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


est with the reeldng amber of his pipe.
This case grows upon me, Wat
son." said he. There are decidedly
some points of interest in connection
with it. In this early stage want
you to realize those geographical fea-
lures which may have a good deal to
do with our investigation.
Look at this map. This dark square
IS the priory school. I'll put pin in
It, Now, this line IS the main road.
You sec that 1t runs east and west
past the school. and you see also that
there is no side road for a mile either
way II these two folk passed away
by road. 1t was this road
Exactly"
by a singular and happy chance,
we are able to some extent to check
what passed along this road during
the night in question. At this point,
where my pipe Is now resting a coun-
ty constable was on duty from twelve
to six. It is. as you perceive, the first
cross road on the east side. This man
declares that he was not absent from
his post for an instant. and he IS pos
Tive that. neither boy nor man could
have gone that way unseen. 1 have
spoken with this policeman tonight,
and he appears to me to be 8 perfectly
We have now to deal with the other.
There is an inn here, the Red Bull,
the landlady of which was ILL., She
had sent to Mackleton for a doctor.
but he did not arrive until morning,
being absent at another case. The
people at the inn were alert all night,
awaiting his coming, and one or other
of them seems to have continually
had an eye upon the road They de-
clare that no one passed. II their ev-
idence is good, then we are fortunate
enough to be able to block tho west,
and also to be able to say that the
fugitives did not use the road at ALL"
'But the bicycle?' ] objected.
'sDuite So We will come TO. The.
bicycle presently To continue our
reasoning: If these people did not go
by the road, they must have traversed
the country to the north of the house
or to the south of the house. That is
certain Let us weight the one against
the other. On the south of the house
is, as you perceive, large district of
arabic land, cut up into small fields,
with stone walls between them.
There, 1 admit that a bicycle Is Inn
possible. We can dismiss the idea.
We turn to the country on the north.
Here there is a grove of trees, marked
farther side stretches q great rolling
moor, Lower Gill Moore, extending for
ten miles and sloping gradually up
wards. Here, at one side of this Wilt
derness, is Holderresse Hall, ten
miles by road, but only six across the
moor. 1t is peculiarly desolate plain.
4 few moor farmers have small holdt
ings, where. they rear. sheep and cat
tie. Except these. the plover and the
curIew are the only inhabitants until
you come to the Chesterfield high road
There is a church there, you see, q
few cottages and an inn. Beyond that
the hills become precipitous. Surely
It is here to the north that our quest
must lie.' L.
But the bicyc1e?' I persisted.
{ well, well!'' said Holmes impa-
tiently. "a good cyclist does not need
high road. The moor IS intersected
with paths, and the moon was at the
full. Halloai What is this p
There was an agitated knock at the
door. and an instant afterwards DR..
sIIuxtable was in the room. In his
hand he held a blue cricket-cap, with
a white chevron on the peak.
AT last We have a cluel' he cried
''Thank Heaven at last we are on the
ltdear boys track! 1t is his cap" ~
''Where was it found?"
'In the van of the gipsies who
camped on the moor. They lett on
Tuesday Today the police traced
Them down and examined their car
avan. This was found
& How do they account for it?''
d ''They shuff1ed land lied-said that
5they found it on the moor on Tuesday
morning. They know where he is. the
rascalsl Thank goodness. they are all
safe under lock and key. Either the
fear of the law or the Dukes purse
will certainly get out of them all that
thev know
$50 far, so good" said Holmes,
when the doctor had at last left the
room, 1T at least bears out the
Theory that it Is on the side of the
fIower Gill Moor that we must hone
for. results. The police have really
done nothing locally, save the arrest
of these gipsies. Look here. Watson!
There IS a watercourse across the
moor You seesit marked here in the
snap. In some parts It widens into a
norass. This is particularly so in the
.,region between Holdernesse Hall and
the school. It is vain to look else
where for tracks in this dry weather,
fbut at that point there is certainly
a chance of some record being left. I
will call you early tomorrow morning,
xand you and I.vill try five can throw
some little li6ht upon the mystery"
The day was Just breaking when
woke to find the long. thin form of
Holmes by my bedside. He was fully
dressed and had apparently already
been out.
y ''I have done the lawn and the BIZ
Ecycle she'd said he. "I have also had
IA ramble through. the Ragged Shaw.
Now. Watson. there Is cocoa ready IN
.fhe next room. I must beg you to
Ahurry. for we have a great day be-
fore US"
His eyes shone, and his cheek was
flushed with the exhlaration of the
master workman who sees his work
lie ready before him. A very different
Holmes. this active. alert man. from
the retrospective and pallid dreamer
of Baker street. I felt. as I looked
upon that supple figure. alive with
nervous energy. that 1t was indeed a