"The Speckled Band", Summary.

THE SPECKLED BAND

This story began in 1883. Doctor Watson lived with his best friend, Sherlock Holmes, at 221 B, Baker Street in London. One day, a young lady visited them. She was very worried.She was wearing a black dress and a veil over her face. Her face was pale, her hands trembled and there was terror in her eyes. She said she feared for her life. Her name was Helen Stoner. Her motherand father were dead and she was living with her stepfather, Dr. Roylott. He came from a rich family but they were no longer wealthy. Dr. Roylott was using her mother’s money for expenses.
Helen saidher stepfather had no friends, he fought with everyone; he was strong and got angry quickly. He only talked to the gypsies who were staying at their property. Her sister Julia was dead. They wereafraid of the gypsies. Julia died two years ago and her death was a mystery.
Helen’s mother met Dr. Roylott in India. They got married when Helen and Julia were two years old. While they were in India ,her stepfather hit a man and killed him. He spent many years in prison and then, they moved to England. Shortly afterwards, her mother died in a train accident and left all her money to Dr. Roylott.There was some money to the daughters but only after their marriages. Helen and Julia were afraid of their stepfather: his temper was terrible and he was a very strange man. Once he brought a Cheetahand a baboon from India. No one wanted to be a servant in their home. Julia met a man and got engaged but two weeks before the wedding something terrible happened.
Julia’s bedroom was between herbedroom and Dr. Roylott’s. The night Julia died they were all in their rooms. Her stepfather always smoked before bedtime. Julia couldn’t sleep because of the smoke. There was a storm outside. She heardher sister scream and at that very moment, she heard a low whistle and a loud clanging sound. When Julia opened her door, she was white with terror and she fell to the floor. She said it was “the...