Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-07

IN IL w iNShS l4iot ~ "oS VS.
Sible to inform the police where he was
without telling them also who was the
murderer, and l could not see how that
murderer could be punished without
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
al attempt ut circumlocution or con-
cealment. Do YOU in your turn be as
frank with me-
II WILL" said Holmes. In the first
place, your grace, l an bound to tell
you that you have placed yourself in Il
most serious position in the eyes of the
law. You have condoned Il felony, and
you have aided the escape of a muir
derer, for l cannot doubt that any
money which was taken by James Viii
der to aid his accomplice in his flight
came from your grace's purse"
The duke bowed his assent.
This is indeed a most serious mat
ter. Even more culpahle in my opinion.
Your grace, is Your attitude toward
your Younger son. You leave him in
this den for three days"
"tnGer solemn promises
"What are promises to such people as
these: You have no guarantee that he
Will not be spirited away again. To
humor your guilty elder son you have
exposed your innocent younger son to
imminent and unnecessary danger. 1t
was a most uniustifable action
The proud lord of Holdernesse was
not accustomed to be SO rated in his
own ducal hall. The blood flushed into
his high forehead, but bis conscience
held him dumb.
Il will help you, but on one condition
only. 1t is that o ring for the foot
man and let me give such orders as I
like"
Without a word the dukD pressed the
electric bell. A servant entered.
you will be glad to hear said
Holmes, that your young master ie
found. 1t is the dukes desire that the
carriage shall go at once to the Fight
ing Cock inn to bring Lord Satire
home.
Now" said Holmes when the re-
joicing lackey had disappeared. 'hav-
Ing secured the future, we can afford
to be more lenient with the past. am
not in an official position, and there is
no reason so long as the ends Of justice
are served why 1 should disclose all
that / know. AS to Hayes, I say moth
Ing. The gallows awaits him. and I
would do nothing to save him from it.
What he will divulge I cannot tell, but
I have no doubt that your grace could
make him understand that it is to his
Interest to be silent. From the police
point of view he will have kidnapped the
boy for the purpose of ransom. If they
do not themselves find it out, | see no
reason why 1 should prompt them to
take a broader point Of view. would
warn your grace, however, that the
continued presence Of Mr.. James Viii
der in your household can only lead to
misfortune"
Il understand that, Mr.. Holmes, and
it is already settled that he shall leave
me forever and go to seek his fortune
in Australian
In that case, your grace, since you
have yourself stated that any unhappi-
ness in your married life was caused
by his presence, l would suggest that
you make such amends as YOU can to
the duchess and that you try to resume
those relations which have been 50 I'm
happily interrupted"
That also I have arranged. Mr..
Holmes. l wrote to the duchess this
morning.
In that case said Holmes, 81 think
that my friend and l can congratulate
ourselves upon several most happy re-
suits from our little visit to the north.
There is one other small point upon
which desire some light. This fellow
Hayes had shOd his horses with shoes
which counterfeitcd the tracks Of COWS.
Was it from Mr.. Wilder that he
learned so extraordinary a dcvicc?"
The duke stood in thought for Il mo-
ment, with a look of intense surprise
on his face. Then he opened Il door and
showed Us into a large room furnishe |
as q museum. He led the way to n
glass case in a corner and pointed to
the inscription.
"These Shoes" 1t ran, 'were dug w
in the moat Of Holdernesse Hall. They
are for the use Of horses, but they are
shaped below with a cloven foot of iron
so as to throw pursuers off the track.
They are supposed to have belonged to
some of the marauding barons of Hol-
~dernesse in til" middle ages"
Holmes opened the case. and. mois-
tening his finger, he passed it along the
shoe. y thin film Of recent mud was
left upon his skin.
THANK YOU said he rs he replaced
the glass. at is the second most inter.
esting object that I have seen in the
north"
And the irStI'
Holmes folded up his check and
placed II carefully in his notebook. 81
am n Door man. said he as he pattod il
affectionatcly and thrust it into the
depths OF his inner pocket.
A correspondent wants to know
rvRnkhn. GsS1n 1-.l-lc<unxiSrI a., ,I,,,a