The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-08

- "Gol Where to?''
 sfe "To Dartmoor: to Kings
 Ie\ Pyland."
 | was not surprised. Indeed, my only wonder was that he had not already been mixed up in this ex- traordinary case. which was the one topic of conversation through the ienstn anu breadth of England. For a whole oas my companion had rambled apout the room, with his chin upon his chest ana his brows knitted. charging and rechars- ing his pipe with the strongest black to- bacco, and absolutely deaf to any or my questions or remarks. Fresh eoiuons ol every paper had been sent up by our news agent. only to be glanced over and tossed down into a corner. Yet, silent as he was. knew perfectly well what it was over which he was brooding There was hut one problem before the public which could challenge his powers of analysis, and that was the singular disappearance of the favorite for the Wessex Cup and the tragic murder of it's trainer. When, therefore, he suddenly announced his in- tention of setting out for the scene Of the drama it was only what l had both ex- pected and hoped for.
 q should be most happy to go down with you if 1 should not be in the way, said l.
 My dear Watson. you would confer great favor upon me by coming. Ana | think that your time will not be mlsspehe, for there are points about the case WHICH promise to make it sn absolutely unique one. We have, I t.lini-, just time to eaten o,1r train at Paddington, and l Will go further into the matter upon our journey. You would oblge me by bringing "itn vou your very excellent field glass.
 And so 1t happened that an hour or SD later I found myself in the corner or d arst-class carriage flying along en route for Exeter while Sherlock Holmes, With his sharp, eager face framed Tn ms ear Tapped travelling cap, dipped rapidly lnto the bundle of fresh papers when ne iisiu a' procured at Paddington we hau leie Reading for behind us before he thrust the last one of them under the seat ana offered me his cigar case.
 ..We are going well,' said he, looking ont of the window and glancing at his watch Our rate at present is fifty-three and half miles an hour
 q have not observed the quarter-mlie posts," said l.
 "Nor have l. But the telegraph posts upon this line are sixty yards apart and the calculation Is a simple one. pre- sume that you have looked into this mat ter of the murder of John Straker and the disappearance of Silver Blazer
 T have seen what the Ieiegraph anu the Chronicle have to say
 ssIt is one of those cases where the art of inc reasoner should be used rather Tor the sitting of details than for the ac- uuiring of fresh evidence. The trageuy has been so uncommon, so complete ana of such personal importance to so many people that we are suffering from pie thora of surmises, conjecture and ny pothesis The difficulty is to detach the framework of fact. of absolute, undenla- ble fact from the embellishments or the- orists and reporters. Then, having estaD- iished ourselves upon this sound pasls' It Is our duty to see what differences may be drawn and what are the special points upon which the whole mystery turns. on Tuesday evening l received telegrams from both Colonel Ross, the owner or the horse, and from Inspector Gregory, who Is looking after the case, ln|itihs my So- operation"
 "Tuesday evening!7 I exclaimed. And this is Thursday morning. why didn you go down yesterdayY'
 'Because I made blunder, my dear Watson-which is, l am afraid, d more common occurrence than any one Woulo think who only knew me through your memories The fact is that l could not helieye if possible that the most remarka- ble horse in England could long remain concealed, especially in so sparsely ln- habited place as the north of Dartmoor. From hour to hour yesterday, 1 expected to hear that he had been found, and that his abductor was the murderer of John 6traker When, however, another morn- ing had come and I found that beyond the arrest of young Fitzroy Simpson nothing had been done. l felt that 1t was time for me to take action. Yet in some ways l feel that yesterday has not been wasted.
 You have formed the theory. then?'
 At least I have got grip of the es- sental facts of the case. 1 shall enumer- ate them to you, for nothing clears up case so much stating it to another person, and 1 can hardly expect your CO., operation if I do not show you the posi- tion from which we start
 I lay back against the cushions puffing at my cigar, while Holmes leaning for ward, with his long, thin forefinger check ing off the points upon the palm of his left hand, gave me a sketch of the events which had led to our journey.
 Silver Blaze,' said he, lis from the Somomy stock, and holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor. He is now in his fifth year, and has brought in turn each of the prizes of the turf to Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner. Up to the time of the catastrophe he was the first favor ite for the Wessex Cup. the betting being 8 to 1 on him. He has always. however, been a prime favorite with the racing public and has never yet disappointed them, so that even at those odds enor- nous sums of money have been laid upon him. It is obvious, therefore that there were many people who had the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze from heinz there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday.
 'eThe fact was, of course, appreciated at Kings Pyland, where the colonels train ing stable is situated. Every precaution was taken to guard the favorte. The trainer, John Straker, is retired jockey, who rode in Colonel Ross colors before he became too heavy for the weighing chair. He has served the colonel for five wears as jockey and for seven as trainer. and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant. Under him were three lads for the establishment was a small one. containing only four horses in all One of these lads sat up each night in the stable, while the others slept In the loft. All gree bore excellent characters. John Straker, who is mar ried man, lived in a small villa about 200 yards from the stables. He has no children keeps one maid servant and Is comfortably off The country round Is very lonely, but about half mile to the north there is small cluster of villas which have been built by a Tavistock con tractor for the use of invalids and others who may wish to enjoy the pure Dart moor air. Tavstock itself lies two miles to the west. while across the moor, also about two miles distant. Is the larger training establishment of Mapleton. which beIoups o Lord RIacl<Water and ia man.