Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
HOLMES, MAP OF THE NEG HBoRHooD OF THE SCHOOL,

No. no, my dear Watson. The more
deeply sunk impression is. Of course, the
hind wheel, upon which the weight rests.
You perceive several places where it has
shallow mark Of the front one. It was I'M
doubtedly heading away from the school.
1t may or may not be connected with our
inquiry, but we will follow it backwards
before we go any farther"
We did so, and at the end of a few hun
dred yards lost the tracks as we emerged
from the Doggy portion of the moor. Fol-
lowing the path backwards, we picked out
another spot where a spring tricked across
1t. Here, once again, was the mark of the
bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the
hoofs of cows. After that there was no
sign. but the path ran right on into Ragged
Shaw, the wood which backed on to The
school From this wood the cycle must
have emerged. Holmes sat down on a
boulder and rested his chin in his hands. I
had smoked two cigarettes before he
moved.
well, WELL" said he at last. 1T is. of
course, possible that cunning man might
change the tire of his bicycle in order to
leave unfamiliar tracks. A criminal who
was capable of such a thought is a man
whom 1 should be proud to do business
with. We will leave this question unde-
cided and bark back to our morass again,
for we have left a good deal upeXplored"
We continued our systematic survey of
the edge of the sodden portion Of the moor,
and soon our perseverance was gloriously
rewarded: Right across the lower part of
the bog lay a miry path. Holmes gave a
cry of delight as he approached 1t. An
impression like a fine bundle of telegraph
wires ran down the center of it. 1t was
the Palmer tire.
Here is Herr Heidegger sure enough!'
cried Holmes, exultantiy. My reasoning
seems to have been pretty sound, Watson"
Il congratulate YOU.
But we have n long way still to go.
Kindly walk clear of the path. Now let
us follow the trail. l fear that 1t will not
lead very far"
We found, however, we advanced that
this portion of the moor is intersected with
soft patches. and, though we frequently lost
sight of the track, we always succeeded in
picking 1t up once more.
do you observe said Holmes, that the
rider is now undoubtedly forcing the pace?
There can be no doubt of it. Look at this
impression, where you get both tires clear.
The one is as deep as the other That can
only mean that the rider Is throwing his
weight on to the handIe-bar as a man does
when he Is sprinting. By Jove! he has had
a fall"
There was a broad, irregular smudge
covering some yards of the track. Then
there were a few footmarks and the tire
reappeared once more.
"a side Slip" suggested.
Holmes held up a crumpled branch Of
Towering gorse To my horror, perceived
that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled
with crimson. On the path. too, and
among the heather were dark stains OF
clOtteQ DlOOQ.
.sBad!" said Holmes. bad! Stand clear,
Watson! Not an unnecessary footstep!
What do read here? He fell wounded
he stood up-he remounted-he proceeded.
But there is no other track. Cattle on this
side of the path. He was surely not gored
by bull? Impossible! But I see no traces
of any one else. We must push on. Wat
son. Surely. with stains well as the
track to guide US he cannot escape US
now"
Our search was not very long one The
tracks of the tire began to curve
Enthusiastically up the wet and shin
ing path. Suddenly, as I looked ahead
the CLEAN of metal caught my eye
from amid the thick CONSCIOUSNESS. Out OF
them we dragged a bicycle. Palmer-tyred
one pedal bent. and the whole front of
it horribly smeared and slobbered with
blood On the other side of the bushes a
shoe was projecting. We ran round, and
there lay the unfortunate rider. He was a
tall man. full-bearded. with spectacles. one
glass of which had been knocked out. The
cause of his death was a frightful blow
upon the head. which had crushed in part
of his skull. That he could have gone on
| after receiving such an injury said much
for the vitality and courage OF the man.
He wore shoes. but no socks. and his open
coat disclosed night-shirt beneath II. It
was undoubtedly the German master.
Holmes turned the body ever reyurently.
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