Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-23
By A. Conan Doyle - illustrated by f. D. Steele

| TO the pallor OF his face. and his eyes
were as bright as il he had a fever.
He stared at us and at the doScart;
then a look OF amaZement came over
his face.
Hello. Stop therew he shouted.
holding his bicycle To block our road.
Where did you get that dogcart? Pull
up. man. he yelled. drawing n pistol
from his side pocket. Pull up. l say,
or, by George. I'll put bullet into your
horse"
Holmes threw the reinS into my lap
and sprang down from the cart.
You're the man We want to see.
Where is Miss Violet Smith:" he said
I'm his quick. clear way.
That's what I'm asking you. You're
in her dogcart. You ought TO know
where she is
I'VE met the dogcart on the road.
There was no one in il. We drove back
TO help the young lady"
! Good Lord. good Lord. What shall
do:" cried the stranger in an ecstasy
OF despair. They've got her-that hell
hound WOodley and the blackg guard
parson. Come. man. come. II you really
are her friend Stand by me. and Wen
save her, II | have 10 leave my carcass
in CharlingtOn wood"
He ran distractedly. his pistol in his
hand. toward gap in the hedge.
Holmes followed him. and l. leaving
the horse grazing beside the road. fol
lowed Holmes.
This is where they came through"
said he. pointing to the marks OF sew
eral feet upon the muddy path. Hello!
Stop "a minute, Who's this in tine
bush."
1t was a young fellow about seven
teen, dressed like n hostler. with leath-
er cords and CATERS. He lay upon his
back, his knees drawn up. a terrible
cut upon his head. He was insensible
but alive. A glance at his wound told
me that IL had not penetrated the
| bone.
That's Peter. the groom cried the
stranger. He drove her. The beasts
have pulled him off and dubbed him.
Let him lie; we cant do him any good.
but we may save her from the worst
fate that can befall woman"
We ran frantically down the path.
which wound among the trees We had
reached the shrubbery which surround
They didn't go to the house. Here
are their marks on the left-here beside
the laurel bushes. All. l said so.''
As be spoke a womsn's shrill scream
"a scream which vibrated with n fren-
" of horror-burst from the thick
green clump OF bushes ia front OF us.
1t ended suddenly on fits highest note
with a choke and a gurgle.
This way, This way! They are In
the bowling alley" cried the stranger.
darting through the bushes. "Ah, the
cowardly dogs! Follow me. gentlemen!
Too late, too late, by the living jingo!'
We had broken suddenly into love
ly glade or greensward surrounded by
ancient trees. On the farther side OF
il, under the shadow of mighty oak.
| there stood singular group OF three
people. One was "A woman, our client.
dropping and faint, a handkerchief
round her mouth. Opposite her stood
! brutal, heavy faced, red mustached
young man, his gathered legs parted
wide. one arm akimbo. the other wav-
ing a riding crop. his whole attitude
suggestive OF triumphant bravadO. Be
tween them an elderly, gray bearded
light tweed suit, had evidently just
completed the wedding service. for he
pocketed his prayer book as we APP
peared and slapped the sinister bride
groom upon the back in jovial congrat-
ulation.
They're married. / gasped.
"Come on cried our guide. Come
on He rushed across the glade.
Holmes and l at his heels. AS we APP
preached the lady staggered against
the trunk OF the tree for support. VIII
hanson. the eX-clcrgymHn. bowed 10
us with mock politeness. and the bully.
WoOdley. advanced with a shout OF
brutal and eXultAnt laughter
You can take your beard on. Bob"
said he Il know you right enough.
Well, you and your pals have just
come In time for me 10 be able to I'm
troduce you to Airs. WOOdley.'
Our guides answer was singular
one. He snatehed OF the dark beard
which had disguised him and threw IL
on the ground. disclosing a long. sal
low, clean shaver face below IL. Then
he raised his revolver and covered the
young ruffian. who was advancing up
on him with his dangerous riding crop
swinging In his hand.
Yes" said our ally. II Am Bob Car
ruthers. and I'll see this woman right
ed II have To- swing for IT, told you
what I'd do II you mOlested her, and,
by the Lord, I'll be as good as my
word"
You're too late. shes my wife"
NO: she's your widow"
His revolver cracked, and / saw
blood squirt from the front " Wood
ley's wsistcOat. He spun round with =
scream and fell upon his back. his bid
cOus red face turning suddenly to
dreadful notified pallOr. The old man,
still clad in his surpIiee, burst into such
a string OF foul oaths as / have never
heard and pulled out a revolver OF his
own, but before he conld raise IL he
was looking down the barrel OF Holmes