The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-16
Yes. it is strange. y

-NoN, NalSou, make an effort.
Throw your mind back Can you see
those tracks upon the path?"
Eyes, | cam"
Can you recall that the tracks were
something like that. Watson"-he ar
ranged number of breadcrumbs in
this fashion -: = "and some
times like this :. and
occasionally like this.
Can you remember that?'
mo, cannot"
But l can. | could swear to it.
However, we will go back at our leis-
ure and verify it. What blind beetle
l have been not to draw my. conclu-
sionr'
And what is your conclusion?"
only that it is remarkable COW
which walks, canters and gaiiops. BY
George, Watson. it was no brain of a
country publican that thought out such
blind as that. The coast seems to be
clear save for that lad in tn thy.
Let us slip out and see what We can
see"
There were two rough haired I'M
kempt horses in the tumbledown sta
BILE. Holmes raised the hind leg of one
of them and laughed aloud
"Old shoes, but newly shod; old
shoes, but new nails. This case de
serves to be a classic Let us go across
to the smthy.'
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. l saw Holmes eye dart
ing to right and left among the litter of
iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor Suddenly, however, we
heard a step behind us, and there was
, the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn
down over his savage eyes, his swarthy
features convulsed with passion. He
held short, metal headed stick in his
hand, and he advanced in so menacing
fashion that l was right glad to feel
the revolver in my pocket.
You Internal spiesr' the man cried.
what are you doing there?"
why, Mr.. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes coolly. zone might think that
you We're afraid of our finding some
! thing out
The man mastered himself with a
violent effort, and his grim mouth
loosened into false laugh, which was
more menacing than his frown.
You're welcome to all YOU ca and
out in my smithy," said he. 81 look
here, mister. don't care 81 folk polk
ing about my place without my leave,
so the sooner YOU pay your score and
get out of this the better | shall he
pleased"
"All right Mr.. Hayes; no harm
meant" said Holmes I'VE have been
having Il look at your horses, but
think I'll walk, after all. It's not far,
believe"
Not more than two miles to the hall
gates That's the road to the left"
He watched us with sullen eyes until
| we had left his premises.
We did not go very far along the
road, for Holmes stopped the instant
that the curve hid us from the land
lords view.
I'VE We're warm. as the children say.
at that inn." said he. Il seem to grow
colder every step that | take away
from it. No. no; | can't possibly leave
it,"
Il am convinced said |, that this
Reuben Hayes knows all about it. A
more self evident villain l never saw"
'Oh, he impressed you in that way,
did he? There are the horses, there is
the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting
| place, this Fighting Cock. l think we
/ shall have another look at it in an un-
obtrusive way"
A long, sloping hillside dotted with
gray limestone powders stretched be-
hind us. We had turned off the road
and were making our way up the hill
when, looking in the direction of HOl-
dernesse Hall, l saw cyclist coming
swiftly along.
Get down, Watson" cried Holmes,
with heavy hand upon my shoulder
We had hardly sunk from view when
the man flew past us on the road
Amid a rolling cloud of dust l caught
a glimpse of pale, agitated face-a
| face with horror in every lineament,
the mouth open, the eyes staring wild
| ly in front 1t was like some strange
caricature of the dapper James Wilder
whom we had seen the night before.
1.-THE dukes secretary" cried Holmes.
/ "Come, Watson; let us see what he
| does"
We scrambled from rock to rock IN
til in a few moments we had made our
way to point from which we could
see the front door of the inn. Wilder's
! bicycle was leaning against the wall
beside it, No one was moving about
the house, nor could we catch q glimpse
of any faces at the windows Slowly
the twilight crept down as the sun
sank behind the high towers of Holder
nesse Hall. Then in the gloom we saw
the two side lamps of a trap light up
in the stable yard of the inn and short
| ly afterward heard the rattle of hoots
as it wheeled out into the road and tore
off at a furious pace in the direction of
! Chesterfield
what do you make of that, Wat
SOM" Holmes whispered.
ut looks like flight"
"A single man in a dogcart, so far
as l could see Well, it certainly was
not Mr.. James Wilder, for there he is
at the door,"
A red square of light had sprung out
of the darkness. In the middle of it
was the black figure of the secretary,
his head advanced peering ont into