was there a secret marriage. None. No legal papers or certificates. None. Then i fail to follow your majesty if this young person should produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes how is she to prove their authenticity. There is the writing. Pooh pooh forgery my private notepaper stolen. My own seal. Imitated my photograph. Bought. We were both in the photograph oh dear that is very bad. Your majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion. I was mad insane. You have compromised yourself seriously. I was only crown prince then i was young i am but thirty now. It must be recovered. We have tried and failed. Your majesty must pay it must be bought. She will not sell. Stolen than. Five attempts have been made twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house once we diverted her luggage when she traveled twice she has been waylaid there has been no result. No sign of it. Absolutely none. Holmes laughed. It is quite a pretty little problem said he but a very serious one to me return the king reproachfully very indeed and what does she propose to do with the photograph to ruin me but how. I am about to be married so i have heard to claw tail in Von sachsen minigun second daughter of the king of scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her family she is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end and Irene adler. Threatens to send them the photograph and she will do it. I know that she will do it. You do not know her but she has a soul of steel she has the face of the most beautiful of women and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than i should marry another woman there are no lengths to which she would not go none. You are sure that she has not sent it yet. I am sure and why. Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday. Oh. Then we have three days yet said Holmes with a yawn. That is very fortunate as i have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your majesty will of course stay in London for the present. Certainly you will find me at the langham under the name of the count Von krumm. Then i shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress. Pray do so i shall be all anxiety. Then as to money. You have carte blanche. Absolutely. I tell you that i would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph and for present expenses. The king took a heavy shammy leather bag from under his cloak oak and laid it on the table. There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes he said. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his notebook and handed it to him and mademoiselle his address he asked. His briony lodge serpentine Avenue st John’s wood. Home i took a note of it. One other question said he. Was the photograph a cabinet. It was. Then good night your majesty and i trust that we shall soon have some good news for you and good night Watson he added as the wheels of the royal brahim rolled down the street. If you will be good enough to call tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock i should i’d like to chat this little matter over with you. Pretty chapter two. At three o’clock precisely i was at baker street but homes had not yet returned. The landlady inform me that he had left the house shortly after eight o’clock in the morning. I sat down beside the fire however with the intention of awaiting him however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his inquiry for though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which i have already recorded still the nature of the case and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of it’s own. Indeed apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand. There was something in his masterly grasp of a situation and his keen incisive reasoning which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work and to follow the quick subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was i to his in very able success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head. It was close upon four before the door opened and a drunken looking groom ill camped inside whiskered with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes walked into the room. Accustomed as i was to my friends amazing powers in the use of disguises i had to look three times before i was certain that it was indeed he with a nod he vanished into the bedroom. Whence he emerged in five minutes tweed suited and respectable as of old. Putting his hands into his pockets he stretch i doubt his legs in front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes well rarely he cried and then he choked and laughed again until he was obliged to lie back limp and helpless in the chair. What is it. It’s quite too funny. I’m sure you could never guess how i employed my morning or what i ended by doing. I can’t imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the habits and perhaps the house of miss Irene adler. Quite so but the sequel was rather unusual i will tell you however i left the house a little after eight o’clock this morning in the character of a groom ow out of work. There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men be one of them and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found briony lodge it is a bijou villa with a garden at the back but built out in front right up to the road two stories chubb lock to the door large sitting room on the right side well furnished with long windows almost to the floor and those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Behind there was nothing remarkable save that the passage window could be reached from the top of the coach house. I walked around it and examined it closely from every point of view but without noting anything else of interest. I then lounge down the street and found as i expected that there was amuse in a Lane which runs down by one wall of the garden. I lent the ostler as a hand and rubbing down their horses and received in exchange two punts a glass of half and half two fills of shag tobacco and as much information as i could desire about miss adler to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the neighborhood in whom i was not in the least interested but whose biographies i was compelled to listen to. And what of Irene adler i asked. Oh she has turned all the men’s heads down in that part she’s the daintier thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the serpentine mews to a man. She lives quietly sings at concerts drives out at five every day and returns at seven sharp for dinner. Seldom goes out at other times except when she sings. Has only one male visitor but a good deal of him he is dark handsome and dashing never calls less than once a day and often twice he is a mr Godfrey Norton. Of the inner temple. See the ad advantages of a cadman as a confident. They had driven him home a dozen times from serpentine mews and knew all about him. When i had listened to all they had to tell i began to walk up and down near briony lodge once more and to think over my plan of campaign. This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter he was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the relation between them and what the object of his repeated visits was she his client his friend or his mistress. If the former she’d probably transferred the photograph to his keeping. If the latter. It was less likely. On the issue of this question depended whether i should continue my work at briony lodge or turn my attention to the gentleman’s chambers in the temple. It was a delicate point and it widened the field of my inquiry. I fear that i bore you with these details but i have to let you see my little difficulties if you are to understand the situ Asian. I am following you closely i answered. I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drove up to briony lodge and a gentleman sprang out he was a remarkably handsome man dark aqua line and mustached. Evidently the man of whom i had heard. He appeared to be in a great hurry shouted to the cadman to wait and brushed past the mayor aide who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at home. He was in the house about half an hour and i could catch glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting room pacing up and down talking excitedly and waving his arms of her i could see nothing. Presently he emerged looking even more flour read them before. As he stepped up to the cab he pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly. Drive like the devil he shouted first the gross and hankies in regent street and then to the church of st Monica in the edgware road half a Guinea if you do it in twenty minutes. Away they went and i was just wondering whether i should not do well to follow them went up the Lane came a neat little landau the coachman with his coat only half buttoned and his tie under his ear while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the buckles. It hadn’t pulled up before she shot out of the whole door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment nt but she was a lovely woman with a face that a man might die for. The church of st Monica John she cried and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes. This was quite too good to lose Watson. I was just balancing whether i should run for it or whether i should perch behind her lander when a cab came through the street. The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare but i jumped in before he could object. The church of st Monica said i and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes. It was twenty five minutes to twelve and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. My cabbie drove fast i don’t think i ever drove faster but the others were there before us. The cabin the lander with their steaming horses were in front of the door when i arrived. I paid the man and hurried into the chair. There was not a soul there save the to whom i had followed and a surplus clergyman who seemed to be exposed relating with them they were all three standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler who was dropped into a church. Suddenly to my surprise the three at the altar faced round to me and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me. Thank god he cried. You’ll do. Come come. What then i asked. Come and come only three minutes or it won’t be legal. I was half dragged up to the altar and before i knew where i was i found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear and vouching for things of which i knew nothing and generally assisting in the secure tying up of Irene adler spinster to Godfrey Norton bachelor. It was all done one in an instant and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady on the other while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the most preposterous position in which i ever found myself in my life and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just now. It seems that there had been some in formality about their licence. That the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a witness of some sort and that my lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to Sally out into the streets in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign and i mean to wear it on my watch chain in memory of the occasion. This is a very unexpected turn of affairs said i and what then. While i found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the pair might take an immediate departure and so necessitate very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church door however they separated he driving back to the temple and she to her own house. I shall drive out in the park at five as usual she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove away in different directions and i went off to make my own arrangements. Which are are. Some cold beef and a glass of beer he answered ringing the bell. I’ve been too busy to think of food and i’m likely to be busier still this evening. By the way doctor i shall want your cooperation. I shall be delighted. You don’t mind breaking the law. Not in the least. Nor running a chance of arrest. Not in a good cause. Oh the cause is excellent. Then i am your man. I was sure that i might rely on you but what is it you wish. When mrs Turner has brought in the tray i will make it clear to you. Now he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our landlady had provided. I must discuss it while i eat for i have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must be on the scene of action miss Irene Dean or madame rather returns from her drive at seven. We must be at briony lodge to meet her and what then. You must leave that to me. I’ve already arranged what is to occur. There is only one point on which i must insist you must not interfere come what may you understand. I am to be neutral to do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small unpleasantness do not join in it. It will end in my being conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the sitting room window will open. You are to station yourself close to that open window. Yes. You are to watch me for i will be visible to you. Yes and when i raise my hand so you will throw into the room what i give you to throw and will at the same time raise the cry of fire. You quite follow me. Entirely. It is nothing very formidable he said taking a long cigar shaped roll from his paw pocket. It is an ordinary plumbers smoke rocket fitted with a cap at either end to make itself lighting. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then walk to the end of the street and i will rejoin you in ten minutes i hope that i have made myself clear. I am to remain neutral to get near the window to watch you and at the signal to throw in this object then to raise the cry of fire and to wait you at the corner of the street. Precisely. Then you may entirely rely on me. That is excellent. I think perhaps it is almost time that i prepare for the new role i have to play. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded nonconformist Claire demon his broad black hat his baggy trousers his white tie his sympathetic smile and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity with such as mr John hair alone could have equaled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His expression his manner his very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor even as science lost an acute reasoner when he became a specialist in crime. It was a quarter past six when we left baker street and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of briony lodge waiting for the coming of it’s occupant. The house was just such as i had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes is succinct description but the locality appeared to be less private than i expected on the country for a small street in a quiet neighborhood it was remarkably animated there was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner a scissors grinder with his wheel two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse girl and several well dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths. You see remarked Holmes as we paced to and fro in front of the house this marriage rather simplifies matters the photograph becomes a double edged weapon now. The chance or that she would be as averse to it’s being seen by mr Godfrey Norton as our client is too it’s coming to the eyes of his Princess. Now the question is. Where are we to find the photograph. Where indeed. It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cabinet size too large for easy concealment about a woman’s dress. She knows that the king is capable of having her waylaid and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We may take it then that she does not carry it about with her. Were then. Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility but i am inclined to think neither women are naturally secretive and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she handed over to anyone else. She could trust her own garden and ship but she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a businessman besides remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house. But it has twice been burgled sure they did not know how to look but how will you look. I will not look what then. I will get her to show me but she will refuse. She will not be able to but i hear the Rumble of wheels it is her carriage. Now carry out my i orders to the letter. As he spoke the gleam of the sidelights of a carriage came round the curve of the Avenue. It was a smart little lander which rattled up to the door of briony lodge. As it pulled up one of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper but was elbowed away by another loafer. Who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out which was increased by the two guardsmen who took sides with one of the lounges and by the scissors grinder who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck and in an instant the lady who had stepped from her carriage was the center of a little not a flushed and struggling men who struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks six. Homes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady but just as he reached her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the lounges in the other while a number of better dressed people who had watched the scuffle without taking part in it crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the injured man. Irene adler as i will still call her had hurried up the steps but she said good at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall looking back into the street. Is the poor gentleman much hurt she asked he is dead cried several voices no no there’s life in him shouted another but he’ll be gone before you can get him to hospital. He’s a brave fellow said a woman. They would have had the ladies person watch if it hadn’t been for him. They were a gang and a rough one to. Ah he’s breathing now. In the street. May we bring him in ma’am. Surely bring him into the sitting room there’s a comfortable sofa this way please. Slowly and solemnly he was born into briony lodge and laid out in the principle room while i still observed the proceedings from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit but the blinds had not been drawn so that i could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with compunction and at that moment for the party was playing but i know that i never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when i saw the beautiful creature against whom i was conspiring or the grace and kindness with which she waited upon the injured man and yet it would be the blackest treachery to homes to draw back now from the part which he had into trusted to me. I hardened my heart and took the smoke rocket from under my elster. After all i thought we are not injuring her. We are but preventing her from injuring another. Homes had sat up upon the couch and i saw him motion like a man who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and through open the window. At the same instant i saw him raise his hand and at the signal i tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of fire. The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators well dressed and ill gentlemen all slurs and servant maids joined in a general shriek of fire thick clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures and a moment later the voice of homes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd i made my way to the corner of the street and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend’s arm in mine and to get away from the scene of uproar. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the edgware road. He did it very nicely doctor he remarked. Nothing could have been better. It is all right. You have the photograph. I know where it is and how did you find out. She showed me as i told you she would. I am still in the dark. I do not wish to make a mystery said he laughing. The matter was perfectly simple you of course saw that everyone in the street was an accomplice they were all engaged for the evening. I guessed as much. Then when the row broke out i had a little moist red paint in the palm of my hand i rushed forward for fell down clapped my hand to my face and became a piteous spectacle it is an old trick. That also i could fathom. Then they carried me in she was bound to have me in. What else could she do and into her sitting room which was the very room which i suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom and i was determined to see which. They laid me on the couch i motioned for air they were compelled to open the window and you had your chance. How did that help you. It was all important. When a woman thinks that her house is on fire. Her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse and i have more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me and also in the ons with castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby and unmarried one reaches for her Jewel box. Now it was clear to me that our lady of today had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably he done. The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel she responded beautifully. The photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right bell poll. She was there in an instant and i caught a glimpse of it as she half drew it out. When i cried out that it was a false alarm alarm she replaced it. Glanced at the rocket rushed from the room and i have not seen her since. I Rose and making my excuses escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once but the coachman had come in and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to wait. A little over precipitate ants may ruin all and now i asked our quest is practically finished i shall call with the king tomorrow and with you you if you care to come with us we will be shown into the sitting room to wait for the lady but it is probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his majesty to regain it with his own hands and when will you call. At eight in the morning she will not be up so that we shall have a clear field. Besides we must be prompt for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits i must wire to the king without delay. We had reached baker street and had stopped at the door he was searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said. Good night mister Sherlock Holmes. There were several people on the pavement at the time but the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had hurried by. I’ve heard that voice before said Holmes staring down the dimly lit street now i wonder who the deuce that could have been. Asked chapter three. I slept at baker street that night and we were engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning when the king of bohemia rushed into the room. You have really got it he cried grasping Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Not yet but you have hopes. I have hopes. Then come i’m all impatience to be gone. We must have a cab. Know my brew ham is waiting. Then that will simplify matters. We descended and started off once more for briony lodge. Irene adler is married remarked Holmes. Married when. Yesterday but to whom to an English lawyer named no orton but she could not love him. I am in hopes that she does and why in hopes. Because it would spare your majesty all fear of future annoyance. If the lady loves her husband she does not love your majesty. If she does not love your majesty there is no reason why she should interfere with your majesty’s plan. It is true and yet. Well. I wish he had been of my own station what a queen she would have made. He relapsed into a moody silence which was not broken until we drew up in serpentine Avenue. The door of briony lodge was open and an elderly woman stood upon the steps she watched us with a sardonic eye as we stay i’m from the bro im. Mister Sherlock Holmes i believe said she. I am mr Holmes answered my companion looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze. Indeed my mistress told me that you are likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the five fifteen train from CIA charing cross for the continent. What Sherlock Holmes staggered back white with chagrin and surprise. Do you mean that she has left england. Never to return and the papers asked the king horsley all is lost. We shall see. He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing room followed by the king and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction with dismantled shelves and open drawers as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell pull tore back a small sliding shutter and plunging in his hand pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene adler herself in evening dress. The letter was super scribed to Sherlock Holmes a squire to be left till called for. My friend tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way. My dear mr Sherlock Holmes you really did it very well you took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire i had not a suspicion but then when i found how i had betrayed myself i began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had been told that if the king employed an agent it would certainly be you and your address had been given me yet with all this you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after i became suspicious i found it hard to think evil of such a dear kind old clergyman but you know i have been trained as an actress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives i sent John the coachman to watch you ran upstairs got into my walking clothes as i call them and came down just as you departed. While i followed you to your door and so made sure that i was really an object of interest to the celebrated mister Sherlock Holmes then i a rather imprudently wished you good night and started for the temple to see my husband. We both thought the best resource was flight when pursued by so formidable an antagonist so you will find the nest empty when you call tomorrow. As to the photograph your client may rest in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The king may do what he will without hindrance from as cruelly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to possess and i remain dear mister Sherlock Holmes very truly yours. Irene Norton. Ne adler. What a woman. Oh what a woman cried the king of bohemia when we had all three read this epistle. Did i not tell you how quick and resolute she was. Would she not have made an admirable queen. