The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-08

 His wet clothing showed that he had been out in the storm of the night before, and his stick, which was a Penanglawyer weighted with lead, was just such a weapon as might, by repeated blows, have inflicted the terrible injuries to which the trainer had succnmbed. On the other hand, there was no wound upon his person, while the state of Straker's knife would show that one at least of his as- saiants must bear his mark upon him. There you have it all in a nutshell Wat son, and if you can give me any light shall be infinitely obliged to you'
 1 had listened with the greatest interest to the statement which Holmes, with characteristic clearness, had laid before me. Though most of the facts wore Ia miiar to me. I had not sufficiently appre- ciated their relative importance, nor their connection to each other.
 sIs it not possible 1 suggested, that the incised wound upon Straker may have been caused by his own knife in the con- vulsive struggles which follow any brain injury?"
 "It is more than possible; it is prob able, said Holmes. 'In that case one of the main pSints in favor of the ac- cused disappears
 "And yet" said l. 'even now l fail to understand what the theory of the police can be-
 T am afraid that whatever theory we state has very grave objections to it, returned my companion. "The police im- agine, take 1t. that this Fitzroy Simpson. having drugged the lad and having in some way obtained a duplicate key, op- ened the stable door and took out the horse, with the intention apparently, Of Kidnapping him altogether. His bridle is missing so that Simpson must have pat his on. Then, having left the door opsn behnd him, he was leading the horse away over the moor. when he was either met or overtaken by the trainer. A row naturally ensued. Simpson beat out the trainers brains with his heavy stick, without receiving any injury II om the small knife which Straker used in self defense and then the thief either led the horse on to some secret hiding place. or else 1t may have bolted during the strug- gle and is now wandering out on the moors That is the case as it appears to the police, and improbable as It is, all other explanations are more improbapie still. However, l shall very quickly test the matter when 1 am once upon the spot. and until then I cannot ,sdlly see how we can get much further than our pres ent position.
 It was evening before we reached the little town of Tavistock, which lies like the boss of a shield, in the middle of the huge circle of Dartmoor. Two gentlemen were awaiting us in the station-the one tall fair man with lion like hair and beard, and curiously penetrating light blue eyes; the other a small, alert per son. very neat and dapper, in frock coat and gaiters, with trim little side whskers and an eyeglass. The latter was Colonel Ross, the well-known sportsman; the other, Inspector Gregory, man who was rapidly making his name in the Eng lish detective service.
 T am delighted that you have como down, Mr Holmes, "said the colonel. ''The inspector here has done all that could possibly be suggested, but l wish to leave no stone unturned in trying to avenge poor Straker and recovering my horse"
 Have there been any fresh develop ments?" asked Holmes.
 1T am sorry to say that we have made very little progress" said the inspector. We have an open carriage outside, and as you would no doubt like to see the place before the light fails, we might talk i it over as we driye.''
 A minute later we were all seated in a comfortable landau, and were rattling 1 through the quaint old Devonshire city. ! Inspector Gregory was full of his case. and poured out a stream of remarks, while Holmes threw in an occasional question or interjection. Colonel Ross leaned back with his arms folded and his hat tilted over his eyes, while l listened with in- l terest to the dialogue of the two detec- tives. Gregory was formulating his the ory, which was almost exactly what Holmes had foretod in the train. '"The net is drawn pretty close round ] Fitzroy Simpson, he remarked land I believe myself that he is our man. At the same time l recognize that the evil dence is purely circumstantial, and that i some new development may upset it.
 How about Strakers knife?' 1 "We have quite come to the conclusion | that he wounded himself in his fall" My friend, Dr. Watson, made that sug-
 gestion to me as we came down. If so.
 it would tell against this man Simpson. '' l Undoubtedly. He has neither knife