ch he was not consulted during those eight years, and there were hundreds of private cases, some of them of the most intricate and extraordinary charact

interest not so much from the brutality of the crime as from the ingenuity and dramatic quality of the solution. For this reason I will now lay before the reader the facts connected with Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of Charlington, and the curious sequel of our investigation, which culminated in

end, who loved above all things precision and concentration of thought, resented anything which distracted his attention from the matter in hand. And yet, without a harshness which was foreign to his nature, it was impossible to refuse to listen to the story of the young and beautiful woman, tall, graceful, and queenly, who presented herself at Baker Street late in the evening, and implored his a

, as his keen eyes darted over her, "s

erved the slight roughening of the side of the so

lmes, and that has something to do

ed it with as close an attention and as littl

Of course, it is obvious that it is music. You observe the spatulate finger-ends, Watson, which is common to both professions? There is a

olmes, I te

I presume, from

arnham, on the bo

ember, Watson, that it was near there that we took Archie Stamford, the forger. No

rness and composure, made the f

iring for our whereabouts. You can imagine how excited we were, for we thought that someone had left us a fortune. We went at once to the lawyer whose name was given in the paper. There we met two gentlemen, Mr. Carruthers and Mr. Woodley, who were home on a visit from South Africa. They said that my uncle was a friend of theirs, that he had died some months before in great poverty in Johannes

Holmes. "When wa

mber-four

proc

-faced, red-moustached young man, with his hair plastered down on each side of his forehead. I thought

is name!" said

ady blushed

nquired how we were left, and on finding that we were very poor, he suggested that I should come and teach music to his only daughter, aged ten. I said that I did not like to leave my mother, on which he suggested that I should go home to her every week-end, and he offered me a hundred a year, which was certainly splendid pay. So it ended by my accepting, and I went down to Chiltern Gra

said that if I married him I could have the finest diamonds in London, and finally, when I would have nothing to do with him, he seized me in his arms one day after dinner-he was hideously strong-and swore that he would not let me go until I had kissed him. Mr. Carruthers came in and tore h

and it is quite rare to meet so much as a cart, or a peasant, until you reach the high road near Crooksbury Hill. Two weeks ago I was passing this place, when I chanced to look back over my shoulder, and about two hundred yards behind me I saw a man, also on a bicycle. He seemed to be a middle-aged man, with a short, dark beard. I looked back before I reached Farnham, but the man was gone, so I thought no more about it. But you can imagine how surprised I was, Mr. Holmes, when, on my ret

meone whom I did not know. He was dressed in a dark suit with a cloth cap. The only thing about his face that I could clearly see was his dark beard. To-day I was not alarmed, but I was filled with curiosity, and I determined to find out who he was and what he wanted. I slowed down my machine, but he slowed down his. Then I stopped altogether, but he stopped also. Then I laid a trap for him. The

e features of its own," said he. "How much time elapsed between y

three

d down the road, and you say tha

on

ook a footpath on on

the side of the heath, or I

his way toward Charlington Hall, which, as I understand, is sit

plexed that I felt I should not be hap

silence for so

n to whom you are enga

and Electrical Com

pay you a su

! As if I shoul

ad any othe

efore I kn

sin

l man, Woodley, if you

one

nt seemed a l

he?" aske

ers, takes a great deal of interest in me. We are thrown rather together. I play his accompaniments

grave. "What does

a ric

iages or

s into the city two or three times a week. He

ll find time to make some inquiries into your case. In the meantime, take no step without

ulled at his meditative pipe, "but for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads. Some secretive

d appear only

since they appear to be men of such a different type? How came they BOTH to be so keen upon looking up Ralph Smith's relations? One more point. What sort

ill go

you will conceal yourself near Charlington Heath; you will observe these facts for yourself, and act as your own judgment advises. Then, having inquired as to the occupants of th

scene of the young lady's adventure, for the road runs between the open heath on one side and an old yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded with magnificent trees. There was a main gateway of lichen-studded stone, each side pillar su