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level. From what I’ve seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level to your majesty said Holmes coldly. I am sorry that i have not been able to bring your majesty’s business to a more successful conclusion. On the contrary my dear sir cried the king nothing could be more successful i know that her word is inviolate the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire. I’m glad to hear your majesty say so. I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way i can reward you. This ring. He slipped an emerald snake ring from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Your majesty has something which i should value even more highly said homes you have but to name it. This photograph the king stared at him in amazement. Irene’s photograph he cried. Certainly if you wish it. I thank your majesty then there is no more to be done in the matter i have the honor to wish you a very good morning he bowed and turning away without observing the hand which the king had stretched out to him he set off in my company for his chambers and that was how a great scandal threat and to affect the kingdom of bohemia and how the best plans of mister Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman’s wit. He used to make marry over the cleverness of women but i have not heard him do it of late and when he speaks of Irene adler or when he refers to her photograph it is always under the honorable title of the woman. The red headed league. I had called upon my friend mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the Autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout florid faced elderly gentleman with fiery red hair with an apology for my intrusion i was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me. You could not possibly have come at a better time my dear Watson he said cordially. I was afraid that you were engaged. So i am very much so. Then i can wait in the next room. Not at all. This gentleman mr Wilson. Has been my partner and help her in many of my most successful cases and i have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me and yours also. The stout gentleman half Rose from his chair and gave a Bob of greeting with a quick little questioning glance from his small fat encircled eyes. Try the city said Holmes relapsing into his armchair and putting his fingertips together. As was his custom when in judicial moods. I know my dear Watson that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle and if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures. Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me i observed. You will remember that i remarked the other day just before we went into the very simple problem presented by miss Mary sutherland. That for strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination. A proposition which i took the Liberty of doubting. You did doctor but nonetheless you must come round to my view for otherwise i shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be right. Now mr jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which i have listened to for some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes and occasionally indeed where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I’ve heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present case is an instance of crime or no not but the course of events is certainly among the most singular that i have ever listened to. Perhaps mister Wilson you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend dr Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me an anxious to have every possible detail from your lips. As a rule. When i have heard some slight indication of the course of events. I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance i am forced to admit that the facts are to the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the advertisement column with his head thrust forward it and the paper flattened out upon his knee i took a good look at the man and endeavored after the fashion of my companion to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. I did not gain very much however by my inspection our visitor bore every Mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman obese pompous and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Shepherds check trousers are not over clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front and a drab waistcoat with a heavy b brassy Albert chain and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. Afraid top hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether look as i would there was nothing remarkable about the man save his blazing red head and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes is quick i took in my occupation and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor. That he takes snuff. That he is a freemason. That he has been in China and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lay lately i can deduce nothing else. Mr gibb as Wilson started up in his chair with his forefinger upon the paper but his eyes upon my companion. How in the name of good fortune did you know all that mister Holmes he asked. How did you know for example that i did manual labor it’s as true as gospel for i began as a ship’s carpenter. Your hands my dear sir your right hand is quite a size larger than your left. You have worked with it and the muscles are more developed. Well the snuff then and the freemasonry. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you how i read that especially as rather against the strict rules of your order you use an arc and compass breast pin. Of course i forgot that but the writing. What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for five inches and the left one with a smooth patch near the elbow where you rest it upon the desk. Well but China. The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China. I’ve made a small study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the fish’s scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When in addition i see a China these coin hanging from your watch chain. The matter becomes even more simple. Mister jabez Wilson laughed heavily while i never said he i thought at first that you’d done something clever but i see that there was nothing in it after all. I begin to think Watson said Holmes. That i make a mistake in explaining. Omni ignore Tim pro magnifico. You know and my poor little reputation such as it is will suffer shipwreck if i’m so candid. Can you not find the advertisement mister Wilson. Yes I’ve got it now he answered with his thick red finger planted halfway down the column. Here it is. This is what began it all you just read it for yourself sir. I took the paper from him and read as follows to the red headed league on account of the bequest of the late Ezekiel Hopkins of Lebanon Pennsylvania usa. There is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the league to a salary of four pounds a week for purely nominal services all red head the men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person on Monday at eleven o’clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of the league seven pope’s court fleet street. What on earth does this mean i ejaculated after i had twice read over ordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair as was his habit when in high spirits. It is a little off the beaten track isn’t it said he and now mr Wilson off you go at scratch and tell us all about yourself your household and the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes you will first make a note doctor of the paper and the date. It is the morning chronicle of twenty seventh of April eighteen ninety just two months ago. Very good. Now mr Wilson. Well it is just as i have been telling you mister Sherlock Holmes said jabez Wilson mopping his forehead. I have a small pawnbrokers business at coburg square near the city. It’s not a very large affair and of late years it has not done more than just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants but now i only keep one and i would have a job to pay him but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the business. What is the name of this obliging youth asked Sherlock Holmes. His name is Vincent spalding and he’s not such a youth either. It’s hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assist mr Holmes and i know very well that he could better himself and earn twice what i am able to give him but after all if he is satisfied why should i put ideas in his head. Why indeed. You seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I don’t know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement oh he has his faults too said mr Wilson. Never was such a fellow for photography snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into it’s hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault but on the whole he’s a good worker there’s no vice in him. He is still with you i presume. Yes sir. He and a girl of fourteen who does a bit of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That’s all i have in the house for i am a widower and never had any family. We live very quietly sir the three of us and we keep a roof over our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more. The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spalding he came down into the office just this day eight weeks with this very paper in his hand and he says. I wish to the lord mr Wilson that i was a red headed man. Why that i asks. Why says he hears another vacancy on the league of the red headed men. It’s worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets it and i understand that there are more vacancies than there are men. So that the trustees are at their wits end what to do with the money. If my hair would only change color here’s a nice little crib already for me to step into. Why what is it then i asked. You see mr Holmes i am a very stay at home man and as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it i was often weeks on end without putting my foot over the doormat. In that way i didn’t know much of what was going on outside and i was always glad of a bit of news. Have you never heard of the league of the red headed men he asked with his eyes open. Never. Why i wonder at that. For you are eligible yourself for one of the vacancies and what are they worth i asked. Oh merely a couple of hundred a year but the work is slight and it need not interfere very much with one’s other occupations. Well. You can easily think that that made me prick up my ears for the business has not been over good for some years and an extra couple of hundred it would have been very handy. Tell me all about it said i. Well said he showing me the advertisement you can see for yourself that the league has a vacancy and there is the address where you should apply for particulars as far as i can make out the league was founded by an American millionaire Ezekiel Hopkins who was very peculiar in his ways he was himself red headed and he had a great sympathy for all red headed men. So when he died it was found that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands of trustees with instructions to apply the interest to the providing of easy births to men whose hair is of that color. From all i hear it is splendid pay and very little to do but said i there would be millions of red headed men who would apply. Not so many as you might think he answered. You see it is rarely confined to londoners and to grown men. This American had started from London when he was young and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. Then again i have heard it is no use you’re applying if your hair is light red or dark red or anything but real bright blazing fiery red. Now if you care to apply mr Wilson he would just walk in but perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact gentlemen as you may see for yourselves that my hair is of a very full and rich tint. So that it seemed to me that if there was to be s any competition in the matter i stood as good a chance as any man that i had ever met. Vincent spalding seemed to know so much about it that i thought he might prove useful. So i just ordered him to put up the shutters for the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday so we shut the business up and started off for the address that was given us in the advertisement. I never hoped to see such a sight as that again mr Holmes. From north south east and west every man who had a shade of red in his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet street was choked with red headed folk and pope’s court looked like a costas orange barrow. I should not have thought there were so many in the whole country as were brought together by that single advertisement. Every shade of color they were straw lemon orange brick Irish setter liver Clay but as spalding said there were not many who had the real vivid flame colored tint. When i saw how many were waiting i would have given it up in despair but Spaulding would not hear of it how he did it i could not imagine but he pushed and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd and right up to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream upon the stair some going up in hope and some coming back dejected but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found ourselves in the office. Your experience has been a most entertaining one remarked Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge pinch of snuff. Pray continue your very interest sting statement. There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table behind which sat a small man with a head that was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate as he came up and then he always managed to find some fault in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to be such a very easy matter after all. However when our turn came the little man was much more favorable to me than to any of the others and he ca closed the door as we entered so that he might have a private word with us. This is mr j b as Wilson said my assistant and he is willing to fill a vacancy in the league. And he is admirably suited for it the other answered he has every requirement i cannot recall when i have seen anything so fine. He took a step backward. Cocked his head on one side and gazed at my hair until i felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward rung my hand and congratulated me warmly on my success. It would be injustice to hesitate said he. He will however i am sure excuse me for taking an obvious precaution with that he seized my hair in both his hands and tugged until i yelled with the pain. There is water in your eyes said he as he released me. I perceived that all is as it should be but we have to be careful for we have twice been deceived by wigs and once by paint i could tell you tales of cobblers wax which would disgust you with human nature. He stepped over to the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the vacancy was filled. Groan of disappointment came up from below and the focal trooped away in different directions until there was not a redhead to be seen except my own and that of the manager. My name said he is mr Duncan Ross and i am myself one of the pensioners upon the fund left by a noble benefactor are you a married man mister Wilson have you a family. I answered that i had not. His face fell immediately. Dear me he said gravely that is very serious indeed. I’m sorry to hear you say that. The fund was of course for the propagation and spread of the red heads as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bachelor la. My face lengthened at this mister Holmes for i thought that i was not to have the vacancy after all but after thinking it over for a few minutes he said that it would be all right. In the case of another said he the objection might be fatal but we must stretch a point in favor of a man with such a head of hair as yours when shall to enter upon your new duties. While it is a little awkward for i have a business already said i. Oh never mind about that mr Wilson said Vincent Spaulding i should be able to look after that for you. What would be the hours i asked. Ten to two. Now a pawnbrokers business is mostly done of an evening mister homes especially Thursday and Friday evening which is just before pay day. So it would suit me very well to earn a little in the mornings. Besides i knew that my assistant was a good man and that he would see to anything that turned up that would suit me very well said i and the pay. Is four pounds a week and the work. Is purely nominal. What do you call purely nominal. While you have to be in the office or at least in the building the whole time. If you leave you forfeit your whole position forever the will is very clear upon that point you don’t comply with the conditions if you budge from the office during that time. It’s only four hours a day and i should not think of leaving said i. No excuse will avail said mr Duncan Ross neither sickness nor business nor anything else. There you must stay. Or you lose your bullet. And the work. Is to copy out the encyclopedia britannica. There is the first volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink pens and blotting paper but we provide this table and chair will you be ready tomorrow. Certainly i answered. Then good bye mister jibe as Wilson and let me congratulate you once more or on the important position which you have been fortunate enough to gain. He bowed me out of the room and i went home with my assistant hardly knowing what to say or do i was so pleased at my own good fortune. Well. I thought over the matter all day and by evening i was in low spirits again. For i had quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud though it’s object might be i could not imagine. It seemed altogether past belief that anyone could make such a will or that they would pay such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the encyclopedia britannica. Vincent spalding did what he could to cheer me up but by bedtime i had reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However in the morning i determined to have a look at it anyhow so i bought a penny bottle of ink and with a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper i started off for popes court. While to my surprise and delight everything was as right as possible. The table was set out ready for me and mr Duncan Ross was there to see that i got fairly to work. He started me off upon the letter a and then he left me but he would drop in from time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o’clock he bade me good day they complimented me upon the amount that i had written and locked the door of the office after me. This went on day after day mister Holmes and on Saturday the manager came in and plank down for golden sovereigns for my week’s work. It was the same next week and the same the week after every morning i was there at ten and every afternoon i left it too. By degrees mr Duncan Ross took to coming in only once of a morning and then after a time he did not come in at all. Still of course i never dared to leave the room for an instant for i was not sure when he might come and the bullet was such a good one and suited me so well that i would not risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away like this and i had written about abbots and archery and armor and architecture and attica and hoped with diligence that i might get onto the bs before very long. It cost me something in foolscap and i had pretty nearly filled a shelf with my writings. Then suddenly the whole business came to an end. To an end. Yes sir and no later than this morning i went to my work as usual at ten o’clock but the door was shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered onto the middle of the panel with attack. Here it is and you can read for yourself. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet of notepaper it read in this fashion. The red headed league has dissolved ninth of October eighteen ninety. Sherlock Holmes and i surveyed this curt announcement and the rueful face behind it until the comical side of the affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see that there is anything very funny cried our client flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. If you can do nothing better than laugh at me i can go elsewhere. No no cried Holmes shoving him back into the chair from which he had half risen. I really wouldn’t miss your case for the world it is most refreshingly unusual but there is if you will excuse my saying so something just a little funny about it. Prey what steps did you take when you found the card upon the door. I was staggered sir i did not know what to do then i called at the officers round but none of them seemed to know anything about it. Finally i went to the landlord who is an accountant living on the ground floor and i asked him if he could tell me what had become of the red headed league he said that he had never heard of any such body. Than i i asked him who mr Duncan Ross was he answered that the name was new to him. Well said i the gentleman at number four. What the red headed man. Yes. Oh said he. His name was William Morris he was a solicitor and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new prema ss were ready. He moved out yesterday. Where could i find him. Oh at his new offices he did tell me the address yes seventeen king Edward street near st Paul’s. I started off mr Holmes but when i got to that address it was a manufactory of artificial kneecaps. No one in it had ever heard of either mr William Morris or mr Duncan Ross. And what did you do then. Asked Holmes. I went home to saxe coburg square and i took the advice of my assistant but he could not help me in any way. He could only say that if i waited i should hear by post but that was not quite good enough mr Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place without a struggle so as i had heard that you were good enough to give advice to poor folk who are in need of it i came right away to you. And you did very wisely said Holmes. Your case is an exceedingly remarkable one and i shall be happy to look into it. From what you have told me i think that it is possible that graver issues hanging from it than might at first sight appear. Grave enough said mr job as Wilson. Why i have lost four pound a week. As far as you are personally concerned remarked Holmes i do not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary league. On the contrary you are as i understand richer by some thirty pounds to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which comes under the letter a you have lost nothing by them. No sir but i want to find out about them and who they are and what their object was in playing this prank if it was a prank upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them for it cost them two and thirty pounds we shall endeavour to clear up these points for you and first one or two questions mr Wilson. This assistant of yours who first called your attention to the advertisement how long had he been with you. About a month then. How did he come. In answer to an advertisement. Was he the only applicant. Know i had a dozen. Why did you pick him. Because he was handy and would come cheap. At half wages in fact. Yes. What is he like this Vincent spalding. Small stout built very quick in his ways no hair on his face though he’s not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead. Holmes sat up in his chair and considerable excitement. I thought as much said he have you ever observed that his ears pierced for earrings. Yes sir he told me that a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad. Who. Said Holmes sinking back in deep thought he is still with you. Oh yes sir i have only just left him and has your business been attended to in your absence. Nothing to complain of sir there’s never very much to do of a morning. That will do mister Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. Today is Saturday and i hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion. Well Watson said Holmes when our visitor had left us. What do you make of it all. I make nothing of it i answered frankly it is a most mysterious business. As a rule said Holmes the more bizarre thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace featureless crimes which are really puzzling. Just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify but i must be prompt over this matter. What are you going to do then i asked to smoke he answered it is quite a three pipe problem and i beg that you won’t speak to me for fifty minutes. He curled himself up in his chair with his thin knees drawn up to his hawk like nose and there he sat with his eyes closed and his black Clay pipe thrusting out if some strange bird. I’d come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep and indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly sprang out of his chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put his pipe down upon the mantlepiece. Sarah sat a place at the st James’s hall this afternoon he remarked what do you think Watson could your patients spare you for a few hours. I have nothing to do today my practice is never very absorbing. Then put on your hat and come. I’m going through the city first and we can have some lunch on the way. I observed that there is a good deal of German music on the program which is rather more to my taste than Italian or French it is introspective and i want to introspect. Come along. We traveled by the underground as far as aldersgate and a short walk took us to saxe coburg square. The scene of the singular story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky little shabby genteel place where four lines of dingy two story brick houses looked out into a small railed in enclosure where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Laurel bushes made a hard fight against a smoke laden and an congenial atmosphere. Three guilt balls and a brown board with jabez Wilson in white letters upon a corner house. Announced the place where our red headed client carried on his business this. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and looked at all over with his eyes shining brightly between pocket lids. Then he walked slowly up the street and then down again to the corner still looking keenly at the houses. Finally he returned to the pawnbrokers and hat ing thumped vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two or three times he went up to the door and knocked it was instantly opened by a bright looking clean shaven young fellow who asked him to step in. Thank you said Holmes. I only wish to ask you how you would go from here to the strand. Third right fourth left answered the assistant promptly closing the door. Smart fellow that observed homes as we walked away he is in my judgment the fourth smartest man in London and for daring i’m not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known something of him before. Evidently said i mr Wilson’s assistant counts for a good deal in this mystery of the red headed league. I’m sure that you inquired your way merely in order that you might see him. Not him. What then. The knees of his trousers and what did you see. What i expected to see. Why did you beat the pavement. My dear doctor this is a time for observation not for talk. We are spies in an enemy’s country. We know something of saxe coburg square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the corner from the retired saxe coburg square presented as greater contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the city to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing in it double tied inward and outward while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was difficult to realize as we looked at the line of fine shops and stately business premises that they really are buttered on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which we had just quitted. Let me see said Holmes standing at the corner and glancing along the line. I should like just to remember the order of the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of London. There is Mortimer’s the tobacconist the little newspaper shop the coburg branch of the city and suburban bank the vegetarian res durant and macfarlane’s carriage building depot. That carries us right onto the other block and now doctor we’ve done our work so it’s time we had some play. A sandwich and a cup of coffee and then off to violin land where all is sweetness and delicacy and Harmony and there are no red headed clients to vex us with their conundrums. My friend was an enthusiastic musician. Being himself not only a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect happiness gently waving his long thin fingers in time to the music while his gently smiling face and his languid dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound Holmes the relentless keen witted ready handed criminal agent as it was possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature alternately asserted itself and his extreme exactness and astuteness represented as i have often thought the reaction against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from extreme lack anger to devouring energy and as i knew well he was never so truly formidable as when for days on end he had been lounging in his arm chair amid his improvisations and his black letter additions then it was that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him and that his brilliant reasoning power power would rise to the level of intuition until those who are unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as an a man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When i saw him that afternoon so in wrapped in the music at st James’s hall i felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set himself to hunt down. You want to go home no doubt doctor he remarked as we emerged yes it would be as well and i have some business to do which will take some hours. This business at coburg square is serious. Why serious. A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to believe that we shall be in time to stop it but today being Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help tonight. At what time to will be early enough. I shall be at baker street at ten. Very well and i say doctor there may be some little danger so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket he waved his hand turned on his heel and disappeared in an instant among the crowd. I trust that i am not more dense than my neighbors but i was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with Sherlock Holmes here i had heard what he had heard i had seen what he had seen and yet from his words it was evident that he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to happen. While to me the whole business was still confused and grotesque. As i drove home to my house in Kensington i thought over it all. From the extraordinary story of the red headed copier of the encyclopedia down to the visit to saxe coburg square and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. What was this nocturnal expedition and why should i go armed. Where were we going and what were we to do. I had the hint from homes that this smooth faced pawnbrokers assistant was a formidable man a man who might play a deep game. I tried to puzzle it out but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside until night should bring an explanation. It was a quarter past nine when i started from home and made my way across the park and so through Oxford street to baker street to handsome were standing at the door and as i entered the passage i heard the sound of voices from above. On entering his room i found homes in animated conversation with two men one of whom i recognized as Peter Jones the official police agent while the other was a long thin sad faced man with a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock coat. Ha. Our party is complete said Holmes buttoning up his pea jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Watson i think you know mr Jones of Scotland yard. Let me introduce you to mr meriwether who is to be our companion in tonight’s adventure. Where hunting in couples again doctor you see said Jones in his consequential way. Our friend here is a wonderful man for starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the running down. I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase observed mr meriwether gloomily. You may place considerable confidence in mister home sir said the police agent lawfully he has his own little methods which are if he won’t mind my saying so. Just a little too theoretical and fantastic but he has the makings of a detective in him. It is not too much to say that once or twice as in that business of the sharlto murder and the agra treasure. He’s been more nearly correct than the official force. Oh if you say so mr Jones. It is all right said the stranger with deference. Still i confess that i miss my rubber. It is the first Saturday night for seven and twenty years that i have not had my rubber. I think you will find said Sherlock Holmes. That you will play for a higher stake tonight than you have ever done yet and that the play will be more exciting. For you mr meriwether the stake will be some three zero zero zero zero pounds and for you Jones it will be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands. Play the murderer thief smasher and forger. He’s a young man mr meriwether but he is at the head of his profession and i would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London. He’s a remarkable man his young John Clay. His grandfather was a royal Duke and he himself has been to eat eton and Oxford his brain is as cunning as his fingers and though we meet signs of him at every turn we never know where to find the man himself. He’ll crack a crib in Scotland one week and be raising money to build an orphanage in cornwall the next I’ve been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yet. I hope that i may have the pleasure of introducing you tonight. I’ve had one or two little terns also with mr John Clay and i agree with you that he’s at the head of his profession. It is past ten however and quite time that we started. If you two will take the first handsome Watson and i will follow in the second. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas lit streets until we emerged into farrington street. We are close there now my friend remarked this fellow meriwether is a bank director and personally interested in the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He’s not a bad fellow though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He has one positive virtue he is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are and they are waiting for us. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed and following the guidance of mr meriwether we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door which he opened for us. Within there was a small corridor which ended in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened and led down a flight of winding stone steps which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr meriwether stopped to light a lantern and then conducted us down a dark earth smelling passage and so after opening a third door into a huge vault or cellar which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes. You are not very vulnerable from above Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about doubt him. Nor from below said mr meriwether striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor why dear me it sounds quite hollow he remarked looking up in surprise. I must really ask you to be a little more quiet said Holmes severely. You have already imperiled the whole success of our expedition. Might i beg that you would have the goodness us to sit down upon one of those boxes and not to interfere. The solemn mr meriwether perched himself upon a crate with a very injured expression upon his face while homes fell upon his knees upon the floor and with a lantern and a magnifying lens began to examine my neatly the cracks between the stones ns. A few seconds suffice to satisfy him for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket. We have at least an hour before us he remarked. For they can hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then they will not lose a minute for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at present doctor as no doubt you have divined in the cellar of the city branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr meriwether is the chairman of directors and he will explain to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present. It is our French gold whispered the director we have had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it. Your French gold yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources and borrowed for that purpose thirty thousand napoleons from the bank of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to unpack the money and that it is still lying in our cellar. The crate upon which i sit contains two thousand napoleons pact between layers of lead foil. Are reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is usually kept in a single branch office and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject. Which were very well justified observed homes and now it is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime mr meriwether we must put the screen over that dark lantern and sit in the dark. I’m afraid so i had brought a pack of cards in my pocket and i thought that. As we were a party carry. You might have your rubber after all but i see that the enemy’s preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light and first of all. We must choose our positions. These are daring men and though we shall take take them at a disadvantage they may do some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then when i flash a light upon them close in swiftly. If they fire Watson have no compunction about shooting them down. I placed my revolver cocked upon the top of the wooden case behind which i crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness. Such an absolute darkness as i have never before experienced. The smell of hot metal remain to assure us that the light was still there. Ready to flash out at a moment’s notice to me with my nerves worked up to a pitch of expectancy. There was something depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom and in the cold dank air of the vault. They have but one retreat whispered homes that is back through the house into saxe coburg square. I hope that you have done what i asked you Jones. I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door. Then we have stopped all the holes and now we must be silent and wait. What a time it seemed. From comparing notes afterwards it was but an hour and a quarter yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were weary and stiff. For i feared to change my position yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension and my hearing he was so acute that i could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions but i could distinguish the deeper heavier in breath of the bulky Jones from the thin sighing note of the bank director. From my position i could look over the case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it lengthened out until it became a yellow line and then without any warning or sound a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared of white almost womanly hand. Which felt about in the center of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hand with it’s writhing fingers protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared and all was dark again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones. It’s disappearance however was but momentary with a rending tearing sound one of the broad white stones turned over upon it’s side and left a square gaping hole through which stream the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peep to clean cut boyish face which looked keenly about it and then with a hand on either side of the aperture drew itself shoulder high and waist high until one knee rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after him a companion. Lie then small like himself with a pale face and a shock of very red hair. It’s all clear he whispered have you the chisel in the bags great Scott jump Archie jump and I’ll swing for it. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seize the intruder by the collar. The other dive down the hole and i heard the sound of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed upon the barrel of a revolver but Holmes’s hunting crop came down on the man’s wrist and the pistol clinked upon the stone floor. It’s no use John Clay said Holmes blandly. You have no chance at all. So i see the other answered with the utmost coolness. I fancy that my pal is all right though i see you have got his coat tails. There are three men waiting for him at the door said Holmes oh indeed you seem to have done the thing very completely i must compliment you. And i you Holmes answered. Your red headed idea was very new and effective. You’ll see your pal again presently said Jones he’s quicker at climbing down holes than i am just hold out while i fix the darby’s. I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You may not be aware that i have royal blood in my veins have the goodness also when you address me always to say sir and please. Alright said Jones with a stare and a snigger. Well would you please sir march upstairs where we can get a cab to carry your highness to the police station. That is better said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the detective. Really mr Holmes said mr meriwether as we followed them from the seller. I do not know how the bank can thank you or repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience. I have had add one or two little scores of my own to settle with mr John Clay said homes. I been at some small expense over this matter which i shall expect the bank to refund but beyond that i am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in many ways unique and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of of the red headed league. You see Watson he explained in the early hours of the morning as we sat over a glass of whiskey and soda in baker street. It was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the league and the copying of the encyclopedia must be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out out of the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it but really it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was no doubt suggested to Clay’s ingenious mind by the color of his accomplices hair. The four pounds a week was allure which must draw him and what was it to them mm who were playing for thousands. They put in the advertisement one rogue has the temporary office the other rogue incites the man to apply for it and together they managed to secure his absence every morning in the week. From the time that i heard of the assistant having come for half wages it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for securing the situation. But how could you guess what the motive was had there been women in the house i should have suspected a mere vulgar intrigue that however was out of the question. The man’s business was a small one and there was nothing in his house which could account for such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were at. It must then be something out of the house what could it be. I thought of the assistants fondness for photography and his trick of vanishing into the cellar. The cellar. There was the end of this tangled clue. Then i made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that i had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London. He was doing something in the cellar something which took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be once more. I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some other building. So far i got when we went to visit the scene of action i surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ascertaining whether the seller stretched out in front or behind it was not in front. Then i rang the bell and as i hoped the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes but we had nev ever set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his face. His knees were what i wished to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn wrinkled and stained they were. They spoke of those hours of borrowing the only remaining point was what they were borrowing for. I walked round the corner saw the city and suburban bank about it on our friends premises and felt that i had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert i called upon Scotland yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors with the result that you have seen. And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight i asked. Well when they closed their league offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about mr j b as Wilson’s presence. In other words that they had completed their tunnel but it was essential that they should use it soon as it might be discovered or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any other day as it would give them two days for their escape. For all these reasons i expected them to come to night. You reasoned it out beautifully i exclaimed an unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain and yet every link rings true. It saved me from one way he answered yawning the last i already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the common places of existence. These little problems helped me to do so. And you are a benefactor of the race said i. He shrugged his shoulders well perhaps after all it is of some little use he remarked. Lom says her young lover says to. As gustave flaubert wrote to George sand. A case of identity. My dear fellow said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side of the fire in his lodgings at baker street. Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are rarely mere commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hand in hand hover over this great city gently remove the roofs and peep in at the queer things which are going on. The strange coincidences the planning’s the cross purposes the wonderful chains of events working through generations and leading to the most oo tray results it would make all the fic action with it’s conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable. And yet i am not convinced of it i answered. The cases which come to light in the papers are as a rule bold enough and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to it’s extreme limits and yet the result is it must be confessed neither fascinating nor artistic. A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a realistic effect remarked Holmes. This is wanting in the police report. Where more stress is laid perhaps upon the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details which to an observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Dipper and upon it there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace. I smiled and shook my head. I can quite understand your thinking so i said. Of course in your position of unofficial adviser and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled throughout three continents. You are brought in contact with all that is strange and bizarre but here i picked up the mall the paper from the ground. Let us put it to a practical test here is the first heading upon which i come. A husband’s cruelty to his wife. There is half a column of print but i know without reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is of course the other woman the drink the push the blow the bruise the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of writers could invent nothing more crude. Indeed your example is an unfortunate one for your argument said Holmes taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. This is the dunder separation case and as it happens i was engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with it the husband was a teetotaller there was no other woman and the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling them at his wife which he you will allow. Is not an action likely to occur to the imagination of the average storyteller. Take a pinch of snuff doctor and acknowledge that i have scored over you in your example. He held out his snuff box of old gold with a great amethyst in the center of the lid. It’s splendor was in psa such contrast to his homely ways and simple life that i could not help commenting upon it. I said he i forgot that i had not seen you for some weeks. It is a little souvenir from the king of bohemia in return for my assistance in the case of the Irene adler papers and the ring i asked glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger. It was from the reigning family of Holland though the matter in which i served them was of such delicacy that i cannot confide it even to you who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of my little problems and have you any on hand just now i asked with interest. Some ten or twelve but none which present any feature of interest. They are important you understand without being interesting. Indeed i have found that it is usually in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the simpler. For the bigger the crime the more obvious as a rule is the motive. In these cases save for one rather intricate matter which has been referred to me from Marseille there is nothing which presents any features of interest. It is possible however that i may have something better before very many minutes are over. For this is one of my clients or i am much mistaken. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral tinted London street. Looking over his shoulder i saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy for a bow around her neck and a large curling red feather in a broad brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear. This great panoply she peeped up in a nervous hesitating fashion at our windows while her body oscillated backward and forward and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons. Suddenly with a plunge as of the swimmer who leaves the bank she hurried across the road and we heard the sharp clang of the bell well. I have seen those symptoms before said Holmes throwing his cigarette into the fire. Oscillation upon the pavement always means an affair to occur. She would like advice but is not sure that the matter is not too delicate for communication and yet even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seen seriously wronged by a man she no longer oscillates and the usual symptom is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love matter but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed or grieved but here she comes in person to resolve our doubts. As he spoke there was a tap at the door and the boy and buttons entered to announce miss Mary sutherland while the lady herself loomed behind his small black figure like a full sailed merchant man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable and having closed the door and bowed her into an arm chair he looked her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was peculiar to him. Do you not find he said. That with your short sighted is a little trying to do so much typewriting. I did at first she answered but now i know where the letters are without looking. Then. Suddenly realizing the full purport of his words she gave a violent start and looked up with fear and astonishment upon her broad good-humoured face. You’ve heard about me mr Holmes she cried else how could you know all that. Never mind said Holmes laughing it is my business to know things. Perhaps I’ve trained myself to see what others overlook. If not. Why should you come to consult me. I came to usa because i heard of you from mrs Etheridge whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had given him up for dead. Oh mr Holmes. I wish he would do as much for me i’m not rich but still i have one hundred a year in my own right besides the little that i make by the machine and i would give it all all to know what has become of mr hosmer angel. Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry I’ll Sherlock Holmes with his fingertips together and his eyes to the ceiling. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of miss Mary sutherland. Yes i did bang out of the house she said for it made me angry to see the easy way in which mr windy bank that is my father took it all. He would not go to the police and he would not go to you and so at last as he would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done it made me mad and i just on with my things and came right away to you. Your father said Holmes your step father surely since the name is different. Yes my step father i call him father though it sounds funny too for he is only five years and two months older than myself and your mother is alive. Oh yes mother is alive and well. I wasn’t best pleased mr Holmes when she married again so soon after father’s death and a man who is nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was a plumber in the Tottenham court road and he left a tidy business behind him which mother carried on with mr Hardy the foreman but when mr windy bank came he made her sell the business for he was very superior being a traveler in wines they got four thousand seven hundred pounds for the goodwill and interest which wasn’t near as much as father could have got if he had been alive. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this rambling and inconsequential narrative but on the contrary he had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Your own little income he asked does it come out of the business. Oh no sir it is quite separate and was left me by my uncle ned in Oakland. It is a new Zealand stock paying four and a half percent two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount but i can only touch the interest. You interest me extremely said Holmes and since you draw so as some as one hundred a year with what you earn into the bargain you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely upon an income of about sixty pounds. I could do with much less than that mister Holmes but you understand that as long as i live at home i don’t wish to be a burden to them and so they have the use of the money just while i’m staying with them. Of course that is only just for the time. Mr the bank draws my interest every quarter and pays it over to mother and i find that i can do pretty well with what i earn at typewriting. It brings me to pence a sheet and i can often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day. You have made your position very clear to me said Holmes this is my friend doctor Watson before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your connection with mr hosmer angel. A flush stole over miss sutherland’s face and she picked nervously at the fringe of her jacket. I met him first at the gas fitters ball she said. They used to send father tickets when he was alive and then afterwards they remembered us and sent them to mother. Mister when the bank did not wish us to go he never did wishes to go anywhere he would get quite mad if i wanted so much as to join a Sunday school treat but this time i was set on going and i would go. For what right had he to prevent. He said the folk were not fit for us to know when all father’s friends were to be there and he said that i had nothing fit to wear when i had my purple plush that i had never so much as taken out of the draw at last when nothing else would do he went off to France upon the business of the firm but we went mother and i with mr Hardy who used to be our foreman and it was there i met mr hosmer angel. I suppose said Holmes that when mr window bank came back from France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball. Oh well he was very good about it. He laughed i remember and shrugged his shoulders and said there was no use denying anything to a woman for she would have her way. I see. Then at the gas fitters ball you met as i understand. A gentleman called mr hosmer angel. Yes sir. I met him that night and he called next day to ask if we had got home all safe and after that we met him. That is to say mr Holmes i met him twice for walks but after that father came back again and mr hosmer angel could not come to the house any more. No. Well you know father didn’t like anything of the sort he wouldn’t have any visitors if he could help it and he used to say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle but then as i used to say to mother a woman once her own circle to begin with and i had not got mine yet but how about mr hosmer angel did he make no attempt to see you. While father was going off to France again in a week and hosmer wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime and he used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning so there was no need for father to know. Will you engage to the gentleman at this time. Oh yes mister Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that we took. Hosmer mr angel was a cashier in an office in leadenhall street and. What office. That’s the worst of it mr Holmes i don’t know. Where did he live then. He slept on the premises and you don’t know his address. No except that it was leadenhall street. Where did you address your letters then to the leadenhall street post office to be left till called for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be chuffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady so i offered to type write them. Like he did his but he wouldn’t have that for he said that when i wrote them they seemed to come from me but when they were typewritten he always felt that the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he was of me mr Holmes and the little things that he would think of. It was most suggestive said Holmes. It has long been an axiom of mind that the little things are infinitely the most important. Can you remember any other little things about mr hosmer angel. He was a very shy man mister Holmes he would rather walk with me in the evening than in the daylight for he said that he hated to be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his voice was gentle he’d had the quinsey and swollen glands when he was young he told me and it had left him with a weak throat and a hesitating whispering fashion of speech. He was always well dressed very neat and plain but his eyes were weak. Just as minor and he wore tinted glasses against the glare. Well and what happened when mr windy bank your stepfather returned to France. Mr hosmer angel came to the house again and proposed that we should marry before father came back. In dreadful earnest and made me swear with my hands on the testament that whatever happened i would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite right to make me swear and that it was a sign of his passion. Mother was all in his favor from the first and was even fonder of him than i was. Then when they talked of marrying within the week i began to ask about father but they both said never to mind about father but just to tell him afterwards and mother said she would make it all right with him. I didn’t quite like that mr Holmes. It seemed funny that i should ask his leave as he was only a few years older than me but i didn’t want to do anything on the sly so i wrote to father at Bordeaux where the company has it’s French offices but the letter came back to me on the very morning of the wedding. It missed him then. Yes sir for he had started to england just before it arrived. Ha. That was unfortunate your wedding was arranged then for the Friday. Was it to be in church. Yes sir but very quietly. It was to be at st savior’s near king’s cross and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the st pancras hotel. Hosmer came for us in a handsome but as there were two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a four Wheeler which happened to be the only other cab in the street. We got to the church first and when the four Wheeler drove up we waited for him to step out but he never did and when the cadman got down from the box and looked there was no one there. The cadman said that he could not imagine what had become of him for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was last Friday mr Holmes and i have never seen or heard anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him. It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated said Holmes. Oh no sir he was too good and kind to leave me so why all the morning he was saying to me that. Whatever happened i was to be true and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to separate us i was always to remember that i was pledged to him and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seems strange talk for a wedding morning but what has happened since gives a meaning to it. Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is then that some unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him. Yes sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger or else he would not have talked so and then i think that what he foresaw happened but you have no notion as to what it could have been. None. One more question. How did your mother take the matter. She was angry and said that i was never to speak of the matter again. And your father. Did you tell him. Yes. And he seemed to think with me that something had happened and that i should hear of hosmer again. As he said what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the church and then leaving me. Now if he had borrowed my money or if he had married me and got my money settled on him there might be some reason but hosmer was very independent about money and never would look at a shilling of mine and yet. What could have happened and why could he not right. Oh it drives me half mad to think of it and i can’t sleep a wink at night. She pulled a little handkerchief out of her mouth and began to sob heavily into it. I shall glance into the case for you said homes rising and i have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the weight of the matter rest upon me now and do not let your mind dwell upon it further. Above all try to let mister hosmer angel vanish from your memory as he has done from your life. Then you don’t think I’ll see him again. I fear not. Then what has happened to him. You will leave that question in my hands i should like an accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can spare. I advertised for him in last Saturday’s chronicle said she. Here is the slip and here are four letters from him. Thank you and your address. No thirty one Lyon place camberwell. Mr angels address you never had i understand where is your father’s place of business. He travels for west house and ma bank the great claret importers of fenchurch street thank you you have made your statement very clearly. You will leave the papers here and remember the advice which i have given you let the whole incident be a sealed book and do not allow it to affect your life. You are very kind mr Holmes but i cannot do that i shall be true to hosmer he shall find me ready when he comes back. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face. There was something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the table and went away with a promise to come again whenever she might be summoned. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips still pressed together his legs stretched out in front of him and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down from the rack the old and oily Clay pipe which was to him as a counselor and having lit it he leaned back in his chair with a thick blue cloud wreath spinning up from him and a look of infinite langur in his face. Quite an interesting study that maiden he observed. I found her more interesting than her little problem which by the way is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases if you consult my index in andover in seventy seven and there was something of the sort at the hague last year. Old as is the idea however there were one two details which were new to me but the maiden herself was most instructive. You appear to read a good deal upon her which was quite invisible to me i remarked. Not invisible but unnoticed Watson you did not know where to look and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves the suggestiveness of thumbnails or the great issues that may hang from a boot lace. Now what did you gather from that woman’s appearance do describe it. While she had a slate coloured broad brimmed straw hat with a feather of a British red. Her jacket was black with black beads sewn upon it and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her dress was brown rather darker than coffee color with a little purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and were worn through at the right forefinger her boots i didn’t observe. She had small round hanging gold earrings and a general air of being fairly well to do in a vulgar comfortable easy going way. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Upon my word Watson you are coming along wonderfully. You have really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed everything of importance but you have hit upon the method and you have a quick eye for color. Never trust a general impressions my boy but concentrate yourself upon details my first glance is always at a woman’s sleeve. In a man it is perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you observe this woman had plush upon her sleeves which is the most useful material for showing traces. The double line a little above the rest were the British presses against the table was beautifully defined. The sewing machine of the hand type leaves a similar Mark but only on the left arm and on the side of it farthest from the thumb. Instead of being right across the broadest part. As this was. I then glanced at her face and observing the didn’t have a pen sneeze at either side of her nose i venture to remark upon short sight and typewriting which seemed to surprise her. It surprise me but surely it was obvious. I was then much surprised and interested on glancing down to observe that. Though the boots which she was wearing were not unlike each other. They were really odd ones. The one having a slightly decorated toecap and the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower buttons out of five and the other at the first third and fifth. Now when you see that a young lady otherwise neatly dressed has come away from home with odd boots half buttoned it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry and what else i asked keenly interested as i always was by my friend’s incisive reasoning. I noted in passing that she had written a note before leaving home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right glove was torn at the forefinger but you did not apparently see that both glove and finger were stained with Violet ink. She had written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been this morning or the Mark would not remain clear upon the finger. All this is amusing though rather elementary but i must go back to business Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised description of mister hosmer angel. I held the little printed slip to the light. Missing it said on the morning of the fourteenth a gentleman named hosmer angel. About five fought seven in in height strongly built sallow complexion black hair. A little bold in the center bushy black side whiskers and moustache tinted glasses slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed when last seen in black frock coat faced with silk. His coat gold Albert chain and gray Harris tweed trousers with brown gators over elastic sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in leadenhall street. Anybody bringing and see and see. That will do said Holmes. As to the letters he continued glancing over them. They are very commonplace. Absolutely no clue in them to mister angel save that he quotes balzac once. There is one remarkable point however which will no doubt strike you. They are typewritten i remarked. Not only that but the signature is typewritten. Look at the neat little hosmer angel at the bottom. There is a date you see but no super scription except leadenhall street which is rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive in fact we may call conclusive. Of what. My dear fellow is it possible you do not see how strongly it bears upon the case i cannot say that i do unless it were that he wished to be able to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were instituted. No. That was not the point. However i shall write two letters which should settle the matter. One is to affirm in the city. The other is to the young lady’s stepfather mr windy bank asking him whether he could meet us here at six o’clock tomorrow evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the mail row relatives and now dr we can do nothing until the answers to those letters come so we may put our little problem upon the shelf for the interim. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend’s subtle powers of reasoning and extraordinary energy and action that i felt that he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy demeanor with which he treated the singular mystery which he had been called upon to fathom. Once only had i known him to fail in the case of the king of boho aimia and of the Irene adler photograph but when i look back to the weird business of the sign of four and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the study in Scarlet i felt that it would be a strange tangle indeed which he could not unravel. I left him then still puffing at his black Clay pipe wow with the conviction that when i came again on the next evening. I would find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of miss Mary sutherland. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own attention at the time and the whole of the next day i was busy at the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six o’clock that i found myself free and was able to spring into a handsome and drive to baker street half afraid that i might be too late to assist at the denouement all of the little mystery. I found Sherlock Holmes alone however half asleep with his long thin form curled up in the recesses of his arm chair. A formidable array of bottles and test tubes with a pungent cleanly smell of hydrochloric acid told me that he had spent his day in the chemical work which was so dear to him. Well have you solved it i asked as i entered yes. It was the bissell fate of berita no no the mystery i cried oh that i thought of the salt that i have been working upon. There was never any mystery in the matter though as i said yesterday some of the details are of interest the only drawback is that there is no law i fear that can touch the scoundrel. Who was he then and what was his object in deserting miss sutherland. The question was hardly out of my mouth and homes had not yet opened his lips to reply when we heard a heavy footfall in the passage and a tap at the door. This is the girl’s stepfather mr James window banks at homes he has written to me to say that he would be here at six. Come in. The man who entered was a sturdy middle-sized fellow some thirty years of age clean shaven and sallow skinned with a bland insinuating manner and a pair of wonderfully sharp and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of us placed his shiny top hat upon the sideboard and with a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Good evening mr James when the bank said Holmes. I think that this typewritten letter is from you in which you made an appointment with me for six o’clock. Yes sir. I’m afraid that i am a little late but i am not quite my own master you know i’m sorry that miss sutherland has troubled you about this little matter for i think it is far better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite against my wishes that she came but she is a very excitable impulsive girl as you may have noticed and she is not easily controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course i did not mind you so much as you are not connected with the official police but it is not pleasant to have a family misfortune like this noise abroad besides it is a useless expense for how could you possibly find this has my angel. On the contrary said Holmes quietly. I have every reason to believe that i will succeed in discovering mr hosmer angel. Mr winder bank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. I am delighted to hear it he said. It is a curious thing remarked Holmes that a typewriter has really quite as much individuality as a man’s handwriting. Unless they are quite new no two of them right exactly alike. Some letters get more worn than others and some were only on one side. Now you remark in this note of yours mister windy bank that in every case there is some little slurring over of the and a slight defect in the tail of the year. There are fourteen other characteristics but those are the more obvious. We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office and no doubt it is a little worn our visitor answered glancing keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. And now i will show you what is really a very interesting study mr windy bank Holmes continued. I think of writing another little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and it’s relation to crime. It is a subject to which i have devoted some little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case not only are there slurred and there’s tireless but you will observe if you care to use my magnifying lens that the fourteen other characteristics to which i have alluded are there as well. Mr window bank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk mister Holmes he said. If you can catch the man catch him and let me know when you have done it. Certainly said Holmes stepping over and turning the key in the door. I let you know then that I’ve caught him. What. Were shouted mr window bank turning white to his lips and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Oh it won’t do really it won’t said Holmes suavely. There is no possible getting out of it mr when the bank it is quite too transparent and it was a very bad compliment when you said that it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That’s right. Sit down and let us talk it over. Our visitor collapsed into a chair with a ghastly face and a glitter of moisture on his brow. It it’s not actionable he stammered i am very much afraid that it is not but between ourselves when the bank. It was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a petty way as ever came before me. Now let me just run over the course of events and you will contradict me if i go wrong. The man sat huddled up in his chair with his head sunk upon his breast like one who is utterly crushed. Home stuck his feet up on the corner of the mantlepiece and leaning back with his hands in his pockets began talking rather to himself as it seemed then to us. The man married a woman very much older than himself for her money said he and he enjoyed the use of the money of the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable sum for people in their position and the loss of it would have made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. The daughter was a good amiable disposition but affectionate and warm hearted in her ways so that it was evident that with her fair personal advantages and her little income. She would not be allowed to remain single long now her marriage would mean of course the loss of one hundred a year so what does her stepfather do do to prevent it he takes the obvious course of keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of people of her own age but soon he found that that would not answer forever. She became restive insisted upon her rights and finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain ball. What does her clever stepfather do then. He conceives an idea more creditable to his head than to his heart with the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses masked the face with a mustache and a pair of bushy whiskers. Sunk that clear voice into a an insinuating whisper and doubly secure on account of the girls short sight he appears as mister hosmer angel and keeps of other lovers by making love himself. It was only a joke at first groaned our visitor we never thought that she would have been so carried away. Likely not. However that may be. The young lady was very decidedly carried away and haven’t quite made up her mind that her stepfather was in France the suspicion of treachery never for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the gentleman’s attentions and the effect was increased by the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then mister angel began to call for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There were meetings and an engagement which would finally secure the girl’s affections from turning towards anyone else but the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady’s mind and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a testament and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening on the very morning of the wedding. James windy bank wished miss sutherland to be so bound to hosmer angel and so uncertain as to his fate that for ten years to come at any rate she would not listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her and then as he could go no further he conveniently vanished away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a four Wheeler and out the other. I think that was the chain of events mr windy bank. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes had been talking and he Rose from his chair now with a cold sneer upon his pale face. It may be so or it may not mr Holmes said he but if you’re so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you who are breaking the law now now and not me. I have done nothing actionable from the first but as long as you keep that door locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal constraint. The law cannot as you say touch you said homes unlocking and throwing open the door. Yet there never was a man who deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a friend. He ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By jove he continued flashing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man’s face. It is not part of my duties to my client but here’s a hunting crop handy and i think i shall just treat myself to. He took two swift steps to the whip but befor sure he could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs the heavy haul door banged and from the window we could see mr James windy bank running at the top of his speed down the road. There’s a cold blooded scoundrel said Holmes laughing as he threw himself down into his chair once more. That fellow will rise from ca crime to crime until he does something very bad and ends on the gallows. The case has in some respects but not entirely devoid of interest. I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning i remarked. Well of course it was obvious from the first that this mister hosmer angel must have some strong object for his curious conduct and it was equally clear that the only man who really profited by the incident as far as we could see was the step father. Then the fact that the two men were never together but that the one always appeared when the other was away was suggestive. So with a tinted spectacles and the curious voice which both hinted at a disguise as did the bushy whiskers. My suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in typewriting his signature her which of course inferred that his handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognize even the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts together with many minor ones all pointed in the same direction and how did you verify them. Having once spotted my man it was easy to get corroboration. I knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed description i eliminated everything from it which could be the result of a disguise. The whiskers the glasses the voice and i sent it to the firm with a request that they would inform me whether it answered to the description of any of their tea travelers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the typewriter and i wrote to the man himself at his business address asking him if he would come here. As i expected his reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from west house and marble a fenchurch street to say that the description tallied in every respect with that of their employee James windy bank. While i toot. And miss sutherland. If i tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old persian saying. There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman. There is as much sense in hafiz as in Horace and as much knowledge of the world. The boscombe valley mystery. We were seated at breakfast one morning my wife and i when the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran in this way have you a couple of days to spare have just been wired for from the west of england in connection with boscombe valley tragedy. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect leave Paddington by the eleven fifteen. What do you say dear said my wife looking across at me will you go. I really don’t know what to say i have a fairly long list at present. Oh and strata would do your work for you you have been looking a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good and you are always so interested in mister Sherlock Holmes’s cases. I should be ungrateful if i were not seeing what i gained through one of them i answered but if i am to go i must pack at once for i have only half an hour. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveler. My wants were few and simple so that in less than the time stated i was in a cab with my valleys rattling away to Paddington station Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down the platform his tall guy gaunt figure made even goiter and taller by his long gray travelling cloak and close fitting cloth cap. It is really very good of you to come Watson said he. It makes a considerable difference to me having someone with me on whom i can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless or else biased. If you will keep the two corner seats i shall get the tickets. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and read with intervals of note taking and of meditation until we were past reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Have you heard anything of the case he asked. Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days. The London press has not had very full accounts I’ve just been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the particulars. It seems from what i gather to be one of those simple cases which are so extremely difficult. That sounds a little paradoxical but it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is the more difficult it is to bring it home. In this case however they have established a very serious case against the son of the murdered man and. It is a murder then. Well it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for granted until i have the opportunity of looking personally into it. I will explain the state of things to you as far as i have been able to understand it. In a very few words. Boscombe valley is a country district not very far from Ross in herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a mr John Turner who made his money in Australia and returned some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he held that of healthily was let to mr Charles McCarthy who was also an ex Australian. The men had known each other in the colonies so that it was not unnatural that when they came to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Turner was apparently the richer man so McCarthy became his tenant but still remained it seems upon terms of perfect equality as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son a lad of eighteen and Turner had an only daughter of the same age but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have avoided the society of the neighboring English families and to have led retired lives though both the McCarthy’s were fond of sport and were frequently seen at the race meetings of the neighborhood. McCarthy kept two servants a man and a girl. Turner had a considerable household some half dozen at the least that is as much as i have been able to gather about the families now for the facts. On June third that is on Monday last McCarthy left his house at happily about three in the afternoon moon and walked down to the boscombe pool which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of the stream which runs down the boscombe valley. He had been out with his serving man in the morning at Ross and he had told the man that he must hurry as he had an appointment of importance to keep it three. From that appointment he never came five. From hazily farmhouse to the boscombe poole is a quarter of a mile and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One was an old woman whose name is not mentioned and the other was William crowder. A gamekeeper in the employ of mr Turner. Both these witnesses deposed that mr McCoy Kathy was walking alone. The gamekeeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing mr McCarthy pass he’d seen his son mr James McCarthy going the same way with a gun under his arm to the best of his belief the father was actually inside at the time and the sun was following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. The two McCarthy’s were seen after the time when William crowder the gamekeeper lost sight of them. The boscombe poole is thickly wooded round with just a fringe of grass and of reads round the edge a girl of fourteen patients moran who is the dog water of the lodge keeper of the boscombe valley estate was in one of the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she saw at the border of the wood and close by the lake mr McCarthy and his son and that they appear to be having a violent quarrel. She heard mister McCarthy the elder using very strong language to his son and she saw the latter raise up his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached home that she had left the two McCarthy’s quarreling near boscombe poole and that she was afraid that they were going to fight. She had hardly said the words when young mister McCarthy came running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead in the wood and to ask for the help of the lodge keeper he was much excited without either his gun or his hat and his right hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as might very well have been inflicted by the butt end of his son’s gun. Which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested and a verdict of wilful murder having been returned at the inquest on Tuesday he was on Wednesday brought before the magis rates at Ross who have referred the case to the next assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out before the coroner and the police court. I could hardly imagine a more damning case i remarked if ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so here. Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing answered Holmes thoughtfully. It may seem to point very straight to one thing but if you shift your own point of view a little you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different. It must be confessed however that the case looks exceedingly grave again Ernst the young man and it is very possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people in the neighborhood however and among them miss Turner. The daughter of the neighboring landowner who believe in his innocence and who have retained la stroud whom you may recollect in connection with the study in Scarlet to work out the case in his interest. The strad being rather puzzled has referred the case to me and hence it is that two middle aged gentleman of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts at home. I’m afraid said i that the facts are so obvious that you will find little credit to be gained out of this case. There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact he answered laughing. Besides we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to mr la strad. You know me too well to think that i am boasting when i say that i shall either confirm or destroy his theory by means which he is quite incapable of employing or even of understanding. To take the first example to hand i very clearly perceived that in your bedroom the window is upon the right hand side and yet i question whether mr la stroud would have noted even so self evident a thing as that. How on earth. My dear fellow. I know you well. I know the military neatness which characterizes you. You shave every morning and in this season you shave by the sunlight but since your shaving is less and less complete as we get farther back on the left side until it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jaw. It is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and inference. Therein lies my metier and it is just possible that it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before us there are one or two minor points which were brought out in the inquest and which are worth considering. What are they. It appears that his arrest did not take place at once but after the return to healthily farm. On the inspector of constabulary informing him that he was a prisoner he remarked that he was not surprised to hear it and that it was no more than his desserts. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the coroner’s jury. It was a confession i ejaculated. No for it was followed by a protestation of innocence. Coming on the top of such a damning series of events it was at least a most suspicious remark. On the contrary said Holmes it is the brightest rift which i can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared surprised at his own arrest or feigned indignation at it i should have looked upon it as highly suspicious because such surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent man or else as a man of considerable self restraint and firmness. As to his remark about his desserts. It was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of his father further and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him and even according to the little girl whose evidence is so important to raise his hand as if to strike him. The self reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a guilty one. I shook my head. Many men have been hanged on far slighter evidence i remarked. So they have and many men have been wrongfully hanged. What is the young man’s own account of the matter. It is i’m afraid not very encouraging to his supporters though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive you will find it here and may read it for yourself. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local herefordshire paper and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this way. A mister James McCarthy the only son of the deceased was then called and gave evidence as follows. I had been away from home for three days at Bristol and had only just returned upon the morning of last Monday the third. My father was absent from home at the time of my arrival and i was informed by the maid that he had driven over to Ross with John Cobb the groom. Shortly after my return i heard the wheels of his trap in the yard and looking out of my window i saw him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard. Though i was not aware in which direction he was going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the boscombe poole with the intention of visiting the rabbit Warren which is upon the other side. On my way i saw William crowder the gamekeeper as he had stated in his evidence but he is mistaken in thinking that i was following my father. I had no idea that he was in front of me me when about one hundred yards from the pool i heard a cry of kuih which was a usual signal between my father and myself. I then hurried forward and found him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me and asked me rather roughly what i was doing there. A conversation in sued which led to high words and almost to blows for my father was a man of a very violent temper seeing that his passion was becoming ungovernable i left him and returned towards happily farm. I had not gone more than one hundred and fifty yards however when i heard a hideous outcry behind me which caused me to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in my arms but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for some minutes and then made my way to mr Turner’s lodge keeper his house being the nearest to ask for assistance. Well no one near my father when i returned and i have no idea how he came by his injuries. He was not a popular man being somewhat cold and forbidding in his manners but he had as far as i know no active enemies i know nothing further of the matter. The coroner. Did your father make any statement to you be before he died witness he mumbled a few words but i could only catch some allusion to a rat. The coroner. What did you understand by that witness it conveyed no meaning to me i thought that he was delirious. The coroner. What was the point upon which you and your father had this final quarrel witness. I should prefer not to answer. The coroner. I am afraid that i must press it. Witness. It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which followed. The coroner. That is for the court to decide. I need not point out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Witness. I must still refuse. The coroner. I understand that the cry of kui was a common signal between you and your father. Witness it was. The coroner. How was it then that he uttered it before he saw you and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol. Witness with considerable confusion. I do not know no. A journeyman. Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally injured. Witness. Nothing definite. The coroner what do you mean. Witness i was so disturbed and excited as i rushed out into the open that i could think of nothing except of my father. Yet i have a vague impression that as i ran forward something lay upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be something grey in color a coat of some sort or a plaid perhaps. When i Rose from my father i looked round for it but it was gone. Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help. Yes it was gone. You cannot say what it was. No i had a feeling something was there. How far from the body. A dozen yards or so and how far from the edge of the wood. About the same. Then if it was removed it was while you are within a dozen yards of it. Yes but with my back towards it. This concluded the examination of the witness. I see said i as i glanced down the column. That the coroner in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy he calls attention and with reason to the discrepancy about his father having signalled to him before seeing him also to his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father and his singer killer account of his father’s dying words. They are all as he remarks very much against the sun. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the cushioned seat. Both you and the coroner have been at some pains said he to single out the very strongest points in the young man’s favor. Don’t you see that you alternately give him credit for having too much imagination and too little. Too little if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would give him the sympathy of the jury. Too much if he evolved from his own inner consciousness. Anything so a tray as a dying reference to a rat and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No sir i shall approach this case from the point of view that what this young man says is true true and we shall see whether that hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Patrick and not another word shall i say of this case until we are on the scene of action we lunch at swindon and i see that we shall be there in twenty minutes. It was nearly four o’clock when we at last after passing through the beautiful stroud valley and over the broad gleaming seven. Found ourselves at the pretty little country town of Ross. A lean ferret like man furtive and sly looking was waiting for us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dust coat and leather leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic surroundings. I had no difficulty in recognizing la strad of Scotland yard with him we drove to the hereford arms where a room had already been engaged for us. I have ordered a carriage said la stroud as we sat over a cup of tea. I knew your energetic nature and that you would not be happy until you had been on the scene of the crime. It was very nice and complementary of you Holmes answered it is entirely a question of barometric pressure the stride looks startled. I do not quite follow he said how is the glass twenty nine i see no wind and not a cloud in the sky. I have a case full of cigarettes here which needs smoking and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that i shall use the carriage tonight. Lestrade laughed indulgently you have no doubt already formed your conclusions from the newspapers he said. The cases as plain as a pike staff and the more one goes into it the planer it becomes. Still of course one can’t refuse a lady and such a very positive one too. She has heard of you and would have your opinion though i repeatedly told her that there was nothing which you could do which i had not already done. Why bless my soul here is her carriage at the door. He had hardly spoken before they’re rushed into the room one of the most lovely young women that I’ve ever seen in my life. Her Violet eyes shining her lips parted a pink flush upon her cheeks all thought of her natural reserve lost in her overpowering excitement and concern. Oh mister Sherlock Holmes Holmes she cried. Glancing from one to the other of us and finally with a woman’s quick intuition fastening upon my companion. I am so glad that you have come. I’ve driven down to tell you so i know that James didn’t do it i know it and i want you to start upon your work knowing it too two. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each other since we were little children and i know his faults as no one else does but he is too tender hearted to her to fly. Such a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him. I hope we may clear him miss Turner said Sherlock Holmes you may rely upon my doing all that i can but you have read the evidence you are form some conclusion. Do you not see some loophole some floor. Do you not yourself think that he is innocent. I think that it is very probable. There now she cried throwing back her head and looking defiantly at le stroud. You hear he gives me hopes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. I’m afraid that my colleague has been a little quick informing his conclusions he said but he is right. Oh i know that he is right James never did it and about his quarrel with his father i am sure that the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because i was concerned in it. In what way asked Holmes. It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had many disagreements about me mr McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and i have always loved each other as brother and sister but of course he is young and has seen very little of life yet and and well he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet so there were quarrels and this i am sure was one of them and your father asked Holmes. Was he in favor of such a union. No he was averse to it also no one but mister McCarthy was in favor of it. A quick blush passed over her fresh young faces home shot one of his keen questioning glance NCIS at her. Thank you for this information said he. May i see your father if i call tomorrow. I am afraid the doctor won’t allow it. The doctor. Yes have you not heard. Poor father has never been strong for years back but this has broken him down completely. He has taken to his bed and dr Willow says that he is a wreck and that his nervous system is shattered. Mr McCarthy was the only man alive who had known dad in the old days in Victoria. Ha in Victoria that is important. Yes at the mines. Quite so at the gold mines where as i understand mr Turner made his money. Yes certainly. Thank you mr Turner you have been of material assistance to me. You will tell me if you have any news tomorrow no doubt you will go to the prison to see James oh if you do mr Holmes do tell him that i know him to be innocent. I will miss Turner. I must go home now for dad is very ill and he misses me so if i leave him. Good bye and god help you in your undertaking. She hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered and we heard the wheels of her carriage row rattle off down the street. I am ashamed of you Holmes said le stroud with dignity after a few minutes silence. Why should you raise up hopes which you are bound to disappoint. I am not over tender of heart but i call it cruel. Things that i see my way to clearing James McCarthy said homes have you in order to see him in prison. Yes but only for you and me. Then i shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have still time to take a train to hereford and see him tonight. Ample. Then let us do so. Watson i fear that you will find it very slow but i shall only be away a couple of hours. I walked down to the station with them and then wandered through the streets of the little town finally returning to the hotel where i lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a yellow back novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin however when compared to the deep mystery through which we were groping and i found my attack engine wander so continually from the action to the fact that i at last flung it across the room and gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man story were absolutely true then what hellish thing what absolutely unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the time when he parted from his father and the moment when drawn back by his screams he rushed into the glade. It was something terrible and deadly. What could it be. Might not the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper which contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon’s deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. By Mark the spot upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been straw UK from behind. That was to some extent in favor of the accused as when seen quarreling he was face to face with his father. Still it did not go for very much for the older man might have turned his back before the blow fell still it might be worthwhile to call Holmes’s attention to it. Then there was the peculiar die dying reference to a rat. What could that mean. It could not be delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become delirious. No it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how he met his fate but what could it indicate. I cajoled my brains to find some possible explain nation and then the incident of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress presumably his overcoat in his flight and must have had the hearty hood to return and to carry it away at the instant when the sun was kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces of. Water a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was. I did not wonder at la strides opinion and yet i had so much faith in Sherlock Holmes his insight that i could not lose hope as long as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young McCarthy’s innocence. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned he came back alone full astride was staying in lodgings in the town. The glass still keeps very high he remarked as he sat down. It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able to go over the ground. On the other hand a man should be at his the very best and keenest for such nice work as that and i did not wish to do it when fact by a long journey. I have seen young McCarthy and what did you learn from him. Nothing. Could he throw no light. None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew who had done it and was screening him or her but i am convinced now that he is as puzzled as everyone else he is not a very quick witted youth though comely to look at and i should think sound at heart. I cannot admire his taste i remarked. If it is indeed a fact that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as this miss Turner. Ah thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly insanely in love with her but some two years ago when he was only a lad and before he really knew her for she had been away five years at a boarding school. What does the idiot do but get into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and ma marry her at a registry office. No one knows a word of the matter but you can imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not doing what he would give his very eyes to do but what he knows to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father at their last interview was goading him on to propose to miss Turner. On the other hand he had no means of supporting himself and his father who was by all accounts a very hard man. Would have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Bristol and his father did not know where he was Mark that point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil however for the barmaid finding from the papers that he is in serious trouble and likely to be hanged has thrown him over utterly and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Bermuda dockyard so that there is really no tie between them. I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that he has suffered. But if he is innocent who has done it. Ah who. I would call your attention very particularly to two points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with someone at the pool and that the summon could not have been his son for his son was away and he did not know when he would return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry kuih. Before he knew that he his son had returned those are the crucial points upon which the case depends and now let us talk about George Meredith if you please and we shall leave all minor matters until tomorrow. There was no rain as homes had foretold and the morning broke bright and cloudless. At nine o’clock le stroud called for us with the carriage and we set off for healthily farm and the boscombe poole. There is serious news this morning la stroud observed. It is said that mr Turner of the hall is so ill that his life is despaired of. An elderly man i presume. Said homes. About sixty but his constitution has been shattered by his life abroad and he has been in failing health for some time. This business has had a very bad effect upon him he was an old friend of McCarthy’s and i may add a great benefactor to him as for i have learned that he gave him happily farm rent free. Indeed that is interesting said Holmes. Oh yes. In one hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody about here speaks of his kindness to him. Rarely. Does it not strike you as a little singular that this McCarthy who appears to have had little of his own and to have been under such obligations to Turner. Should still talk of marrying his son to turn his daughter who is presumably heiress to the estate and that in such a very cocksure manner as if it were merely a case of apropos puzzle and all else would follow. It is the more strange since we know that Turner himself was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not deduce something from that. We’ve got to the deductions and the inferences said la strad winking at me. I find it hard enough to tackle facts homes without flying away after theories and fancies. You are right said Holmes demurely. You do find it very hard to tackle the facts. Anyhow I’ve grasped one fact which you seem to find it difficult to get hold of replied last straw with some warmth and that is. That McCarthy sr met his death from McCarthy Jr and that all theories too the country or the merest moonshine. Well moonshine is a brighter thing than fog said Holmes laughing but i am very much mistaken if this is not heavily farm upon the left. Yes that is it. It was a widespread comfortable looking building two storied slate roofed with great yellow blotches of legion upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless chimneys however gave it a stricken look as though the weight of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door when the maid at Holmes’s request showed us the boots which are master war at the time of his death and also a pair of the suns though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured these very carefully from seven or eight different points homes designed to be led to the courtyard from which we all followed the winding track which led to boscombe poole. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent as this. Man who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of baker street would have failed to recognize him. His face flushed and darkened his brows were drawn into two hard black lines while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. His face was bent downward his shoulders bowed his lips compressed and the veins stood out like ripcord in his long sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal lust for the chase and his mind was so absolutely concentrated upon the matter before him that a ques general remark fell unheeded upon his ears or at the most only provoked a quick impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way along the track which ran through the meadows and so by way of the woods to the boscombe poole. Amp marshy ground as is all that district and there were marks of many feet. Both upon the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either side. Sometimes homes would hurry on sometimes stopped dead and once he made quite a little detour into the Meadow. La strada and i walked behind him. The detective indifferent and contemptuous while i watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a definite end. The boscombe poole which is a little read gert sheet of water some fifty yards across. Situated at the boundary between the happily farm and the private park of the wealthy mr Turner. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the red jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich landowners dwelling. On the healthily side of the pool the woods grew very thick and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds which lined the lake. La stride showed us the exact spot at which the body had been found and indeed so moist was the ground that i could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fall of the stricken man to homes as i could see by his eager face and peering eyes very many other things were to be read upon the trampled grass he ran round like a dog who is picking up a scent and then turned upon my companion. What did you go into the pool for he asked i fished about with a rake i thought there might be some weapon or other trace but how on earth oh tut tut i have no time. That left foot of yours with it’s inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it and there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh how simple it would all have been had i been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the lodge keeper came and they have covered all tracks for six or eight feet round the body but here are three separate tracks of the same feat. He drew out a lens and lay down upon his waterproof to have a better view talking all the time rather to himself than to us. These are young McCarthy’s feet. Twice he was walking and once he ran swiftly so that the souls are deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground then here are the father’s feet as he paced up and down what is this then it is the butter end of the gun as the son stood listening and this ha ha what have we here tiptoes tiptoes square to quite unusual boots they come they go they come again. Of course that was for the cloak now where did they come from. He ran up and down sometimes losing sometimes finding the track until we were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a great beach the largest tree in the neighborhood. Homes traced his way to the farthest side of this and lay down once more upon his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he remained there turning over the leaves and dried sticks gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among the moss and this also he carefully examined and retail and. Then he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the high road where all traces were lost. It has been a case of considerable interest he remarked returning to his natural manner. I fancy that this grey house on the right must be the lodge. I think that i will go in and have a word with moran and perhaps write a little note. Having done that we may drive back to our luncheon you may walk to the cab and i shall be with you presently. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove back into Ross home still carrying with him the stone which he had picked up in the wood. This may interest you la stroud he remarked holding it out. The murder was done with it. I see no marks. There are none. How do you know then. The grass was growing under it. It had only Lane there a few days there was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It corresponds with the injuries there is no sign of any other weapon and the murderer. Is a tall man left handed limps with the right leg wears thick sold shooting boots and a grey cloak smokes Indian cigars uses a cigar holder and carries a blunt penknife in his pocket. There are several other indications but these may be enough to aid us in our search. Le stride laughed. I am afraid that i am still a skeptic he said theories are all very well but we have to deal with a hardheaded British jury. News vettel answered Holmes calmly. You work your own method and i shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon and shall probably return to London by the evening train. And leave your case unfinished. No finished but the mystery. It is solved. Who is the criminal then. The gentleman i describe but who is he. Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a populous neighborhood. La strada shrugged his shoulders. I am a practical man he said and i really cannot undertake to go about the country looking for a left handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the laughing stock of Scotland yard. All right said Holmes quietly. I’ve given you the chance here are your lodgings good bye. I shall drop you a line before i leave. Having left distraught at his rooms we drove to our hotel where we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in thought with a pained expression upon his face. As one who finds himself in a perplexing position. Look here Watson he said when the cloth was cleared just sit down in this chair and let me pay preach to you for a little i don’t know quite what to do and i should value your advice light a cigar and let me expound. Pray do so. Well now in considering this case there are two points about young McCarthy’s narrative which struck us both instantly. Although they impressed me in his favor and you against him. One was the fact that his father should according to his account cry kuih before seeing him the other was his singular dying reference to a rat. He mumbled several words you understand but that was all that caught the son’s ear. Now from this double point our research must commence and we will begin it by presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true. What of this kuih then well obviously it could not have been meant for the sun. The sun as far as he knew was in Bristol it was mere chance that he was within earshot the kui was meant to attract the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with but kui is a distinctly Australian cry and one which is used between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at boscombe poole was someone who had been in Australia. What of the rat then. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it out on the table. This is a map of the colony of Victoria he said. I wired to Bristol for it last night. He put his hand over the part of the map what do you read. Are at i read and now he raised his hand by Laura. Quite so. That was the word the man uttered and of which his son one only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the name of his murderer so and so have Ballarat. It is wonderful i exclaimed it is obvious and now you see i had narrowed the field down considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point which granting the sun statement to be correct was a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak certainly and one who was at home in the district for the pool can only be approached by the farm or by the estate where strangers could hardly wonder. Quite so. Then comes our expedition of today. By an examination of the ground i gained the trifling details which i gave to that imbecile strad as to the personality of the criminal but how did you gain them. You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles. His height i know that you might roughly judge from the length of his stride his boots too might be told from their traces. Yes they were peculiar boots but his lameness. The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than his left he put less weight upon it why. Because he limped he was lame but his left handedness. You are yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from immediately behind and yet was upon the left side. Now how can that be. Unless it were by a left handed man. Dude behind that tree during the interview between the father and son he’d even smoke there. I found the ash of a cigar which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have as you know devoted some attention to this and written a little monograph on the ashes of one hundred and one forty different varieties of pipe cigar and cigarette tobacco. Having found the ash i then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar of the variety which are rolled in Rotterdam and the cigar holder. I could see that the end had not been in his mouth therefore he used a holder. The tip had been cut off not bitten off but the cut was not a clean one so i deduced a blunt penknife. Holmes i said. You have drawn a net round this man from which he cannot escape and you have saved an innocent human life as truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the direction in which all this points the culprit is. Mr John Turner cried the hotel waiter opening the door of our sitting room and ushering in a visitor. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure his slow limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude and yet his hard deep lined craggy features and is enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual strength of body and of character his tangled beard grizzled hair and outstanding drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of dignity and power to his appearance but his face was of an ashen white while his lips in the corners of his nostrils were tinged with a shame shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Pray sit down on the sofa said Holmes gently. You had my note. Yes the lodge keeper brought it up you said that you wish to see me here to avoid scandal. I thought people would talk if i went to the hall and why did you wish to see me he looked across at my companion with despair in his weary eyes. As though he his question was already answered. Yes said Holmes answering the look rather than the words it is so. I know all about McCarthy. The old man sank his face in his hands. God help me he cried but i would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you my word that i would have spoken out if it went against him at the assizes. I’m glad to hear you say so said Holmes gravely. I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It would break her heart. It will break her heart when she hears that i am arrested. It may not come to that said Holmes. What. I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter who required my presence here and i am acting in her interests. Young McCarthy must be got off however i am a dying man said alterna i have had diabetes for years my doc keita says it is a question whether i shall live a month yet i would rather die under my own roof than in a jail. Homes Rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and a bundle of paper before him. Just tell us the truth he said. I shall jot down the facts you will sign it and Watson here can witness it. Then i could produce your confession at the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that i shall not use it unless it is absolutely needed. It’s as well said the old man. It’s a question whether i shall live to the assizes so it matters little to me but i should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now i will make the thing clear to you it has been a long time in the acting but will not take me long to tell. You didn’t know this dead man McCarthy. He was a devil incarnate i tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years and he has blasted my life. I’ll tell you first how i came to be in his power. It was in the early sixties at the diggings i was a young chap then hot blooded and reckless ready to turn my hand at anything. I got among bad companions took to drink had no luck with my claim took to the bush and in a word became what you would call overhear a highway robber. There were six of us and we had a wild free life of it sticking up a station from time to time or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings black Jack of Ballarat was the name i went under and our party is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat gang. One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers and six of us so it was a close thing but we emptied four of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed however before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the wagon driver who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the lord that i had shot him then but i spared him though i saw his wicked little eyes fixed on my face as though to remember every feature. We got away with the gold became wealthy men and made our way over to england without being suspected. There i parted from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life. I bought this estate which chance to be in the market and i set myself to do a little good with my money to make up for the way in which i had earned it. I married to and though my wife died young she left me my my dear little Alice. Even when she was just a baby her we hand seemed to lead me down the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word i turned over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. I had gone up to town about an investment and i may let him in regent street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his foot. Here we are Jack says he touching me on the arm. Will be as good as a family to you. There’s two of us me and my son and you can have the keeping of us if you don’t it’s a fine law abiding country is england and there’s always a policeman within hail. While down they came to the west country there was no shaking them off and there they have lived rent free on my best land ever since. There was no rest for me no peace no forgetfulness. Turn where i would there was his cunning grinning face at my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up for he soon saw it is more afraid of her knowing my past then of the police. Whatever he wanted he must have and whatever it was i gave him without question land money houses until at last he asked a thing which i could not give. He asked for Alice. His son you see had grown up and so had my girl and as i was known to be in weak health it seemed a fine stroke to him that his lads should step into the whole property but there i was from. I would not have his curse stock mixed with mine not that i had any dislike to the lad but his blood was in him and that was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened i braved him to do his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to talk it over. When i went down there i found him talking with his son so i smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone but as i listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that i and all that i held most dear should be in the power of such a man as this. Could i not snap the bond i was already a dying and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb i knew that my own fate was sealed but my memory and my girl both could be safe saved if i could but silence that foul tongue. I did it mr Holmes i would do it again. Deeply as i have sinned i have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it but that my girls should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more than i could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought back his son but i had gained the cover of the wood though i was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which i dropped in my flight. That is the true story gentlemen. Of all that occurred. While it is not for me to judge you said Holmes as the old man signed the statement which had been drawn out. I pray that we may never be exposed to such a temptation. I pray not sir and what do you intend to do. In view of your health nothing. You are yourself aware that you will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the assizes. I will keep your confession and if McCarthy is condemned i shall be forced to use it. If not it shall never be seen by mortal eye and your secret whether you be alive or dead dead shall be safe with us. Farewell then said the old man solemnly. Your own deathbeds when they come will be the easier for the thought of the peace which you have given to mine. Stirring and shaking and all his giant frame he stumbled slowly from the room. God help us said Holmes after a long silence. Why does fate play such tricks with poor helpless worms. I never hear of such a case as this that i do not think of Baxter’s words and say. There but for the grace of god go Sherlock Holmes. James McCarthy was acquitted at the assizes on the strength of a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and submitted to the defending council. Old Turner lived for seven months after our interview but he is now dead and there is every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily together in ignorance if the black cloud which rests upon their past. The five orange pips. When i glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years eighty two and ninety. I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some however have already gained publicity through the papers and others have not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend possessed in so high a degree and which it is the object of these pape purrs to illustrate. Some to have baffled his analytical skill and would be as narratives beginnings without an ending. While others have been but partially cleared up and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and surmise then on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to him. There is however one of these last which was so remarkable in it’s details and so startling in it’s results that i am tempted to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are points in connection with it. Which never have been and probably never will be entirely cleared up. The year eighty seven furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest of which i retain the records. Among my headings under this one twelve months i find an account of the adventure of the paradise chamber. Of the amateur mendicant society who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse. Of the facts connected with the loss of the British bark Sophie Anderson. Of the singular adventures of the greiss Patterson’s in the island of offer and finally have the camberwell poisoning case. In the latter as may be remembered Sherlock Holmes was able by winding up the dead man’s watch to prove that it had been wound up two hours before and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time. That deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these i may sketch out at some future date but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I’ve now taken up my pen to describe. It was in the latter days of September and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence all day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows so that even here in the heart of great handmade London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognize the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilization like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in the storm grew higher and louder and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross indexing his records of crime. While i at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell’s fine sea stories until the howl of the Gale from without seemed to blend with the text and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the seaway waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother’s and for a few days i was a dweller once more in my old quarters at baker street. Y said i glancing up at my companion. That was surely the bell. Who could come tonight some friend of yours perhaps. Except yourself i have none he answered. I do not encourage visitors. A client then. If so it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day and at such an hour but i take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the land ladies. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture however for there came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door he stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Come in said he. The man who entered was young some two and twenty at the outside well groomed and trimmed the clad with something of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp and i could see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy like those of a man who is weighed down with some great anxiety. I owe you an apology he said raising his golden pass ne to his eyes i trust that i am not intruding. I fear that i have brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug chamber. Give me your coat and umbrella said homes they may rest here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the southwest i see. Yes from horsham. That Clay and chalk mixture which i see upon your toe caps is quite distinctive. I have come for advice. That is easily got what and help. That is not always so easy. I have heard of you mister Holmes. I heard from major prendergast how you saved him in the tank of ill club scandal. Of course he was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards. He said that you could solve anything. He said too much. That you are never beaten. I have been beaten four times three times by men and once by a woman but what is that compared with the number of your successes. It is true that i have been generally successful. Then you may be so with me. I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with some details as to your case. It is no ordinary one. None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal and yet i question sir whether in all your experience you have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which have happened in my own family. You fill me with interest said Holmes. Pray give us the essential facts from the commencement and i can afterwards question you as to those details which seemed to me to be most important the young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out towards the Blaze. My name said he is John openshaw but my own affairs have as far as i can understand little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary matter. So in order to give you an idea of the facts i must go back to the commencement of the affair. You must know that my grandfather had two sons my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My father had a small faq lottery at coventry which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling he was a patent ii of the openshaw unbreakable tire and his business met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire upon a handsome competence. My uncle Elias emigrated to america when he was a young man and became a planter in Florida where he was reported to have done very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson’s army and afterwards underhood where he Rose to be a colonel. When Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantain nation. Where he remained for three or four years about eighteen sixty nine or eighteen seventy he came back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex near horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the states and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes and his dislike of the republican policy in extending the franchise to them. He was a singular man fierce and quick tempered very foul mouthed when he was angry and have a most retiring disposition. During all the years that he lived at horsham i doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or three fields round his house and there he would take his exercise though very he often for weeks on end he would never leave his room. He drank a great deal of Brandy and smoked very heavily but he would see no society and did not want any friends not even his own brother. He didn’t mind me in fact he took a fancy to me. For at the time when he saw me first i was a youngster of twelve vaso. This would be in the year eighteen seventy eight after he had been eight or nine years in england. He begged my father to let me live with him and he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fond of playing backgammon and drafts with me and he would make me his representative both with the servants then with the tradespeople so that by the time that i was sixteen i was quite master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where i liked and do what i liked so long as i did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception however for he had a single room. A lumber room up among the attics which was invariably locked and which he would never permit either me or anyone else to enter with a boy’s curiosity i have peeped through the keyhole but i was never able to see more than such a collection of old trunk windows as would be expected in such a room. One day it was in march eighteen eighty three. A letter with a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of the colonel’s plate. It was not a common thing for him to receive letters for his bills were all paid in ready money and he had no friends of any sort from him India said he as he took it up pondicherry postmark what can this be. Opening it hurriedly. Out there jumped five little dried orange pips which patted down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face his lip had fallen his eyes were protruding his skin the color of pity and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling hand. Kicked. He shrieked and then. My god my god my sins have overtaken me. What is it uncle i cried. Death said he and rising from the table he retired to his room leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap. Just above the gum the letter k three times repeated. There was nothing else save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his overpowering terror. I left the breakfast table and as i ascended the stair i met him coming down with an old rusty key. Which must have belonged to the attic in one hand and a small brass box like a cash box in the other. They may do what they like but I’ll checkmate them still said he with an oath. Tell Mary that i shall want a fire in my room today and send down to Fordham the horsham lawyer. I did as he ordered and when the lawyer arrived i was asked to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly and in the grate there was a massive black fluffy ashes as of burned paper while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As i glanced at the box i noticed with a start that upon the lid was printed the treble k which i had read in the morning upon the mv nope. I wish you John said my uncle to witness my will. I leave my estate with all its advantages and all it’s disadvantages to my brother. Your father. Whence it will no doubt descend to you. If you can enjoy it in peace well and good. If you find you cannot take my advice my boy and leave it to your deadliest enemy. I’m sorry to give you such a two edged thing but i can’t say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where mister Fordham shows you. I signed the paper as directed and the lawyer took it away with him. The singular incident made as you may think the deepest impression upon me and i pondered over it and turned it every way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet i could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left behind. Though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives i could see a change in my uncle however he drank more than ever and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time he would spend in his room with the door locked upon the inside died but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand screaming out that he was