The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-30

yellow light thrown by the lantern she
saw that he was a person Of gentleman
~ bearing, dressed in gray suit of
tweeds. with a cloth cap. He wore
CATERS. and carried a heavy stick with
a knob to il. She was most impressed.
however. by the extreme palior of his
face and by the nervousness of his
manner. His age, sEs thought, would
be rather over thirty than under it,
Can you tell ne where 1 ann he
asked I had almost made up my mind
TO sleep on the moor when I saw the
light of your lantern,
You are close to the Kings PyIand
training stables sail she.
" X
8 Oh. indeed! What stroke of luck"
lie cried I understand that stable
boy sleeps there alone every night. Per
haps that is his supper which you are
carrying to him. Now l am sure that
you would not be too proud 10 earn the
price Of a new dress. would your lie
took piece of white paper folded up
out OF his waisleoat pocket. See that
The boy has this tonight. and you shah
have the prettiest frock that money can
buy
She was frightened by the earnest
ness OF his manner. and ran past him
TO the window through which she was
accustomed TO hand the meals. 1t was
already opened. and Hunter was seated
at the small table inside She had be-
gun TO tell him Of what had happened,
when the stranger came up again.
a Good evening" said he. looking
through the window. Il wanted to have
a word with you The girl has sworn
that as he spoke she noticed the corner
of the little paper packet protruding
from his closed hand.
What business have you here? ask
ed the lad.
It's business that may put some
thing into your pocket said the other
y Ou'Ye two horses in for the Wessex
Cup-Silver Blaze and Bayard. Let me
have the straight tip and you won't be
a loser. Is IL a fact that at the weights
BayaTd could give the other a hundred
yards in five furiougs. ana that the
stable have put their money on him?'
So, you're one Of those damned
touts" cried the lad. I'll show you
how we serve them in Kings Pyland.
He sprang up and rushed across the
stable to unloose the dog. The girl
fed away 10 the house, but as she ran
she looked back and saw that the
stranger was leaning through the win
dow. A minute later. however. when
Hunter rushed out with the hound he
was gone. and though he ran ALI round
the buildings he failed TO find any
trace OF him.
One moment" 1 asked Did the
stable-boy. when he ran out with the
dog, leave the door unlocked behind
| him?'
Excellent, Watson. excellent!
murmured my companion The i'm
| portance Of the point struck me sc
| forcibly that I sent a special wire to
| Dartmoor yesterday TO clear Rthe mat
! ter up. The boy locked the door be-
| fore he left it. The window, I may
add, wGs not large ersvusit foE :. man
to get through.
Hunter waited until his fellow
| grooms had returned. when he sent a
| message to the trainer and told him
| what had occurred. Straker was ex-
| cited at hearing the account, although
| he does not seem TO have quite realized
| it's true significance. It left him, how
| ever, vaguely uneasy, and Mrs. Stra-
| ker, waking at one in the morning
| found that he was dressing. In repl3
| to her inquiries. he said IT,. 1-e couIt