The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-08
Silver Blaze

 hear from me tomorrow" He turned upon his heel, disregarding the trembling hand which the other held out to him, and we set off for Kings Pyland.
 "A more perfect compound of the bully, coward. and sneak than Master Silas Brown l have seldom met with" re- marked Holmes as we trudged along to- gether.
 He has the horse, then?'
 "IIe tried to buster out of it. but I described to him so exactly what his ac- tions had been upon that morning that he Is convinced that l was watching him. Of course you observed the pecu- iarly square toes in the impressions, and that his own boots exactly correspond to them Again, of course, no subordinate would have dared to do such thing 1 described to him how, when according to his custom he was the first down, he perceived a strange horse wandering over the moor How he went out to 1t, and his astonishment at recognizing, from the white forehead which has given the favorite It's name, that chance had put in his power the only horse which could beat the one upon which he had his money. Then l described how his first impulse was to lead him back to Kings Pyland, and how the devil had shown him how he could hide the horse untS the race was over and how he had led 1t back and concealed 1t at Mapleton. When I told him every detail he gave it up and thought only of saving he san skin"
 But his stables had been searched?" , "Oh an old horse fakir like him has many a dodge"
 But are you not afraid to leave the horse in his power now, since he has ev- cry interest in injuring it?''
 My dear fellow. he will guard 1t as tho apple of his eye. He knows that his only hope of mercy Is to produce it safe. "Col Ross did not impress me as a man who would be likely to show much mer- l cy In any case" "The matter does not rest with Cy. Ross. l follow my own methods. and | tell as much or as little as 1 choose. l That is the advantage of being unofficial. l don't know whether you observed it. Watson, but the Colonefs manner has 1 been Just a trife cavalier to me. l am inclined now to have d little amusement at his expense Say nothing to him about the horse"
 Certainly not without your permls- sion"
 And of course this is all quite minor point compared to the question of who | killed John StraSer.' And you will devote yourself to that?''
 "On the contrary We both go back to London by the night train" | l was thunderstruck by my friends words We had only been a few hours l in Devonshire, and that he should give up an investigation which he had begun | so brilliantly was quite incomprehensible to me. Not word more could l draw l from him until we were back at the 1 trainers house. The Colonel and the In- spector were awaiting us in the parlor. My friend and l return to town by the night express" said Holmes. We have had charming little breath of your beautiful Dartmoor air"
 The Inspector opened his eyes, and the | Colonel's lip curled In a sheer. ! 80 you despair of arresting the mur- derer of poor Straker," said he.
 Holmes shrugged his shoulders There are certainly grave difficulties in the way" said he. T have every hope, how ever that your horse will start upon Tuesday. and ] beg that you will have your iocky in readiness. Might l ask for a photograph of MT John Straker?' The Inspector took one from an envel- ope and handed it to him
 My dear Gregory. you anticipate all my wants, If l might ask you to wait here for an instant, l have a question which l should like to put to the maid.
 "I must say that I am rather disap- pointed in our London consultant,n said Colonel Ross, bluntly, as my friend left the room. T do not see that we are any | further than when he came."
 At least you have his assurance that your horse will run" said l.
 Yes, l have his assurance said the Colonel with a shrug of his shoulders. "I should prefer to have the horse"
 1 was about to make some reply in de- fense of my friend when he entered the room again.
 Now. gentlemen" said he. q am quite ready for Tayistock.'
 As we stepped into the carriage one of | us sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes. for he leaned forward and touched the lad upon the sleeve.
 You have few sheep in the paddock he said. Who attends to them.
 "I do, sir"
 Have you noticed anything amss with them of ate?"
 | Well, sir, not of much account but three of them have gone lame sir" l could see that Holmes was extremely pleased, for he chuckled and rubbed his hands together.
 "A long shot, Watson; a very long shot" said he, plnching my arm. Greg ory, let me recommend to your attention this singular epidemic among the sheep. Drive on, coachman'
 | Colonel Ross still wore an expression | which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companions ability, but l saw by the Inspectors face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
 You consider that to be important?" l he asked.
 l Exceedingly so."
 "Is there any point to which you would | wish to draw my attention?"
 "To the curious incident of the dog in the night time"
 "The dog did nothing in the night time"
 That was the curious incident, re- marAed Sherlock Holmes.
 Four days later Holmes and l were again in the train, bound for Winchester to see the race for the Wessex Cup. Col | onel Ross met us by appointment out side the station, and we drove in his drag to the course beyond the town His face was grave, and his manner was cold in the extreme.
 "1 have seen nothing of my horse," said he.
 | 'T suppose that you would know him 1 when you saw himY' said Holmes. l The Colonel was very angry. "I have | been on the turf for twenty years and never was asked such a question as that | before" said he. "A child would know | Silver Blaze, with his white forehead and his mottled off foreleg."
 How Is the betting?" | Well, that is the curious part of it You could have got fifteen to one yester- day but the price has become shorter and shorter, until you can hardly get l three to one now
 "Hum!" said Holmes. Somebody knows something, that Is clear"
 As the drag drew up in the inclosure | near the grand stand I glanced at the