The Adventure of the Speckled Band that of Dr Roylott. Holmes and Watson arrange to spend the night in Helen's room. In darkness they wait; suddenly, a slight metallic noise and a dim light through the ventilator prompt Holmes to action. Quickly lighting a candle, he discovers on the bell cord the "speckled band"—a venomous snake. He strikes the snake with a stick, driving it back through the ventilator. Agitated, it attacks Roylott, who had been waiting for it to return after killing Helen. Holmes identifies the snake as a "swamp adder" and reveals to Watson the motive: the late wife's will had provided an annual
The Veldt (short story) The Veldt (short story) "The Veldt" is a science fiction short story by American author Ray Bradbury. Originally appearing as "The World the Children Made" in the 23 September 1950 issue of "The Saturday Evening Post", it was republished under its current name in the 1951 anthology "The Illustrated Man". In the story, a mother and father struggle with their technologically advanced home taking over their role as parents, and their children becoming uncooperative as a result of their lack of discipline. The Hadley family lives in an automated house called "The Happylife Home", filled with machines that aid them