eway of the Hall and a long stretch of the road upon either side. It had been deserted when I left it, but now I saw a cyclist riding down it from the opposite direction to that in which I had come. He

sitting very straight upon her machine, and the man behind her bending low over his handle-bar with a curiously furtive suggestion in every movement. She looked back at him and slowed her pace. He slowed also. She stopped. He at once stopped, too, keeping two hundred yards behind her. Her next movement was as unexpected as it was spirited. She suddenly wh

see him standing among the trees. His hands were raised, and he seemed to be settling his necktie. Then he mounted his cycle, and rode away from me down the drive towards the Hall. I ran across the h

own firm in Pall Mall. There I halted on my way home, and met with courtesy from the representative. No, I could not have Charlington Hall for the summer. I was just too late. It had been let about a month a

did not elicit that word of curt praise which I had hoped for and should have valued. On the contrary, his aust

l me even less than Miss Smith. She thinks she does not know the man; I am convinced she does. Why, otherwise, should he be so desperately anxious that she should not get so near him as to see his features? Yo

ve done?" I cried

clist who sprints away from that young lady's athletic pursuit. What have we gained by your expedition? The knowledge that the girl's story is true. I never doubted it. That there is a connection between the cyclist and the Hall. I never d

rtly and accurately the very incidents which I had se

is of course given. He took my refusal very seriously, but also very gently. You can understand, however, that the situation is a little strained. "Our young friend seems to be getting into deep waters," said Holmes, thoughtfully, as he finished the letter. "The case cer

a discoloured lump upon his forehead, besides a general air of dissipation which would have made his own person the fitting obj

t I have some proficiency in the good old British sport of boxing. Occasionally, it is o

o tell me what

, and they tell me that there WAS a man of that name in orders, whose career has been a singularly dark one. The landlord further informed me that there are usually week-end visitors-'a warm lot, sir'-at the Hall, and especially one gentleman with a red moustache, Mr. Woodley by name, who was always there. We had got as far as this, when who should walk in but the gentleman himself, who had been drinking his beer in the tap-room and had heard the whole conversation. Who was I? What did I wa

ht us another lett

y cannot reconcile me to the discomforts of my situation. On Saturday I come up to town, and I do not intend to re

h disfigured. I saw him out of the window, but I am glad to say I did not meet him. He had a long talk with Mr. Carruthers, who seemed much excited afterwards. Woodley must be staying in the neighbourhood, for he did not sleep here, and yet I caught a glimpse of him a

d it is our duty to see that no one molests her upon that last journey. I think, Watson, that we must spare time to

her approach, he was not a very formidable assailant. The ruffian Woodley was a very different person, but, except on one occasion, he had not molested our client, and now he visited the house of Carruthers without intruding upon her presence. The man on the bicycle was doubtless a member of those week-end parties at the

aling the fresh morning air and rejoicing in the music of the birds and the fresh breath of the spring. From a rise of the road on the shoulder of Crooksbury Hill, we could see the grim Hall bristling out from amidst the ancient oaks, which, old as they were, were still younger than the b

p, she must be making for the earlier train. I fear, Watson, th

owever, was always in training, for he had inexhaustible stores of nervous energy upon which to draw. His springy step never slowed until suddenly, when he was a hundred yards in front of me, he halted, and I saw

that earlier train! It's abduction, Watson-abduction! Murder! Heaven knows what! Block the road! Stop

cut with the whip, and we flew back along the road. As we turned the curve, the whol

sed on to the pedals. He was flying like a racer. Suddenly he raised his bearded face, saw us close to him, and pulled up, springing from his machine. That coal-

re did you get that dog-cart? Pull up, man!" he yelled, drawing a pistol from

s into my lap and spr

here is Miss Violet Smith?" he sa

ou're in her dog-cart. You oug

There was no one in it. We drove b

got her, that hell-hound Woodley and the blackguard parson. Come, man, come, if you really are

p in the hedge. Holmes followed him, and I, leaving

o the marks of several feet upon the muddy path.

