The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-16

room was on the second floor at the
farther end of the building. facing the
same way as Lord Saltire's. His bed
had also been slept in, but he had ap-
parently gone away partly dressed
since his shirt and socks were lying
on the floor. He had undoubtedly let
himself down by the ivy. for we could
see the marks of his feet where he had
landed on the lawn His bicycle was
kept in a small shed beside this lawn.
and it was also gone.
He had been with me for two
years and came with the best refer
enceS. but he was a silent moroSe
man, not very popular either with
masters or boys. No trace could be
found of the fugitives. and now. on
Thursday morning, we are as igno-
rant as we were on Tuesday. Inquiry
was, of course. made at once at Holder
neSSe Hall. 1t is only few miles
away. and we imagined that in some
sudden attack of inconsistencies the boy
had gone back TO his father but nothing
had been heard of him. The duke is
greatly agitated. and as to me-you
have seen yourselves the state of
nervous proStration to which the sus-
peuSe and the responsibility have re-
duced me. Mr.. Holmes. if ever you
put forward your full powers | i'm
plorc you To do So now. for never in
your life could you have case Which
is more worthy of them A.
Sherlock Holmes had listened with
the utmost intentneSS to the statement
of the unhappy SchoolmaSter His
drawn browS and the deep furrow be-
tween them showed that he needed no
eXhJrtation TO concentrate all his at
tention upon a problem which. apart
from the tremendous interests involved.
must appeal 50 directly to his love of
the complex and the unusual. He now
drew ont his notebook and jotted
down one or two memoranda.
You have been very remiSs in not
coming to me sooner" said he severe
ly. You start ME on my investigation
with a very serious handicap. 1t is
inconceivahle, for example that this
y
nothing TO an expert observer"
Il am not to blame. Mr. Holmes His
grace was extremely DESTROYS to avoid
all public scandal. He was afraid OF
his family unhappneSs being dragged
before the world He has deep hor-
ror of anything of the kind
But there has been some official in
vestigation:"
Yes. sir. and it has proved most dis
appointing. An apparent clew was at
once obtained. since boy and young
man were reported to have been seen
leaving a neighboring station by an
early train. Only last night we had
news that the couple had been hunted
down in Liverpool. and they prove TO
have no connection whatever with the
matter in hand Then ii was that in
my despair and disappointment after Il
sleeplesS night l came straight to you
by the early train"
81 suppose the local investigation
was relaxed while this false clew was
being followed up"
1T was entirely dropped"
$50 that three days have been vast
ably handled"
81 feel it and admit it
"And yet the problem should be ca
pable of ultimate solution. shall be
very happy to look into it. Have you
been able TO trace any connection be-
Il, hox
man MASTER"
"None at all"
''Was he in the masters Glass;
"No: he never exchanged word
with him so far as know
THAT is certainly very singular Had
the boy bicycle?"
NO"
"Was any other bicycle misSing?"
mo
rs that certain?"
"Quite"
We'll, now, you do not mean to seri-
ously suggest that this German rode
off upon bicycle in the dead of the
night bearing the boy in his armS?"
Certainly not"
"Thcn what is the theory in your
mind:"
THE bicycle may have been blind.
1t may have been hidden somewhere
and the pair gone off on foot"
quite so. but it seems rather an alb
surd blind, does it not? Were there
other bicycles in this Shed:"
Several"
Would he not have hidden a couple
had he desired to give the idea that
they had gone off upon them?"
Il suppose he would"
"Of course he would. The blind
theory won't do. But the incident is an
admirable starting point for an in
vestiSation. After all, bicycle is not
an easy thing TO conceal or to destroy.
one other question Did any one call
TO see the boy on the day before he
lisappeared:"
NO"
Did he get any letterSE'
YES. one letter.
''From whom?"
Prom his father"