Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-05
~cersainlx. Mr.. Holmes ;,

Formed, TO $4,000 to any one who will
tell you where your son ISL"
Exactly"
And another Thousand to the man
who viii name the person or persons
who keep him in custody"
Exactly"
Under the latter heading is included
no doubt not only those who may have
taken him away. but also those who
conspire to keep him in his present po-
sitionT'
Yes. yes" cried the duke inpatient
y. II you do your work well, Mr..
Sherlock Holmes. you will have no rea-
son 10 complain OF niggardly treat
ment.''
My friend rubbed his thin hands to-
gether with an appearance Of avidity,
which was a surprise TO me- who knew
his frugal tastes.
II fancy that L see your grace's
check book upon the table" said he. ssI
should be glad II you would make me
out check for 10000. II would be as
wei perhaps for you TO cross IL. The
Capital ard Counties bank. Oxford
street branch. are my agents"
BIS grace sat very stern and upright
In bis chair and looked stonily at NV
friend.
'Is this joke. Mr.. Holmes? II is
hardly a subject for pleasantly"
Not at all. your grace was never
more earnest in my life"
What do you mean. them"
Il mean that I have earned the re-
ward. know where your son is. and
i know some az least OF those who are
holding him.
The dukes beard had turned more
aggressively red than ever against his
CHASTITY white face.
"Wherc Is hes" be gasped.
He is. or was last night. at the
Fighting Cock inn. about two miles
from your park gate"
The duke fell back in his chair.
And whom do you accusef"
Sherlock Holmes answer was an as
founding one. He stepped swiftly for
ward and touched the duke upon the
shoulder.
II accuse you" said he. And now.
your grace, IN trouble you for that
check"
Never shall I forget the dukes an
pearance as he sprang up and clawed
with his hands, like one who is sinking
Into an abyss. Then. with an extraor-
ainary effort OF aristocratic self COM
mand, he sat down and sank HIS face
In his hands. II was some minutes be-
fore be spoke.
How much do you know ?" he asked
ct last without raising his head.
81 saw you together last night"
docs any one else beside your friend
knowS"
Il have spoken 10 no one"
The duke took a pen In his quivering
fingers and opened his check book.
Il shall be as good as MY word, Mr.
Holmes. ] am about 10 write your
check. however unwelcome the infor-
nation which you haze gained may be
TO me. When the offer was first made
little thought the turn which events
might take. But you and your friend
are men Of discretion. Mr.. Holmes7"
Il hardly understand your grace"
Il must put it plainly. Mr.. Holmes.
II only you two know Of this Incident
there is no reason why IL should 20
any further. 1 think $4,000 is the sum
that owe you. is il notT"
But Holmes smiled and shook his
head.
Il fear, your grace, that matters can
hardly be arranged so easily. There IS
the death OF this schoolmaster TO be ac-
counted for"
But James knew nothing OF that
You cannot hold him responsible for
that. 1t was the work OF this brutal
rufiian whom he had the misfortune to
employ"
Il must take the view, your grace,
that when a man embarks upon a
crime he is morally guilty OF any other
crime which may spring from IT."
Morally. Mr. Holmes; no doubt you
are right; but surely not in the eyes OF
the law. A man cannot be condemned
for murder at which he was not
pres>nt and which be loathes and alb
hors As much as you do. The instant
that he heard OF it he made a complete
confession 10 me, so filed was he with
horror and remorse He lost not an
hour In breaking entirely with the muir
derer. oh, Mr.. Holmes. yoz must save
him-you must save him! I tell you
that you must save himr' The duke
had dropped the last attempt at self
command and was pacing the room
with convulsed face and with his
clinched hands-waving in the air. At
last he mastered himself and sat down
once more at his desk. II appreciate
your conduct in coming here before You
spoke TO any one else" said he. eat
least we may take counsel how far we
can minimize this hideous scandal"
Exactly" said Holmes. II think.
your grace, that this can only be done
by absolute frankness between us.
am disposed TO help your grace TO the
best OF my ability, but In order to do
so must understand to the last detail
how the matter stands. realize that
your words applied TO Mr.. James VIII
der and that he is not the murderer"
"No, the murderer has escaped"
Sherlock Holmes smiled demurely.
'Your grace can hardly have heard
OF any small reputation which I pos
sess or you would not imagine that IL Is