afraid of no man and that he was not to be cooped up like a sheep in a pen by man or devil. When these hot fits were over however he would rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times i have seen his face even on a cold day glistened with moisture as though it were new raised from a basin. While to come to an end of the matter mr Holmes and not to abuse your Patience. There came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him when we went to search for him face downward in a little green scammed pool which lay at the foot of the garden. There was no sign of any violence and the water was but two feet deep so that the jury having regard to his known eccentricity. Brought in a verdict of suicide. But i who knew how he winced from the very thought of death had much ado to persuade myself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed however and my father entered into possession of the estate and of some one four zero zero zero pounds which later his credit at the bank. One moment Holmes interposed. Your statement is i foresee one of the most remarkable to which i have ever listened. Let me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter and the date of his supposed suicide. The letter arrived on tenth of march tenth eighteen eighty three. His death was seven weeks later upon the night of second of may. Thank you pray proceed. When my father took over the horsham property he at my request made a careful examination of the attic which had been always locked up. We found the brass box there although it’s contents had been destroyed on the inside of the cover was a paper label with the initials of kkk repeated upon it and letters memo Miranda receipts and a register written beneath. These we presume indicated the nature of the papers which had been destroyed by colonel openshaw. For the rest there was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many scattered papers and notebooks bearing upon my uncle’s life in america so some of them were of the wartime and showed that he had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the southern states and were mostly concerned with politics. For he had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet bag politicians who had been sent down from the north. While it was the beginning of eighty four when my father came to live at horsham. And all went as well as possible with us until the January of eighty five. On the fourth day after the new year i heard my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the breakfast table. There he was sitting with a newly opened envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what he called my cock and bull story about the colonel but he looked very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon himself. Why what on earth does this mean John he stammered. My heart had turned to lead. It is k k k said i he looked inside the envelope so it is he cried. Here are the very letters but what is this written above them. Put the papers on the sundial i read peeping over his shoulder. What papers what sundial he asked. The sundial in the garden there is no other said i but the papers must be those that are destroyed. Pugh said he gripping hard at his courage. We are in a civilized land here and we can have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come from. From dundee i answered glancing at the postmark. Some preposterous practical joke said he what have i to do with sundials and papers. I shall take no notice of such nonsense. I should certainly speak to the police i said and be laughed at for my pains nothing of the sort. Then let me do so. No i forbid you i won’t have a fuss made about such nonsense. It was in vain to argue with him for he was a very obstinate man. I went about however with a heart which was full of forebodings. On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his major free body who is in command of one of the forts upon ports downhill. I was glad that he should go for it seemed to me that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. In that however i was in error upon the second day of his absence i received a telegram from the major imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk pits which abound in the neighborhood and was lying senseless with a shattered skull. I hurried to him but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness he had as it appears been returning from faire him in the twilight and as the country was unknown to him and the chalk pit unfenced the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of death from accidental causes. Carefully as i examined every fact connected with his death. I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder there were no signs of violence no foot marks no robbery no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads and yet i need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease and that i was whoa El ni certain that some foul plot had been woven round him. In this sinister way i came into my inheritance. You will ask me why i did not dispose of it. I answer because i was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle’s life and that the danger would be as pressing in one house as in another. It was in January. Eight if that my poor father met his end and two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time i have lived happily at horsham and i had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family and that it had ended with the last generation. I’d begun to take comfort to soon however yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in which it had come upon my father. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried orange pips. This is the envelope he continued. The postmark is London eastern division within are the very words which were upon my father’s last message kk and then put the papers on the sundial. What have you done asked Holmes. Nothing. Nothing to tell the truth he sank his face into his thin white hands. I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it i seemed to be in the grasp of some resistance inexorable evil. Which no foresight and no precautions can guard against. Tut tut cried Sherlock Holmes. You must act man or you are lost nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair. I have seen the police. Ah but they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical jokes and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents as the jury stated and were not to be connected with the warnings. Homes shook his clenched hands in the air. Incredible imbecilic he cried. They have however allowed me a policeman who may remain in the house with me. Has he come with you tonight. No his orders were to stay in the house. Again homes raved in the air. Why did you come to me he said and above all why did you not come at once. I did not know. It was only today that i spoke to major prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to you. It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this you have no further evidence i suppose than that which you have placed before us no suggestive detail which might help us. There is one thing said John openshaw he rummaged in his coat pocket and drawing out a piece of discoloured Bluetooth tinted paper he laid it out upon the table. I have some remembrance said he. That on the day when my uncle burned the papers i observed that the small unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular color. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room and i am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which has perhaps fluttered out from among the others and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pips i do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary the writing is undoubtedly my uncle’s. Homes moved the lamp and we both bent over the sheet of paper which showed by it’s ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed layer march eighteen sixty nine and beneath were the following enigmatic notices forth Hudson came same old platform. Seventh. Set the pips on macaulay paramour and John swain of st augustine ninth mccauley cleared tenth John swain cleared twelfth visited paramour all well. Thank you said Holmes folding up the paper and returning it to our visitor and now you must on no account lose another inch instant we cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me you must get home instantly and act. What shall i do. There is but one thing to do it must be done at once you must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle and that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this you must at once put the box out upon the sundial as directed. Do you understand. Entirely. Do not think of revenge change or anything of the sort at present. I think that we may gain that by means of the law but we have our web to weave while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the guilty parties. I thank you said the young man rising and pulling on his overcoat. You have given me fresh life and hope i shall certainly do as you advise. Do not lose an instant and above all take care of yourself in the meanwhile for i do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you go back. By train from Waterloo. It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded so i trust that you may be in safety and yet you cannot guard yourself too closely. I am armed. That is well. Tomorrow i shall set to work upon your case. I shall see you at horsham then. Know your secret lies in London. It is there that i shall seek it. Then i shall call upon you in a day or in two days with news as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular. He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and patted against the windows. This strange wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad elements blown-in upon us like a sheet of seaweed in a Gale and now to have been reabsorbed by them once more. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence with his head sunk forward in his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. I think Watson he remarked at last that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this. Save perhaps the sign of four. Well yes save perhaps that and yet this John openshaw seems to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the shelters. But have you i asked formed any definite conception as to what these perils are. There can be no question as to their nature he answered. Then what are they who is this kkk and why does he pursue this unhappy family. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair with his fingertips together. The ideal reasoner he remarked would when he had once been shown a single fact in all it’s bearings deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it. As cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone. So the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses to carry the art however to it’s highest pitch. It is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilize all the facts which have come to his knowledge ej and this in itself implies as you will readily see a possession of all knowledge which even in these days of free education and encyclopedias. Is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible however that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work and this i have endeavored in my case to do. If i remember rightly you on one occasion in the early days of our friendship defined my limits in a very precise fashion. Yes i answered laughing it was a singular document philosophy astronomy and politics were marked at zero i remember botany variable geology profound as regards the mud stains from any region within fifty miles of town chemistry eccentric anatomy unsystematic sensational literature and crime records unique. Violin player boxer swordsman lawyer and self poisoner buy cocaine and tobacco. Those i think were the main points of my analysis. Homes grinned at the last item. Well he said i say now as i said then that a man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library where he can get it if he wants it. Now for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us tonight we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter k of the American encyclopedia which stands upon the shelf beside you thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be deduced from it in the first place we may start with a strong presumption that colonel openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving america. Men at his time of life do not change all their habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an angle actual town. His extreme love of solitude in england suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something. So we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from america. As to what it was he feared we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those letters. The first was from pondicherry the second from dundee and the third from London. From east London what do you deduce from that. They are all seaports that the writer was on board of a ship. Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the probability the strong probability is that the writer was on board of a ship and now let us consider another point. In the case of pondicherry seven weeks elapsed between the threat and it’s fulfillment. In dundee it was only some three or four days does that suggest anything. A greater distance to travel but the letter had also a greater distance to come. Then i do not see the point. There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing ship. It looks as if they always send their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from dundee. If they had come from pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter but as a matter of fact seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented the difference between the mail boat which brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the writer. It is possible. More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case and why i urged young openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it would take the senders to travel the distance but this one comes from London and therefore we cannot count upon delay. Good god i cried what can it mean this relentless persecution. The papers which openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance to the person or persons in the sailing ship. I think that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as to deceive a coroner’s jury. There must have been several in it and they must have been men of reason aus and determination. Their papers they mean to have be the holder of them who it may. In this way u c k k k k ceases to be the initials of an individual and becomes the badge of a society. But of what society have you never. Said Sherlock Holmes bending forward and sinking his voice have you never heard of the ku klux klan. I never have. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. Here it is said he presently ku klux klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret society was formed by some ex confederate soldiers in the southern states after the civil war and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country notably in Tennessee Louisiana the Carolina has Georgia and Florida. It’s power was used for political purposes principally for the terrorizing of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of those who were opposed to its views. It’s outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognized shape. A sprig of oak leaves in some parts melon seeds orange pips in others. On receiving this the victim might either openly obscure his former ways or might fly from the country. If he braved the matter out death would unfailingly come upon him and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organization of the society and so systematic it’s methods that there is hardly a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity or in which any of it’s outrages were traced home to the perpetrators. For some years the organization flourished in spite of the efforts of the united states government and of the better classes of the community in the south. Eventually in the year eighteen sixty nine. The movement rather suddenly collapsed. Although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date. You will observe said Holmes laying down the volume. That the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of openshaw from him america with their papers. It may well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the south and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered. Then the page we have seen. Is such as we might expect it ran if i remember right sent the pips to a b and c that is sent the society’s warning to them. Then there are successive entries that a and b cleared or left the country and finally that c was visited with i fear a sinister result for c. While i think doctor that we may let some light into this dark place and i believe that the only chance young openshaw has in the meantime is to do what i have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done tonight so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable way a’s of our fellow men. It had cleared in the morning and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when i came down. You will excuse me for not waiting for you said he i have i foresee a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young openshaw yours. What steps will you take i asked it will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to horsham after all. You will not go there first. No i shall commence with the city just ring the bell and the maid will bring up your coffee. As i waited i lift the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart. Homes i cried. You are too late. Ah said he laying down his cup. I feared as much how was it done. He spoke calmly but i could see that he was deeply moved. My eye caught the name of openshaw and the heading tragedy near Waterloo bridge. Here is the account. Between nine and ten last night police constable cook of the h division on duty near Waterloo bridge heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night however was extremely dark and stormy so that in spite of the help of several passes by it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm however was given and by the aid of the water police the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket was John openshaw and whose residence is near horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo station and that in his haste and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of one of the small landing places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence and there can be no doubt that the decease it had been the victim of an unfortunate accident which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing stages. We sat in silence for some minutes. Homes more depressed and shaken than i had ever seen him. That hurts my pride Watson he said at last. It is a petty feeling no doubt but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now and if god sends me health. I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help and that i should send him away to his death. He sprang from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and clasping of his long thin hands. They must be cunning devils he exclaimed at last. How could they have decoys him down there. The embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge no doubt was too crowded even on such a night for their purpose. Well Watson we shall see who will win in the long run. I’m going out now to the police. Know i shall be my own police when i have spun the web they may take the flies but not before. All day i was engaged in my professional work and it was late in the evening before i return to baker street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet it was nearly ten o’clock before he entered looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously washing it down with a long draught of water. You’re hungry i remarked. If it had escaped my memory I’ve had nothing since breakfast nothing. Not a bite i had no time to think of it and how have you succeeded. Well. You have a clue. I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young open shore shall not long remain on avenged why Watson let us put their own devilish trademark upon them. It is well thought of. What do you mean. He took an orange from the cupboard and tearing it to pieces he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote. Sh for Joe. Then he sealed it and addressed it to captain James Calhoun Barca lone star Savannah Georgia. That will await him when he enters port said he chuckling. It may give him a sleepless night he will find it assure a precursor of his fate as openshaw did before him and who is this captain Calhoun. The leader of the gang. I shall have the others but he first. How did you trace it then. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket all covered with dates and names. I have spent the whole day said he over lloyds registers and files of the old papers for following the future career of every vessel which touched at pondicherry in January and February in eighty three. There were thirty six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months of these one the lone star instantly attracted my attention. Since although it was reported as having cleared from London. The name is that which is given to one of the states of the union. Texas i think. I was not and am not sure which but i knew that the ship must have an American origin. What then. I searched the dundee records and when i found that the bark lone star was there in January eighty five. My suspicion became a certainty i then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in the port of London. Yes. The lone star had arrived here last week i went down to the Albert dock and found that she’d been taken down the river by the early tide this morning homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to grave’s end and learned that she had passed some time ago and as the wind is easterly i have no doubt that she is now passed the goodwin’s and not very far from the isle of wight. What will you do then. Oh i have my hand upon him. He and the two mates are as i learn the only native born Americans in the ship the others are Finns and Germans. I know also that they were all three away from the ship last night i had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing ship reaches Savannah the mail boat will have carried this letter and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder. There is ever a flaw however in the best laid of human plans and the murderers of John openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another as cunning and as resolute as themselves was upon their track. Very long and very severe where the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for news of the lone star of Savannah but none ever reached us we did at last here that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered stern post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave with the letters ls carved upon it and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the lone star.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

Affiliate Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Your support helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue providing you with quality content. Thank you for your support!