Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-17

SA. AL OAA NS
tract of road which wound. a reddish
yellow band. between. the hpvn of the
hearth and the budding green Of the
woods. Far away. a black dot, we
could SEGA vehicle moving In our 6pep-
ton. Holmes ave IN exclamation Of
imHueme.
II lare given q margin of frdf an
hour" said be. "If that is her trap
she must be making for the earlier
train. fear, Watson, that she viii be
past CharIingtnn before we can posi-
bly, meet her
From the instant that passed the
rise we could no longer see the vehicle
bot we FASTENED onward at such O
pace that my sedeutary life began 10
tell upon me-, and l was compelled to
fall behind. Holmes however, was al
Why's tn training, for he had trexh1rst-
1lb4e stores of nervous energy upon
which to draw. His springy step never
showed until suddenly, when be vas a
hunfrd yards in front Of me he halt
ed, and l saw him throw up his hand
with d gesture of grief and despair.
At the same instant an empty dogcart
tbe horse gathering. the reins trailing,
appeared round the curve of the road
and ratified swiftly toward us.
Zoo late Watson; too late! cried
Holmes as I ran painting to his side.
fool TINT 1 was not to allow for that
earlier train. It's abduction, Watson
abduction, Murder. Heaven knows
what. Block the road! Stop the horse!
That's right Now, jump in and let US
see if l can repair the consequences Of
my own bluIsder."
We had sprung into the dogcart and
Holmes, after turning the horse, gave
it a sharp cut with the whip and we
few back along the road. AS we turn
ed the curve the whole stretch Of road
between the hall and the heath was
opened up. 1 grasped Holmes arm
'ThatAs the man. I gasped.
A solitary cyclist was coming toward
US, His head was down and his shoul-
ders rounded as be put every ounce Of
energy that he possessed on to the
pedals. he vas flying like a racer.
Suddenly be raised hts bearded face,
saw US close to him and pulled up,
epringng from hts machine. That coal
to the pallor Of his face, and his eyes
were as bright as if he had a fever.
He stared at us and at the dogcart;
then a look Of amazement came over
bis face.
Hello! Stop there" he shouted,
holding his bicycle to block road.
Where did you get that dogcart? Pull
up, man." he yelled, drawing a pistol
from his side pocket. pull up, l say,
or, by George, I'll put a bullet into your
horse"
Holmes threw the reins into my lap
and sprang down from the cart.
You're the man we want to see.
| Where Is Miss Violet Smith, he said
in his quick. clear way.
That's what I'm asking you. You're
in her dogcart. You ought to know
where she is
I'VE met the dogcart on the road
There was no 4 in it. We drove back
to help the young lady"
Good Lord, good Lord! What shall.
l dor cried the stranger in an ecstasy
Of despair. They've got her-that he'll
hound Woodley and the BLACKBOARD
parson. Come. man. come. if you really
are her friend. Stand by me, and Vel
ave her, if I have to leave my carcass
tn Charlington wood"
He ran distractedlv. his pistol In his
hand, toward a gap in the hedge
Holmes followed him, and I. leaving
the horse grazing beside the road. fol
lowed Holmes.
'sThis is where they came through
said he, pointing to the marks Of sev
eral feet upon the muddy path. Hello
Stop a minute. Who's this in tin
bush?'
1t was g young fellow about seven
teen, dressed like a hostlcr. with leath
er cords and CATERS. He lay upon hi
back, his knees drawn up, a terribb
cut upon his Lead. He was insensibh
me that 1t had not penetrated TN
bone.
That's Peter, the groom" criel Il.
stranger. 'He drove her. The beast
have pulled him off and dubbed hin
Let him lie; we can't do him any gpod
but we may save her from the wors
fate that can befaIl a woman
We ran frantially down the patl
which wound among the trees. We Ia
reached the shrubbeTy which SURROUND
i. ed the hoUs" when Holmes pulled up.
"TheT didn't 30 TO the house. He,
are their marks on the Ieft-here fesid
the laurel bushes. All, I said So"
AS be spoke q woman's shri!l scpea,
"a scream which vibrated with a frel
Zy Of liorro>burst from the THO
green ciunp Of bushes in front Of L
1t ended suddenly on it's highest moi
with q choke lbs q gurgle.
"TAls way. This way. They are
: the bowling alley" cried ihr strung
! darting through the bushes. An. 4
2 coward'y dogs. Follow lMr, g"ut!c,nc
100 late, too late, by tie living jiIGy
We LaAleliroEen suddenly into u low
~ glade Of greens ward surrounded !
, ancient trees. On the farther SIDE
} 1t, under the shadow Of a mighty GA