Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-05

perfectly hateful, and was sure that
Cyril would not wish me to know such
person"
"Oh, Cyril Is his namev said Holmes,
smiling.
The young lady blushed and laughed.
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes, Cyril Morton, an
electrical engineer, and we hope to be
married at the end of the summer.
Dear me. how did get talking about
him? What l wished to say was that
Mr.. Woodley was perfectly odious, but
that Mr.. Carruthers, who was a much
older man, was more agreeable. He
was dark, sallow, clean shaver, silent
person, but he had polite manners and
pleasant smile. He inquired how we
were left, and on finding that we were
very poor he suggested that / should
come and leach music to his only
daughter, aged ten. said that did
not like to leave my mother, on which
he suggested that should go home to
her every week end, and he offered me
hundred year, which was certainly
splendid pay. So it ended by my &C.
cepting, and went down to Chiltern
Grange, about six miles from Farm
ham. Mr.. Carruthers was a widower,
but he had engaged lady housekeep-
er, very respectable, elderly person,
called Mrs. Dixon, to look after his es-
tablishment. The child was dear, and
everything promised well. Mr.. Car
ruthers was very kind and very music
al, and we had most pleasant evenings
together. Every week end went home
to my mother in town.
1.-THE first flaw In my happiness was
the arrival of the red mustached Mr..
Woodley. He came for visit Of a
week, and, oh. 1t seemed three months
to me. He was dreadful persona
bully to every one else, but to me some
thing infinitely worse. He made odious
love to me, boosted of his wealth, said
that II married him could have the
finest diamonds in London, and finally
when would have nothing to do with
him he seized me In his arms one day
after dinner-he was hideously strong
and swore that he would not let me go
until had kissed him. Mr.. Carruthers
came in and tore him from me, on
which he turned upon his own host,
knocking him down and cutting his
face open. That was the end of his
visit, as you can imagine. Mr. Carruth-
ers apologized to me next day and as
sured me that I should never be ex-
posed to such an insult again. I have
not seen Mr.. Woodley since.
"And now, Mr.. Holmes, come at
last to the special thing which has
caused me to ask your advice today.
You must know that every Saturday
forenoon ride on my bicycle to Farm
ham station in order to get the 1922
to town. The road from Chiltern
Grange is lonely one, and at one spot
it Is particularly so, for it lies for over
mile between Charlington heath up
on one side and the woods which lie
round Charlington Hall upon the other.
You could not find more lonely tract
of road anywhere, and it is quite rare
to meet SO much as cart or peasant
until you reach the highroad near
Crooksbury hill. Two weeks ago !
was passing this place when I CHANGED
to look back over my shoulder, and
about 200 yards behind me saw q
man, also on bicycle. He seemed to
be middle aged man. with short
dark beard. l looked back before ]
reached Farnham, but the man was
gone, SO thought no more about It
But you can imagine how surprised
was, Mr.. Holmes. when on my return or
the Monday saw the same man on the
same stretch of road. Ny establishment
was increased when the incident oc
Cured again, exactly as before, on the
following Saturday and Monday. He
always kepthis distance and did not mo
lest me in any way, but still 1t certain
~ was very odd. I mentioned 1t to Mr.
Carruthers, who seemed interested ir
what said and told me that he had
ordered horse and trap. so that in fu
ture should not pass over these lonely
roads without some companion.
THE horse and trap were to have
come this week, but for some reason
they were not delivered. and again
had to cycle to the station. That was
this morning. You can think that
looked out when I came to Charlingtor
heath, and there, sure enough, was thu
man, exactly as he had been the two
weeks before. He always kept SO fal
from me that could not clearly Sc,
his face, but 1t was certainly some on,
whom I did not know. He was dressed
In dark suit with cloth cap. Tn,
only thing about his face that I coult
clearly see was his dark beard,
To-day I was not alarmed, but wa,
dlled with curiosity, and determined
to find out who he was and what b.
wanted. slowed down my machine
but he slowed down his. Then stop
ped altogether, but he stopped also
Then laid trap for him. There Is
sharp turning Of the road, and I ped
aled very quickly round this, and thel
4 stopped and waited. expected hin
to shoot round and pass me before b
could stop. But he never appeared
Then went back and looked round tn
corner. could see mile Of road, bu
he was not on it. To make it the NOR
extraordinary, there was no side roa,
at this point down which he could hav
gone"
j Holmes chuckled and rubbed hi
hands. "This case certainly present
some features of its own" said hi
How much time elapsed between you
turning the corner and your discover
that the road was clear?"
1.-TWO or three minutes"
Then he could not have rereate
down the road. and you say that Their
are no side roads?"
"None."
Then he certainly took footpat