Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-31

When We were left alone IN the
stone tagged kitchen it was astonish.
ing how rapidly that sprained ankle
recovered. 1t was nearly nightfali
and We had eaten nothing since early
morning, 50 that we spent some time
over our meal. Holmes was lost n
thought, and once or twice he walked
ly out. II opened on TO q slual.d
courtyard. In the far corner was q
sm.tthy, where & grimy lad was II
work. On the other side We're the sta.
bles. Holmes had sat down again
after Il Of these excursions, when he
suddenly sprang out of his chair with
a loud exclamation.
BY heaven, Watson, l believe that
I've got IL" he cried. Yes. yes. il
must be so. Watson. do You -eIaeul,
Der seeing any COW tracks today"
Yes, several"
"Where:"
We'll, everywhere. They were at
the morass and again near where poor
Heidegger met his death"
Exactly. Well, now, Watson. how
many cows did you see on the moor"
Il don't remember seeing any"
Strange, Watson, that we should
see tracks all along our line. but never
a COW on the whole moor. Very strange,
Watson, chg
Yes, it is strange"
Now, Watson, make an effort
Throw your mind back. Can you see
those tracks upon the path"
Yes, l can"
Can you recall that the tracks were
something like that, Watson"-he ar
ranged a number of breadcrumbs in
his fashion = and some
times like this: :. 5. and
occasionally like this. .
Can you remember that!"
NO, l cannot"
But l can. l could swear to it
However, we will 60 back at our leis-
ure and verify it. What a blind beetle
l have been not to draw my conclu-
SION
And what is your conclusion!"
only that 1t Is a remarkable COW
which walks, canters ~ gallops. By
George, Watson, it was no brain of q
country publican that thought out such
a blind as that. The coast seems to be
clear save for that lad in the smithy.
Let us slip out and see what we a
see."
There were two rough haired, un-
kanrS hnrcnr IN wv WV -
bic. 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 20 across
to the smithy."
The lad continued his work without
regarding US. | saw Holmes eve 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 wa
the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn
down over his savage eyes, his swarthy
features convulsed with passion. He
held a short, metal headed stick in his
uand, and he advanced in 50 menacing
4 fashion that l was right glad to feel
the revolver in my pocket.
You Internal spies" the man cried.
What are you doing there!"
why, Mr.. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes coolly, one might think that
you were afraid Of our finding some
thing out"
The man mastered himself with a
violent effort, and his grim mouth
loosoned into a falls" laugh. which was
more menacing than his froyvn.
You're welcome to All YOU can find
here, mister. l don't rare for folk pok-
ing about my place without my leave,
so the sooner 0 pay Your score and
get out of this the better | shall be
pleased"
"All right, Mr.. Hayes; no harm
meant" said Holmes. 1--WE have been
having d look at your horses, but |
think III 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 sullcn 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.
w were warm, as the children say.
at that inn" said he. 81 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 | never saw"
"Ol, he impressed you in that way,
did he! There are the horses, there is
the slnithy. Yes, it is an interesting
place, this Fighting Cock. | think we
Shall hay" another look at it in AN IN
obtrusivc way
A long, sloDing hillside dotted with
gray limestone powders stretched bc-
hind us. We had turned off the road
and were making our way NJ the hin
when, looking in the direction Of lloI-
drrnrsSr Hall, | saw Il cyclist coming
swiftly along.
sect down, Watson" cried Holmes