Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-08

It a fact that at the weights Bayard
could give the other hundred yards in
five furlongs and that the stable have
put their money on himT
80, you're one OF those damned toutsH
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 to the house,
but as she ran she looked back and saw
that the stranger was leaning through the
window. minute later, however, when
Hunter rushed out with the hound he was
gone, and though he ran all round the
building he failed TO ind any trace of
him."
zone moment" asked. Ibid the stable
boy, when he ran out with the dog, leave
the door unlocked behind him?"
Excellent, Watson, excellent muir
INJURED my companion. 1.-THE importance of
the point struck me so forcibly that
sent special wire to Dartmoor yesterday
to clear the matter up.
1.-THE boy locked the door before he left
1t. The window. 1 may add, was not large
enough for a 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 oc-
Cured Straker was excited at hearing the
account, although he does not seem to have
quite realized it's true significance. 1t left
him, however, vaguely uneasy, and Mrs
Straker waking at / in the morning
found that he was dressing In reply to
her inquiries he said that he could not
sleep on account of his anxiety about the
horses and that he intended to walk down
to the stables to see that all was we'll She
begged him to remain at home, as she
could hear the rain pattering against the
window, but in spite of her entreaties he
pulled on his large macintosh and left the
house.
Mrs. Straker rose at In the morning, to
ma that her husband had not yet returned.
She dressed herself hastily, called the maid
and set on for the stables. The door was
open; inside, huddled together upon a chair,
Hunter was sunk in a state Of absolute
stupor' his favorite's stall was empty and
there were no signs of his trainer
The two lads who slept in the chafr-
cutting loft above the harness room were
quickly aroused. They had heard nothing
curing the night, for they are both sound
sieepers' Hunter was obviously under the
lhhuence OF some powerful drug, and as no
sense could be got out OF him he was left
To sleep II on, while the two lads and the
Two women ran out in search of the alb
sehtees. They still had hopes that the
trainer had for some reason taken ont the
horse for early exercise, but on ascending
the knoll near the house, from which Ali
the neighboring moors were visible. thew
not only could sec no signs Of the missing
IaVorlte' but they perceived something
"Hich warned them that they were in the
presence OF tragedy.
About quarter OF n nnIa from, en-.
ping from furze bush Immediately be-
yohd there was bowl-shaped depression
In the moor and at the bottom OF this was
found the dead body OF the Unfortunate
trainer. His head had been shattered by
savage blow from some heavy weapon.
and he was wounded on the thigh, where
there was long, clean cut, inflicted
evidently by some very sharp instrument.
1t was clear however, that straker had
defended himself vigorously against his
assailants, for in his right hand he held
small knife, which was clotted with
blood up TO the handle, while in his left
he clasped a red and black silk cravat
which was recognized by the maid as hav-
ing been worn on the preceding evening by
the stranger who had visited the stables
Hunter, on recovering from his stupor, was
also quite positive as to the ownership OF
the cravat. He was equally certain that
the same stranger had, while standing at
the window. drugged his curried mutton
and so deprived the stables OF their watch
man. As to the missing horse. there were
abundant proofs in the mud which lay at
the bottom OF the fatal hollow that he had
been there at the ume OF the struggle.
But from that morning he has disappeared
and although large reward has been
-
on the alert, no news has come OF him.
Finally, an analysis has shown that the
remains OF his supper left by the stable
lad contain an Sppreciable amount OF pow
dered opium. while the people at the house
partook Of the same dish on the same
night without any NJ sfeeE