Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-08

/ was not Eurpriaed. lnQeed, my only
wonder was that he had not already been
mixed up in this extraordinary case which
was the only topic Of conversation through
the length and breadth OF England. For a
whole day my companion had rambled
about the room, with his chin upon his
chest and his brows knitted charging and
recharging his pipe with the strongest
black tobacco. and absolutely deaf to any
OF my questions or remarks Fresh edi-
tons Of every paper had been sent up by
our news agent, only to be glanced over
and tossed down into a corner Yet, silent
as he was ! knew perfectly we'll what II
was over which he was brooding There
was hut one problem before the public
which could challenge his powers OF analy-
sis and that was the singular disappear
ance OF the favorite for the Wessex cup
and the tragic murder Of its trainer.
When, therefore, he suddenly announced
his intention Of setting out for the scene
OF the drama II was only what had both
expected and hoped for.
IT should be most happy TO 60 down with
you II should not be in the way" said I.
MY dear Watson you would confer
great favor upon me by coming. And I
think that your time will not be misspent,
for there are points about the case which
promise to make It an absolutely unique
one We have, I think, just time to catch
our train at Paddington, and I will go
further into the matter upon our Journey.
You will oblige me by bringing with you
your very excellent field glass"
And so II happened that an hour or so
later 7 found myself in the corner Of a
flrst-class carriage flying along en- route for
Exeter, while Sherlock Holmes with his
sharp. eager face framed in his ear-happed
travelling cap, dipped rapidly into the
bundle of fresh papers which he had pro-
cured at Paddington. We had left Read
ling far behind us before he thrust the last
one Of them under the seat and offered me
his cigar case.
eve are going we'll" said he, looking out
Of the window and glancing at his watch.
our rate at present Is ffty-three and a
half miles an hour"
II have not observed the quarter-mile
posts" said l.
Nor have I. But the telegraph posts
upon this line are sixty yards apart and
the calculation Is a simple one. l presume
that you have looked into this matter OF
the murder OF John straker and the dis
appearance Of Silver Blazer
81 have seen what the Telegraph and the
Chronicle have to say"
at is one of those cases where the art Of
the reasoner should be used rather for the
sitting of details than for the acquiring of
fresh evidence. The tragedy has been so
uncommon, so complete and of such per-
sonal Importance to so many people that
we are suffering from a plethora of sur
mise. conjecture and hypothesis. The diff
Guilty Is to detach the framework of fact,
of absolute, undeniable fact from the en-
beilishments of theorists and reporters
Then. having established ourselves upon
this sound basis, It is our duty to see what
differences may be drawn and what are the
special points upon which the whole mys-
terry turns. On Tuesday evening received
kilograms from both Colonel Ross the
owner of the horse, and from Inspector
Gregory. who is looking after the caser in
wiling my cooperation"
Tuesday EVENING"" I exclaimed. And
this is Thursday morning. Why didn't you
go down yesterday"
Because made blunder, my dear Wat
son-which is, am afraid, a more common
occurrence than any one would think who
only knew me through your memoirs. The
fact is that could not believe It possible
that the most remarkable horse in England
could long remain concealed, especially in
so sparsely inhabited a place as the north
OF Dartmoor. From hour to hour yesterday
expected to hear that he had been found
and that his abductor was the murderer
of John straker. When, however, another
morning had come and found that beyond
the arrest of young FitEroy Simpson moth
ing had been DONE felt that 1t was time
for me to take action. Yet in some ways
feel that yesterday has not been wasted"
you have formed theory, then?'
AT least have got a grip Of the essen
tial facts OF the case. shall enumerate
them to you, for nothing clears up case
so much as stating II to another person,
and I can hardly expect your cooperation
II do not show you the position from
which we start"
lay back against the cushions, pufnns
at my cigar, while Holmes leaning for
ward, with his long, thin forehnger check
ing on the points upon the palm Of his
left hand. gave me a sketch OF the events
which had led to our journey
silver Blaze" said he rs from the
Somomy stock, and holds as brilliant a rec
ord as his famous ancestor. He IL now In
his NTH year and has brought in turn each
OF the prizes OF the turf to Colonel Ross
his fortunate owner. Up TO the time OF
the catastrophe he was the first favorite
for the Wessex cup. the betting being three
TO one on him. He has always, however
been a prime favorite with the racing pub
lie and has never yet disappointed them
90 that even at those odds enormous sums
OF money have been laid upon him. 1t is
obvious, therefore that there were many
people who had the strongest interest in
preventing Silver Blaze from being there
at the fall of the nag next Tuesday
The fact was, OF course. appreciated at
Kings Pyland, where the Colonel's training
stable Is situated Every preeautlon was
taken 70 guard the favorite. The trainer,
John straker, is a retired jockey who rode
In Colonel Ross colors before he became
TOO heavy for the weighing chair He has
served the Colonel for five years as jockey
and for seven as trainer, and has always
SHOWN himself TO be jealous and honest
aAW M TNAa
the establishment was a small one. con-
taining only four horses in all one OF
these lads sat up each night In the stable.
while the others slept in the loft. All three
bore excellent characters. John straker.
who is married man lived In a small
villa about 800 yards from the stables He
has no children, keeps one maid servant