The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-12


pool. They expect to get him every
hour"
Again a swift change passed over
the heavy, unshaven face. Ills man
ner was suddenly genial.
I've less reason to wish the DOCK
well than most men, said he, Tor
was his head coachman once, ana
cruel bad he treated me. 1t was him
that sacked me without a 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
Hail.
THANK you" said Holmes. We'll
have some food first. Then you can
bring round the bicycle
Il haven't got a bicycle"
Holmes held up a sovereign.
Il tell you, man, that l haven't
got one. I'll let you have two horses
as far as the Hall"
well, WELL" said Holmes we'll
talk about 1t when We've had some
thing to eat"
When we were left alone in the
stone-nagged kitchen. it, was aston
ishing how rapidly that sprained ankle
recovered. 1t was nearly nightfall.
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 out.
1t opened on to a squalid courtyard.
In the far corner was smithy,
where a grimy lad was at work. On
the other side were the stables.
Holmes had sat down again after one
of these excursions, when he sudden
ly sprang out of his chair with a loud
exclamation.
by heaven, Watson, ] believe that
I've got iti'' he cried. Eyes, yes, It
must be so. Watson, do you remem-
Der seeing any cow-tracks today?"
Yes, several
"Where?"
We'll, everywhere. They were at
the morass, and again on the path,
and again near where poor Heidegger
met his death"
Exactly. Well, now, Watson, how
many cows did you see on the moor?'
Il don't remember seeing any"
Strange. Watson that we should
see tracks all along our line, but
never a cow on the whole moor. Very
strange Watson, eh?'
Yes, 1t is strange e
throw your mind back. Can you see
those tracks upon the path?'
Yes, l cam"
"Can you recall that the tracks
were sometimes like that, Watson" =
he had arranged number of bread
crumbs in this fashion: =
'and sometimes like this:
land occasionally like this
Can you recall that2'
mo, / cannot
but, | can. | could swear to 1t.
However, we will go back at our
leisure and verify 1t. What a blind
beetle l have been, not to draw my
conclusionl"
And what is your conclusion?"
only that 1t is remarkable COW
which walks, canters, and gallops. BY
George! Watson 1t was no brain of
country publican that thought out such
blind as that. The coast seems to be
clear save for that lad In the smlthy.
Let us slip out and see what we can
see."
There were two rough-haired. I'M
kempt horses in the tumble-down sta
BILE. Holmes raised the hind leg of one
of them and laughed aloud.
'Old shoes, but newly shod-old
serves to be a classic. Let us go
across to the smithy'
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. saw Holmes eye dart
ing to right and left among the litter
of iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor Suddenly, however,
we heard step behind us, and there
was the landlord, his heavy eyebrows
drawn down over his savage eyes, his
swarthy features convulsed with pas
sion. He held short, metal-headed
stick in his hand, and he advanced in
so menacing fashion that l was
right glad to feel the revolver In my
pocket.
"You Internal spies!' the man cried.
'What are you doing there?'
Why, Mr.. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes. cody. lone might think that
you were afraid of our finding some
thing out" v-
The man mastered himself with
violent effort, and his grim mouth
loosened into false laugh, which was
more menacing than his frown.
You're welcome to all you can find
out in my smithy," said he. But,
look here, mister, i don't care for
folk polSing about my place without
my leave. so the sooner you pay your
score and get out the better l shall be
pleased
''All right. Mr.. Hayes, no harm
meant" said Holmes. 1--WE have
been having look at your horses,
but think I'll walk. after all. It's
not so far | believe"
mot more than two miles to the Hall
gates. That's the road to the left"
He watched us with sullen eyes until
we had left his premises.
We did not go very far along the
road. Holmes stopped the instant
that the curve hid us from the land