The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-08
Silver Blaze.

10 William Derbyshire. Mrs. StidheI
tells us that Derbyshire was friend
of her husbands, and that OCCASION
ally his letters We're addressed here.
Madame Derbyshire had somewhat
expensive tastes remarked Holmes
glancing down the account. Twenty
two guineas is rather heavy for a
single costume. However, there ap-
pears nothing more to learn, and we
may now go down 10 the scene or the
crime"
AS we emerged from the sitting
room a woman, who had been waiting
in the passage, took step forward
and laid her hand upon the inspectors /
sleeve. Her face was haggard and thin
and eager, stamped with the print or
recent horror. SIS
Have you got them? Have you /
found then?"' she painted
No, Mrs. Straker. But Mr.. Holmes /
here has come from London to help |
us and we shall do all that is possible
Surely 1 met you in Plymouth at |
garden party some little time ago. |
Mrs. Straker?'' said Holmes.
No, sir: you are mistaken"
Dear me! Why, / could have sworn I
! 10 il. You wore a costume OF dove
! colored silk with ostrich-feather trim
ming"
Il never had such dress, sir, an
/ ewered the lady.
All, that quite settles. it, said Holmes.
And with an apology he followed the
inspector outside. short walk across
the moor took US to the hollow in which
the body had been found. At the brink
of it was the furze-bush upon which
the coat had been hung
There was 10 wind that night, /
| understand" said Holmes
None; but very heavy rain"
In that case the overcoat was not
blown against the furze- bushes, but
placed there"
You I'LL me with interest. l perceive
that the ground has been trampled up
a good deal. No doubt many feet have
been here since Monday night"
"A piece of mating has been laid
here at the side, and we have all stood
upon that"
Excellent
In this bag have one of the boots
which Straker wore. one Of FitzrOy
! Simpsons shoes, and a cast horseshoe
of Silver Blaze"
My dear inspector, you surpass
yourself" Holmes. took the bag, and,
descending into the hollow, he pushed
the mating into a more central posi-
ton. Then, stretching himself upon his
face and leaning his chin upon his
hands, he made q careful study of the
trampled mud in front of him. rsHullot'
said he, suddenly. What's this?" It
was a wax vesta half burned, which
was so coated with mud that it looked
( at first like little chip of wood
Il cannot think how 1 came TO over
look it, said the Inspector, with an
expression of annoyance.
1T was invisible, buried in the mud.
/ only saw it because [ was looking
for it."
What, You expected to find it,"
Il thought it not unlikely
he to9k the b0Otf FUN the bag and
compared she IMPRESSION of each OF
them with marks upon the ground
Then he clambered up to the rim OF the
hollow and crawleG about among the
ferns and bushes.
II am afraid that there are no moro
tracks, said the inspector. Il have
examined the ground very carefully
for hundred yards in each direc-
: ton"
Indeed" said Holmes, rising. I
should not have the impertinence to do
it again after what you say. But
should like to have a little walk over
the moor before it grows dark that |
may know my ground tomorrow, and 1
think that l shall put this horseshoe
into my pocket for luck"
Colonel Ross, who had shown some
signs OF lmpatience at my companion :
p quiet and systematic method of work
glanced at his watch. 4 wish you
would come back with me, inspector"
said he. There are several points on
; which I should like your advice. and
! / especially as TO whether we do not owe
, it TO the public to remove our horses
, name from the entries for the cup"
, Certainly not cried Holmes with
decision. 4 should let the name
stand"
The colonel bowed. 4 am very glad
10 have had your opinion, sir said he.
You Will md us at poor Strakers
3 house when you have finished your
, walk, and we can drive together into
} Tavistock.'
He turned back with the inspector.
while Holmes and l walked slowly
across the moor. The sun was begin
ming to sink behind the stable of Maple
2 ton, and the long, slOping plain in front
of US was tinged with gold, deepening
I into rich, ruddy browns where the
5 faded ferns and brambles caught the
evening light. But the glories of the
Z landscape were all wasted upon my
companion. who was sunk in the deep
est thought.
It's this way, Watson" said he at
last. We may leave the question Of
who killed John Straker for the in
} slant and cOnfine ourselves to finding
> what has become of the horse Now
suppOsing that he broke away during
{ or after the tragedy, where could he
have gone to? The horse is a very
| gregarious creature. If left to himself
his instincts would have been either TO
return to Kings Pyland or go over 10
| MapletOu. Why should he run wild
upon the moor? He would surely have
; | been seen by now. And why should
gypsles kidnap him? These people al
. ways clear out when they hear OF trou-
bic, for they do not wish to be pestered
/ by the police They could not hope TO
! great risk and gain nothing by taking
him. Surely that is clear;
Where is he, them"
Z II have already said that he must
z have gone TO Kings Pyland or To Ma
! pleton. He is not al Kings Pyland.
l | Therefore he. is at MaDletOn. Let Us
= take that assp hypothesis and see what
+ it leads US to. This part of the moor.
= as the inspector remarked. is very hard
. and dry. But it falls away toward
% | MapletOn, and you can see from here
. | that there is a long hollow over yOnder.
| which must have been very wet on
Monday night. If our supposition is
/ | correct. then the horse must have
/ | crossed that and there is the point
e | where we should look for his tracks. "
o We had been walking briskly during
: this conversation, and few more min
/ | utes brought US TO the hollow in ques-
ton At Holmes request / walked down
, ! the bank 10 the right and ne to the
left but I had not taken fifty PAGES be-
. fore I heard him give a shout. and saw
him waving his hand TO me- The track
= OF horse was plainly outlined in the
soft earth in front of him. and the shoe
which he took from his pocket exactly
; fitted the impression.
see the value of imagination" SAID