Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-26

LET us continue our reconstruction
He meets his death FIVE miles from the
schooI-not by Il bullet. mark yOu.
which even a lad might conceivably
discharge hut by savage blow dealt
by vigorous arm. The lad. then. had
a companion in his flight. And the
fight was a swift one since il took five
miles before an expert cyclist could
| ovprtake them. Yet we survey the
| ground round the scene OF the ira getly
/ What do we End: A few cattle tracks.
| nothing more. took a wide sweep
| round, and there is no path within fifty
yards. Another cyclist could have had
! nothing TO do with the actual murder,
nor Were there any human footmarks."
"Holmes." I cried, this is impossi-
ble"'
Admirable he said "A most H.
Eliminating remark 1t is impossible as
1 state it, and therefore l must in
some respect have stated it wrong.
Yet you saw for yourself. Can you
suggest any fallacy:"
, He could not have fractured his
skull in 4 fall:"
I'm n morass. WatsonE''
Il am at ny wits end.
Tut. tut, We have solved some
worse problems At least we have
plenty Of material. If we can only use
it. Come. then. and. having exhausted
the Palmer. let US see what the Dun
Iop with the patched cover has TO offer
US
We picked mp the track and followed
arb Ts.r lists lint
the moor rose into long, heather tuft-
ed curve. and we left the water course
behind us No further help from tracks
could he hoped for. At the spot where
we saw the last Of the Dunlop tire il
might equally have led to Holdernesse
Hall, the stately towers of which rose
soIrfe miles to our left, or TO low gray
village which lay in front Of US and
marked tore position of the Chesterfield
higlIroad.
As we approached the forbidding and
Squalid inn with the sign of a game
cock above the door Holmes gave a
sudden grOan and clutched me by the
shoulder To save himself from falling.
He had had one of those violent strains
Of the ankle which leave a man help
less. With difficulty he limped up to
the door, where n squat. dark elderly
man was smoking n black clay pipe.
How are you, Mr.. Reuben Hayes"
said Holmes.
who are you. and how do you get
my name so patti the cOuntryman an
swere1, with a suspicious fash of
pair of cunning eyes.
We'll. it's printed on the board above
your head. It's easy to see a man who
is master of his own house. ! suppose
you haven't such a thing as a carriage
in your Stables:'
NO, 1 have not
Il can hardly put my foot to the
ground"
Don't put it TO the ground"
But l can't walk"
well. then, hop.
Mr. Reuben Hayes manner was far
from gracious, but Holmes took it with
admirable good humor.
Look here, my man." said he. This
is really rather an awkward fix for me.
l don't mind how | get on
Neither do l." said the morose land
lord.
The matter is very important. l
would offer you a sovereign for the use
of bicycle"
The landlord pricked up his ears.
Where do you want to go?''
ITO Holdernesse Hall"
pals of the dock, | SuppOse?" said
the landlord. surveying our mud stained
garments with ironlcal eyes.
Holmes laughed good naturally.
He'll be glad to see us anyhow"
Why"
Because we bring him news Of his
lost SON.
The landlord gave a very visible
start
What, you're on his track
He has been heard of in Liverpool.
They expect TO get him every hour"
Again a swift change passed over the
heavy, unshaven face. His manner
was suddenly genial.
I've less reason to wish the dock
well than most men," said he, ''fOr l
was his head coachman once and cruel
bad he treated me. II was him that
sacked me without character on the
word of lying corn chandler. But
I'm glad TO hear that the young lord
was heard OF in Liverpool, and I'll help
you take the news TO the hall
THANK YOU" said Holmes. "weI'
have some food first. Then you can
bring round the bicycle"
II haven't got n bicycle"
Holmes held up a sovereign.
Il tell you. man. that I haven't got
one. I'll let YOU have two horses as far
as the hall
We'll. well.' said Holmes. well
talk about it when we've had some
thing To eat
When we were left alone in the
stone tagged kitchen il was aStoniSh-
ing how rapidly that sprainei ankle
recovered. 1t was nearly nightfall.
and we had eaten nothing since early
morning. so that we spent some time
over our meal Holmes was lost in
thought and once or twice he walked
over TO the window and stared earnest
~ out. 1t opened on TO sQualid
courtyard In the far corner was a
u