The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-30
Silver Blaze

Copyright, 1893. by A Conan Doyle.l
Copyright. 1894. by Harper & Brothers)
ksF An afraid, Watson. that I shall
have to go" said Holmes. as we
Z sat down together 10 our break
fast one morning.
Col Where to2''
To Dartmoor; To Kings Pyland.
I was not surprised. Indeed, my only
wonder was that he had not already
been mixed up in this extraordinary
case. which was the one topic of CONVEX
satfon through the length and breadth
Of England. For 8 whole day my COM
panion had rambled about the room
with his chin upon his chest and his
broWs knitted. charging and rechargtag
his pipe with the strongest black to-
bacco. and absolutely deaf 10 any Of my
questions or renaa rils- Fresh editions OF
every paper had been sent up by our
news agent, only 10 be- glanced over
and tossed down into q corner. Vet.
silent as he was. 1 knew perfectly we'll
what il was over which he was brood
Ing. There was but one problem before
the public which could challenge his
powers Of analysis. and thai WAS ne
singular disappearance Of the favorite
for the Wessex Cup. and the tragic
tIlt 1Gt IL - u c4ilS&- ~ 1tS4it tfAtA CAD-ts
he suddenly announced his intention OF
setting out for the scene of the drama
it was only what I had both expected
and hoped for.
Il should be most happy TO go down
with you if l should not be in the way,
said /.
My dear Watson. you would confer
great favor upon ne by coming. And
I think that yolr time viii not be mis-
spent. for there are points about the
case which promise 10 make it an abso-
lutely unique one. We Ihave. I think,
just time TO catch our train at Pad
dington, and / will go further into the
matter upon our journey. You would
oblige me by bringing with you your
very excellent field-glass.''
And so it happened that an hour or 80
later I found myself in the corner Of Il
hrst-class carriage flying along en- route
for Exeter. while Sherlock Holmes. with
his sharp. eager face framed in his ear
tapped travelling cap, dipped apidly
into the bundle OF fresh papers which
he had procured at Paddington. We
had left Reading far behind US before
he thrust the last one of them under
the seat. and offered me his cigar case.
I'VE are going well" said he, looking
out Of the window and glancing at his
watch. Our rate at present is fifty
three and a half miles an hour"
Il have not observed the quarter-mile
posts" said I.
Nor have I. But the telegraph posts
upon this line are sixty yards apart.
and the calculation is a simple one.
presume that you have looked into this
matter of the murder Of John strakeg
Il Eave seen what the Telegraph and
the Chronicle have 70 say"
y ~
9 1T is one Of those cases where the
art of the reasoner should be used
rather for the Sitting Of details than
for the acquiring OF fresh evidence. The
tragedy has been so uncommon, so com
plete. and of such personal Importance
TO so many people, that we are suffer
ing from a plethora of surmise, conjec-
ture. and hypothesis The difficulty is
20 detach the framework OF fact-of alb
solute. unbeatable fact-from the en-
bellishments Of theorists and reporters
Then, having established ourselves upon
this sound basis, II is our duty To sec
what differences may be drawn and whal
are the special points upon which tbs
whole mystery turns. on Tuesday
evening 1 received kilograms from botf
Colonel Ross. the owner OF the horse
and from Inspector Gregory. who is
looking after the case, inviting my co.
operation"
TUESDAY evening"" I exclaimed
sand this is Thursday morning. Why
didn't you go down yesterday"
Because made hlunder, my dear
Watson-which Is. I am afraid a more
common occurrence than anyone
would think who only knew ms
through your memoirs. The fact is
that / could not believe it possible tha
the most remarkable horse in England
aould long remain concealed, especial