The San Francisco call., 1905-04-02

Z.
light blue eyes and mobile features. IL
was he who at once, in an incisfve and
positive tone. opened the conversation
Il called this morning. Dr. Huxtaole.
too late TO prevent you from starting
for London I learned that your object
was 70 invite Mr.. Sherlock Holmes 70
undertake the conduct OF this case
His Grace Is surprised, Dr. Huxtable.
that you should have taken such a step
without consulting him"
When learned that the police had
failed
His Grace is by no means convinced
that the police have failed"
But surely Mr.. Wilder
You are well aware. DR.. Huxtable.
that his Grace IS particularly anxious
TO avoid all public scandal He prefers
10 take as few people as possible into
his confidence
The matter can be easily remedied.'' %
said the brow-bea1en doctor; Mr.
Sherlock Holmes can return 10 London
by the morning train"
Hardly that, doctor. hardly that"
said Holmes, in his blandest voice.
This northern air is invigorating and
pleasant. so 1 propose 10 spend a few
days upon your mOors. and 70 occupy
my mind as best ! may. Whether I
have the shelter OF your roof OF OF the
village inn is, OF course. for you 10
decide"
I could see that the unfortunate doc
tor was in the last stage Of indecision.
from which he was rescued by the deep.
sOnOrOus voice OF the red bearded
Duke. which boo-aed out like dinner
gong.
Il agree with Mr. Wilder. Dr. Hux-
table. that you would have done wisely
TO consult me But since Mr. Holmes
has already been taken into our conf
oence, II would indeed be absurd that
we should not avail ourselves OF his
services Far from going 10 the inn.
Mr. Holmes. should be pleased IL you
would come and stay with me al Hold
ernesse Hal"
Il thank your Grace. For the pur-
poses Of my investigation i think IL
would be wiser for me 10 remain al the
scene or the mystery
Just as you Ike. Mr.. Holmes. Any
information which Mr.. Wilder or can
give you Is. Of .rse. ar your disposal"
1t win probably be necessary for me-
10 see you al the Han" said Holmes
Il v uld only ask you now, sir, whether
voc have formed any explanation in
your own mind as 10 the mysterious
disappearance OF your son.
mo. sir. have not"
Excuse me II allude TO that which
Is painful 10 you. but I have no al
tentative Do you think that the
Duchess lad anything 10 do with the
matter"
The great Minister showed percepti-
bic hesitation
Il DO not think So he said. at last.
The other most obvious explanation
Is that the child has been kidnapped for
the purpose OF levying ransom. You
have net had any demand OF the sOrt7''
mo. sir"
.One more ---estion. your Grace. I
understand that you wrote 10 your son
upon the day when this incident occur
red"
NO. wrote upon the day before"
Exas -ly- But he received it on that
day?"
yes"
Was there anything In your letter
which might have unbalanced him or
induced him TO take such a step?"
No. sir. certainly not
Did you post that letter yourself?''
The nO5leman's reply was interrupted
by his secretary. who broke IN with
some heat
His Grace is not in the habit OF
posting letters himself" said he This
letter was laid with others upon the
study table. and I myself put them in
the post-bag-
You are sure this one was among
them?''
Yes. I observed it"
How many letters did your Grace
write that dayg
i a
correspondence But surely this n
somewhat irrelevant
Not entirely" said Holmes.
For my own part" the Duke con-
tinued, Il have advised the police 70
turn their attention 10 the South OF
France ] have already said that do
not believe that the Duchess would en-
courage so monstrOus an action. but
the lad had the most wrOng-headed
opinions. and IL Is possible that he may
have ned 10 her. aided and abetted by
this German. ! think, DR.. Huxtable.
that We viii now return to the Hail.
! could see that there were other
questions which Holmes would have
wished 10 put. but the nobleman's abb
rupt manner showed that the interview
was at an end II was evident that 10
his intensely ariStocrattc nature this
discussion Of his intimate family af-
fairs with stranger was most abhor-
rent, and that he feared lest every fresh
question would throw a dercer light
into the discreetly shadoWed corners OF
his ducal history.
When the n0bleman and his secretary
had l-ft. ry friend flunz lrsnseK at
once with characteristic eagerness into
the investigation
The boys chamber was carefully ex-
amined and yielded nothing save the
absolute conviction that II was only
4 through the window that he could have
escaped The German masters room
and effects gave no further cleW In
his case trailer CT ivy had given way
under his weight. and we saw by the
light OF a lantern the mark on the
lawn where his heels had come down
That one dirf in the short. green grass
was the only material witness left OF
this fnexplicable nocturnal fight
Sherlock Holmes left the house alone,
and cnly returned after IL He had OBJ
tained a large ordnance map OF the
neighborhoOd. and this he brought into
my room. where he laid IL out on the
bed. and. having balanced the lamp IN
the middle OF il. he began TO smoke
over Il, and occasionally 70 point out