Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-08
The Mystery of the Silver Blaze


My dear Gregory, you anticipate all my
wants. II l might ask you TO walt here
for an instant, I have a question l should
like 70 put to the maid"
81 must say that felt rather disappointed
in our London consultant," said Colonel
Ross. bluntly. as my friend left the room.
Il do not see that we are any further than
when he came"
AT least. you have his assurance that
your horse will rum" said l.
Yes, l have his assurance" said the
colonel, with a shrug Of his shoulders. Il
should prefer TO have the horse"
l was about to make some reply in de-
Tense Of my friend when he entered the
room again.
Now, gentlemen" said he, II am quite
ready for Tavistock."
AS We stepped into the carriage one Of
the stable lads held the door open for US.
sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes,
for he leaned forward and touched the lad
upon the sleeve.
You have few sheep in the paddock"
he said. Who attends to them7'
Il do, sir"
Have you noticed anything amiss with
them Of late?
well, sir, not of much account; but
three of them have gone lame, sir"
could see that Holmes was extremely
pleased for he chuckled and rubbed his
hands together.
"A long shot, watson; a very long shot"
said he, pinching my arm. Gregory, let
me recommend to your attention this
singular epidemic among the sheep. Drive
on, coachman!'
Colonel Ross still wore an expression
which showed the poor opinion which he
had formed of my companions ability, but
1 saw by the inspectors face that his at
tention had been keenly aroused
You consider that to be Important" he
asked.
Exceedingly So"
rs there any point to which you would
wish to draw my attention."
ITO the curious incident of the dog in the
nighttime"
The dog did nothing in the nighttime"
That was the curious incident" re-
marked Sherlock Holmes.
Four days later Holmes and l were
again in the train, bound for Winchester
to see the race for the Wessex cup.
Colonel Ross met us by appointment out
side the station, and we drove in his drag
to the course beyond the town. His face
was grave, and his manner was cold in the
extreme.
Il have seen nothing of my horse" said
he.
Il suppose that you would know him
when you saw him?" said Holmes.
The colonel was very angry. Il have
been on the turf for twenty years, and
never was asked such a question as that
before" said he. "A child would know
Silver Blaze. with his white forehead and
his notified OFF foreleg'
How is the betting?"
WELL that is the curious part Of it,
You could have got fifteen to one yester-
day, but the price has become shorter and
shorter, until you can hardly get three to
one now"
Hum" said Holmes. Somebody knows
something, that is clear"
As the drag drew up in the Enclosure
near the grand stand 1 glanced at the card
to see the entries.
wessex Plate Qt RAM 80 sovs. each h II
with 1000 sovs, added for and year
olds. Second, $500, Third. e2OO. New
course Zone mile and FIVE furlongs).
/. Mr.. Heath Newton's The Negro. Red
Cap. Cinnamon Jacket.
.. Colonel wardlaw's Pugilist. Pink cap
Blue and black Jacket.
3. Lord Backwater's Desborough. Yellow
cap and sleeves.
4. Colonel Rosss Silver Blaze. Black
cap. Red Jacket.
6. Duke Of BalmoraIs Iris. Yellow and
black stripes.
6. Lord singleford's Rasper. Purple cap.
Black sleeves.
I'VE scratched our other one, and put
all hopes on your word" said the colonel.
"why, what is that? Silver Blaze favorite7
give to four against Silver Blaze!
m nSt
Silver Blaze! Five to fifteen against Des-
borough! Five TO four on the held,'
"There are the numbers" I cried. They
are all six there"
"AlI six there? Then my horse is run
ming" cried the Colonel in great agitn-
tion. But I don't see him. My colors
have not passed"
"oniy ave have passed. This must be
he"
AS spoke a powerful bay horse swept
out from the Weighing Enclosure and can
tered past MS, bearing on its back the
well known black and red Of the Colonel.
That's not my horse" cried the owner.
THAT beast has not a white hair upon its
body What is this that you have done
Mr.. HolmesT'
well. well, let us see how he gets on
said my friend, imperturbably, For few
minutes ne SdLed tHTOuBH MY HeiublaSSSS'
Capital! An excellent start" he cried
suddenly There they are, coming round
the curve."
From our drag we had superb view as
they came up the straight. The six horses
were so close together that a carpet could
have covered them. but half way up the
yellow of the MapietOn stable showed to
the front Before they reached us how
ever, Desborough's bolt was shot, and the
Colonei's horse, coming away with a rush
passed the post a good six lengths before
its rival the Duke Of Balmorals Iris max
ing a bad third.
TITS my race anyhow" gasped the
Colonel. passing his hand over his eyes
''I confess that I can make neither head
nor tail to II. Don't you think that you
have kept up your mystery long enough
Mr.. Holmes7'
Certainly, Colonel, you shall know
everything. Let us go round and have .
look at the horse together, Here he Is" ht
continued as we made our way into the
Weighing inclosure where only owners and
their friends fnd admittance. You have
only to wash his face and his leg In spirits
Of wine, and you will find that he is thu
same old Silver Blaze as ever"
you take my breath away"
ct found him I'm the hands OF a fakiT
and took the liberty Of running him jus
he sent