Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-19

miles before an expert cyclIst could
overtake them. Yet we survey the
ground round the scene of the tragedy.
What do we fnd7 A few cattle tracks,
nothing more. took a wide sweep
round. and there is no path within fifty
yards. Another cyclist could have had
nothing to do with the actual murder,
nor were there any human footmarks."
Holmes" cried. this Is impossi-
ble.'
"Admirablev he said. "A most IL |
Illuminating remark. 1t Is impossible az
state it. and therefore I must in
Yet you saw for yourself. Can you
suggest any fallacy?
"He could not have fractured his
skull in fall?"
''In morass. Watson7"
II am at my wits end"
'ATut, tut! We have solved some
worse problems. At least we have
plenty Of material, If we can only use
It. Come, then, and, having exhausted
the Palmer, let US see what the Dun.
lop with the patched cover has to offer
us"
We picked up the track and followed
It onward for some distance, but soon
| the moor rose into long, heather tuft-
ed curve, and we left the water course
behind us. No further help from tracks
could be hoped for. At the spot where
we saw the last of the Dunlop tire 1t
might equally have led to Holdernesse
Hall, the stately towers of which rose
some miles to our left, or to low gray
village which lay in front Of us and
marked the position of the Chesterfield
highroad.
AS we approached the forbidding and
squalid inn with the sign of game
cock above the door Holmes gave a
sudden groan and clutched me by the
shoulder to save himself from falling.
He had had one of those violent strains
of the ankle which leave a man help
less With difficulty he limped up to
the door. where a squat, dark elderly
man was smoking black clay pipe.
How are you, Mr.. Reuben Hayes?"
said Holmes.
"Who are you, and how do you get
my name SO patti" the countryman an
swered, with suspicious flash Of
pair of cunning eyes.
"Well, it's printed on the board above
your head. It's easy to see man who
Ia master of his own house. suppose
you haven't such thing as carriage
In your stablesT
mo, have not"
II can hardly put my foot to the
ground"
Don't put It to the ground" Il
''But can't walk"
"Well, then. hop"
Mr.. Reuben Hayes manner was far
from gracious, but Holmes took it with
,, admirable good humor.
Look here, my man." said he. "This
ID really rather an awkward Ak for me.
I don't mind how get on"
Neither do T." said the morose land
; lord.
THE matter is very important. |
would offer you sovereign for the use
Of bicycle"
, The landlord prtcked up his ears.
where do you want to go7"
'4To Holdernesse Hail."
"Pals Of. the dock, suppose?" said
: the landlord, surveying our mud stained
J, garments with ironical eyes.
!, Holmes laughed good naturally.
\ "He'll be glad to see US anyhow"
"WhyY
Z, Because we bring him news Of his
lost son.
The landlord gave a very visible
n start"
q "What, you're on his track7'
HE has been heard Of In Liverpool
( They expect to get him every hour"
r Again swift change passed over the
heavy, unshaven face. His manner
was suddenly genial.
]. 1--WE less reason to wish the dooh
j. well than most men," said he, "for
n was his head coachman once. and crue
) bad he treated me. It was him that
sacked me without character on the
d word Of lying corn chandler. But
q I'm glad to hear that the young lore
was heard of in Liverpool. and I'll helI
Q you take the news to the hail."
o "Thank you" said Holmes. "We'l
}, have some food drst. Then you car
o bring round the bicycle"
d u haven't got bicycle"
l. Holmes held up sovereign.
q II tell you. man. that haven't go
Il one. I'll let you have two horses as IA
o ~ the hall"
"Well, WELL" said Holmes, "we'l
n talk about it when we've had some
IS thing to eat"
Is When we were left alone in tn
% stone tagged kitchen It was astonish
ing how rapidly that sprained ankl
recovered. It was nearly nightfall
/ and we had eaten nothing since earl,
y morning, so that we spent some tim
e. over our meal. Holmes was lost Il
0. thought. and once or twice he walke
Is over to the window and stared earnest
y ly out. 1t opened on to squali
courtyard In the far corner was
smithy. where grimy lad was q
is work. On the other side were the sta
If bles. Holmes had sat down agai
r. after one of these excursions, when b
lie suddenly sprang out of his chair wit
ID loud exclamation.
by heaven. Watson, I believe tha
I've got itl'' he cried. Eyes. yes.
Of must be sol Watson. do you remen
Of Der seeing any COW tracks today9"
Id Eyes. several"
W "Where2
,e "well. everywhere. They were {
to the morass and again near where poo
IN Heidegger met his death"