aiters. He lay upon his back, his knees drawn up, a terrible cut upon his head. He was

have pulled him off and clubbed him. Let him lie; we can't do him any

ng the trees. We had reached the shrubbery

their marks on the left-here, b

renzy of horror-burst from the thick, green clump of bushes in front

anger, darting through the bushes. "Ah, the cowardly dogs! F

kerchief round her mouth. Opposite her stood a brutal, heavy-faced, red-moustached young man, his gaitered legs parted wide, one arm akimbo, the other waving a riding crop, his whole attitude suggestive of triumphant bravado. Between them an elderl

married!"

hed, the lady staggered against the trunk of the tree for support. Williamson, the ex-clergyman, bowed to u

ht enough. Well, you and your pals have just come in ti

on the ground, disclosing a long, sallow, clean-shaven face below it. Then he raised his revolver and

righted, if I have to swing for it. I told you what I'd do if

late. She'

e's you

hideous red face turning suddenly to a dreadful mottled pallor. The old man, still clad in his surplice, burst into such a string of foul oaths

ck it up! Hold it to his head. Thank you. You, Carruthers, give m

re you

is Sherlo

d Lo

appeared at the edge of the glade. "Come here. Take this note as hard as you can ride to Farnham." He scribbled a few words upon a leaf

themselves carrying the wounded Woodley into the house, and I gave my arm to the frightened girl. The injured man was laid on his bed, and at

l live,

upstairs and finish him first. Do you tell me that that

reasons why she should, under no circumstances, be his wife. In the first place,

dained," cried

so unfr

yman, always

. How about

the marriage. I have

ou will discover before you have finished. You'll have time to think the point out during the next ten years

South Africa-a man whose name is a holy terror from Kimberley to Johannesburg. Why, Mr. Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but ever since that girl has been in my employment I never once let her go past this house, where I knew the rascals were lurking, without following her on my bic

ou tell her o

that. Even if she couldn't love me, it was a great deal to me just to se

love, Mr. Carruthers, but I sho

ith this crowd about, it was well that she should have someone near to look

t ca

egram from his pocket

hort and

d man

nderstand how this message would, as you say, bring them to

he surplice burst into a

ley. You can bleat about the girl to your heart's content, for that's your own affair, but if you

my private curiosity. However, if there's any difficulty in your telling me, I'll do the talking, and then you will see how far you have a chance

two months ago, and I have never been in Africa in my life, so y

is true," sa

u had known Ralph Smith in South Africa. You had reason to believe he would not

dded and Will

and you were aware that the old

or write," sa

that one of you was to marry her, and the other have a share of the pl

for her on the

brute that he was, and would have nothing to do with him. Meanwhile, your arrangement was rather upset by the f

eorge, I

ft you in a rage, and began to make

I saw them from time to time, for I was anxious to know what they were after. Two days ago Woodley came up to my house with this cable, which showed that Ralph Smith was dead. He asked me if I would stand by the bargain. I said I would not. He asked me if I would marry the girl myself and give him a share. I said I would willingly do so, but that she would not have me. He said, 'Let us get her married first and after a week or two she may see things a bit different.' I sa

ry in the drive, and I am glad to see that the little ostler is able to keep pace with them, so it is likely that neither he nor the interesting bridegroom will be permanently damaged by their morning's adventures. I think, Watson, that in your medical capacity, you might wait upon Miss Smith and tell her that if she is sufficiently recovered, we shall be happy to escort her to her mothe

owever, a short note at the end of my manuscript dealing with this case, in which I have put it upon record that Miss Violet Smith did indeed inherit a large fortune, and that she is now the wife of Cyril Morton, the senior partner of Morton & Kennedy, the famous Westminster electricians. Williamson and Woodley were both tried for