The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-12
The RETURN of Sherlock Holmes

4
with his hands. like one who is sink
ing into an abyss. Then. with an ex-
traordinary effort of aristoeratie self
command, he sat down and sank his
face in his hands. 1t was some min
utes before he spoke.
How much do you know" he ask
ed at last, without raising his head.
IT saw you together last night.
docs anyone else beside your friend
know?"
II have spoken to no one"
The Duke took a pen in his CULVER
ing fingers and opened his cheque-book.
II shall be as good as my word, Mr.
Holmes. / am about to write your
eheque, however unwelcome the infor-
nation which you have gained may
be to me. When the offer was first
made. I little thought the turn which
events might take. But you and your
friend are men of discretion, Mr.
Holiness
II hardly understand your Grace"
IT must put 1t plainly, Mr.. Holmes.
If only you two know of this incident
why should 1t go any farther. l think
twelve thousand pounds is the sum
that I owe you, Is 1t not?'
But Holmes smiled and shook his
head.
Il fear. your Grace, that matters
can hardly be arranged so easily.
There is the death of this school
master to be accounted for"
but James knew nothing of that.
You cannot hold him responsible for
that. 1t was the work of this brutal
ruffian whom he had the misfortune
to employ"
II must take the view.y our Grace,
that when a man embarks upon a
crime, he is morally guilty of any
other crime which may spring from it."
Morally, Mr.. Holmes. No doubt you
are right. But surely not in the eyes
of the law. A man cannot be con-
demned for murder at which he was
not present. and which he loathes and
abhors as much as you do The in
slant that he heard of 1t he made
complete confession to me. so filled was
he with horror and remorse. He lost
not an hour In breaking entirely with
the murderer. Oh, Mr.. Holmes, you
must save him-you must save him!
tell you that you must save him.
The Duke had dropped the last at
tempt at self-command, and was
pacing the room with a convulsed face
and with his clenched hands raving in
the air. At last he mastered himself,
and sat down once more at his desk.
IT appreciate your conduct In coming
here before you spoke to anyone else"
said he. 'At least, we may take coun-
sci how far we can minimize this hid
eous scandal"
Exactly" said Holmes. II think
your Grace, that this can only be done
by absolute frankness between US. /
am disposed to help your Grace to the
best of my ability, but, in order to do
so, l must understand to the last de-
tail how the matter stands. I realize
that your words applied to Mr.. James
Wilder. and that he is not the MUIR
derer.'
No, the murderer has escaped"
Sherlock Holmes smiled demurely
Your Grace can hardly have heard
of any small reputation which 1 pos
sess. or you would not imagine that
1t is so easy to escape me. Mr.. Reu-
ben Hayes was arrested at Chester
field, on my information, at eleven
o'clock last night. I had a telegram
from the head of the local police before
l left the school lnis morning"
The Duke leaned back In his chair
and stared with amazement at my
friend
You seem to have powers that are
hardly human" said he. $50 Reuben
Hayes is taken? I am right glad to
hear it. If it will not react upon the
fate of James,"
Your secretary"
No, sir; my son."
1t was Holmes turn to look aston
ished.
Il confess that this is entirely new
to me, your Grace. / must beg you to
be more explicit"
Il will conceal nothing from you. l
agree with you that complete frank
ness, however painful II may be to me,
is the best policy in this desperate
situation to which James folly and
jealousy have reduced u.s. When l
was a very young man, Mr.. Holmes,
loved with such a love as comes
only once in a lifetime. / offered the
lady marriage, but she refused 1t on
the grounds that such a match might
mar my career. Had she lived, |
would certainly never have married
anyone else. She died, and left this
one child, whom for her sake / have
cherished and cared for. 1 could not
acknowledge the paternity to the
world, but l gave him the best of edu-
cations, and since he came to manhood
l have kept him near my person. He
surprised my secret. and has presumed
ever since upon the claim which he
has upon me, and upon his power Of
provoking a scandal which would be
abhorrent to me. His presence had
something to do with the unhappy
issue of my marriage. Above all, he
hated my young legitimate heir from
he xuffh or
may well ask me why, under these
circumstances. l still kept James I'M
der my roof. ! answer that 1t was be-
cause 1 could see his mothers face In
his, and that for her dear sake there
was no end to my long-suffering All
her petty ways, too-there was not one
OF them which he could not suggest
and brink back to my memory. l could
not send him away But / feared so
much lest he should do Arthur-that is
Lord Saltire-a mischief. that l dis
patched him for safety to DIR. Huxta-
ble's school.
James came into contact with this
fellow Hayes, because the man was
tenant of mine. and James acted
as agent. The fellow was a rascal
from the beginning, but, in some extra
ordinary way, James became intimate
with him. He had always a taste for
low company When James determined
TO kidnap Lord Satire, 1t was of this
mans service that he avlled himself.
You remember that ! wrote to Arthur
upon that last day. Well, James open
ed the letter and inserted a note ask
ing Arthur to meet him in a little
wood called the Ragged Shaw, which
is near the school. He used the Ouch
to come. That evening James bicycled
over-I am telling you what he has
himself confessed to me-and ne told
Arthur, whom he met In the wood, that
his mother longed to see him, that she
was waiting for him on the moor and