Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-08
The Adventure OF
the Solitary
Cyclist
No. 4 of the Series

No. a of the Series
Holmes quiet day In the country had
, singular termination, for he arrived
at Baker street late in the evening with
a cut lip and discolored lump upon
his forehead, besides a general air of
dissipation which would have made his
own person the fitting object of Scot
land Yard Investigation. He was I'M
| mensely ticllled by his own adventures
, and laughed heartily as he recounted
| them.
II get so little active exercise that it
is always a treat" said he. ."You are
| aware that have some proficiency In
| the good old British sport of boxing.
Occasionally 1t is Of service; today, for
example, should have come to very
| ignominious grief without it,
begged him to tell me what had oc-
Cured.
II found that country pub which /
had already recommended to your nos
tice, and there ! made my discreet In
| quirtes. was in the bar, and garru-
lous landlord was giving me all that
wanted. Williamson Is a white bearded
man, and he lives alone with small
| stair OF servants at the hall. There Is
| some rumor that he is or has been a
clergyman, but one or two incidents of
his short residence at the hall struck
me as peculiarly unecclesiastical.
have already made some Inquiries at
clerical agency, and they tell me that
there was man Of that name in or
ders whose career has been singu-
larry dark one.
THE landlord further informed me
that there are usually week end Wis.
itors-'a warm lot, sir,-at the hall,
and especially one gentleman with
red mustache, Mr.. Woodley by name,
who was always there. We had got
as far as this when who should walk in
but the gentleman himself, who had
been drinking his beer in the taproom
and had heard tho whole conversation.
Who was I? What did want? What
did mean by asking questions? He
had fine flow Of language, and his
adjectiyes We're very vigorous. He
ended string Of abuse by vicious
| /
avoid. The next few minutes were de-
licious. 1t was a straight left against
slogging ruff1an. emerged as you
see me. Mr.. Woodley went home in a
cart. So ended my country trip, and
it must be confessed that, however en-
Joyable, my day on the Surrey border
has not been much more profitable
than your own"
The Thursday brought us another let
ter from our client.
you will not be surprised, Mr..
! Holmes" said she, ito hear that am
leaving Mr.. Carruthers' employment.
Even the high pay cannot reconcile me
to the dIscomforts Of my situation. On
Saturday come up to town, and do
not intend to return. Mr.. Carruthers
has got trap, and so the dangers OF
the lonely road, If there ever were any
dangers, are now over.
"As to the special cause of my leav.
ing, It is not merely the strained situa
ton with Mr.. Carruthers, but 1t is the
temperance of that odious man, Mr.
Woodley. He was always hideous, but
he looks more awful than ever now
for he appears to have had an acci
dent, and he is much disfgured. saw
him out Of the window, but am glai
to say did not meet him. He had {
long talk with Mr.. Carruthers, wht
seemed much excited afterward. Wood
ley must be staying in the neighbor
! hood, for he did not sleep here, and
vet caught q glimpse Of him agail
this morning Sinking about in tn,
shrubbery. would sooner have saw
age wild animal loose about the place
loathe and fear him more than I ca,
say. How can Mr.. Carruthers endur
such creature for momentf How
: ever, all my troubles will be over Of
r Saturday."
$50 trust, Watson; so I trust" sail
Holmes grayely. "There is some dee
intrigue going on round that little won
an, and it is our duty to see that no on
] molests her upon that last journey.
think, Watson, that we must spare tim
to run down together on saturda,
morning, and make sure that this cur
GUS and inclusive Investigation has n
untoward ending"
I confess that I had not up to noI
taken a very serious view Of the case
which had seemed to me rather gre
! tesque ind bizarre than dangerous
That man should lie In wait for an
follow very handsome woman Is n
| unheard Of thing, and If he has 80 Ii
tie audacity that he not only dared nc
address her, but even fed from her al
proach, he was not very formidabl
assailant. The ruff1an Woodley was
Scry different person. but except on on
J occasion he had not molested our Glen
and now he visited the house Of Cal
i ruthers without intruding upon he
presence. The man on the bicycle wa
doubtless member OF those week en-
4 parties at the hall of which the pull
lican had spoken, but who he was Q
!. what he wanted was as obscure a
= ever. 1t was the severity Of Holmes
manner and the fact that he slipped
\ revolver into his pocket before leavin
our rooms which impressed me wit
, the feeling that tragedy might prov
y to Turk behind this curious train @
events.
A rainy night had been followed by
!. glorious morning, and the heath COY
cred countryside, with the CLOWN
8 clumps Of Towering gorse, seemed q
> the more beautiful to eyes which wer
weary of the duns and drabs and stat
grays Of London. Holmes and wall
ed along the broad, sandy road, inha
ing the fresh morning air and rejoicin
In the music of the birds and the fres
breath of the spring. From n rise e