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

were pursued, that Hayes struck the
pursuer with his stick and that the
man died of his injuries. Hayes
brought Arthur to his public house.
the Fighting Cock, where he was con-
fined in an upper room, under the care
of Mrs. Hayes, who is kindly woman,
but entirely under the control of her
brutal husband.
"Well, Mr.. Holmes, that was the
state OF affairs when l first saw you
two days ago. l had no more Idea OF
the truth than you. 1ou will ask me
what was James motive in doing
such a deed. | answer that there was
a great deal which was unreasoning
and fanatical In the hatred which ne
bore my heir. In his view he should
himself have been heir of all my es-
tates and he deeply resented those So
eial laws which made 1t impossible.
At the same time, he had definite
motive, also. He was eager that l
should break the entail, and he was OF
opinion that 1t lay In my power to DO
so. He intended to make a bargain
with me-to restore Arthur If | would
break the entail and so make it pos
sible for the estate to be left to him by
will. He knew well that l should
never willingly invoke the aid of the
police against him. l say that he
would have proposed such n bargain
to me; but he did not actually do so,
for events moved too quickly for him,
and he had not time to put his plans
into practice.
what brought all his wicked scheme
to wreck was your discovery of this
man Heidegger's dead body James
was seized with horror at the news.
1t came to us yesterday, as we sat to-
gether in this study. DR.. Hextable had
sent telegram. James was SO over
whelmed with grief and agitation that
my suspicious, which had never been
entirely absent, rose instantly to
certainty, and / taxed him with the
deed. He made a complete voluntary
confession Then he implored me TO
keep his secret for three days longer,
so as to give his wretched accomplish
a chance of saving his guilty life.
yielded-as I have always yielded-to
his prayers, and instantly James hur-
ried off to the fighting Cock to warn
Hayes and give him the means OF
flight. / could not go there by day
light without provoking comment. but
as soon as night fell | hurried off to
see my dear Arthur. / found him safe
and well. but Mortified beyond expreo-
sion by the dreadful deed he had wilt
messed. In Difference to my promise,
and much against my will. consent
ed to leave him there for three days.
under the charge OF Mrs. Hayes. since
1t was evident that 1t was impossible
to inform the police where he was
without telling them also who was the
murderer. and l could not see how
fhaf no cd u H.
out ruin to my unfortunate James.
You asked for frankness, Mr.. Holmes,
and l have taken you at your word,
for l have now told you everything
without an attempt at clrcumlocution
or concealment. Do you in your turn
be as frank wi.i me-"
II will" said Holmes. IN the first
place, your Grace, 1 am bound to tell
you that you have placed yourself In
a most serious position in the eyes OF
the law. You have condoned q felony.
and you have aided the escape OF a
murderer, for cannot doubt that any
money which was taken by James
Wilder to aid his accomplice In his
flight came from your Grace's purse"
The Duke boz his assent.
This is, indeed, most serious mat
ter. Even more culpabie. in my opin-
lon, your Grace. is your attitude to-
wards your younger son. You leave
him In this den for three days
Under solemn promise"
what are promises to such people
as these? You have no guarantee that
he will not be spirite.. away again. To
humor your guilty elder ron. you have
exposed your innocent younger son to
imminent and unnecessary danger It
was most unjustihable action"
The proud lord Of Holdnerness was
not accustomed to be so rated In his
own ducal hall. The blood flushed into
his high forehead. but his conscience
held him dumb.
II will help you, but on one condi-
tion only. 1t Is that you ring for the