The San Francisco call., 1905-04-02

ize those geographical features which
may have a good deal to do with our
Investigation.
Look at this map. The dark square
is the priory school I'll put pin in II.
Now, this line is the main road You
see that it runs east and west past the
school, and you see also that there is
no side road for mile either way. If
these two folk passed away by road, it
was this road"
Exactly"
by a singular and happy chance
we are able to some extent to check
what passed along this road during the
pight in question. At this point, where
my pipe is now resting, a county con-
stable was on duty for II to 6. 1t is,
as you perceive, the first crossroad on
the east side. This man declares that
he was not absent from his post for an
instant, and he is positive that neither
boy nor man could have gone that
way unseen. I have spoken with this
policeman tonight and he appears TO
me to be a perfectly reliable person.
That blocks this end. We have now TO
6eaI with the other. There is an inn
here, the Red Bull, the landlady or
which was Ill. She had sent, to Mack
Teton for a doctor. but he did not ar
rive until morning, being absent az
another case. The people at the inn
were alert all night, awaiting his COM
ing and one or other Of them seems
to have continually had an eye upon
the road. They declare that no one
passed. II their evidence is good, then
we are fortunate enough TO be able to
block the west and also to be able TO
say that the fugitives did not use the
road at ALL
But the bicycle?" I objected.
Quite so. We will come 20 the BIZ
flITT- a.
soning-if these people did not go by
the road they must have traversed the
country to the north of the house or
70 the south of the house. That is GER
tain. Let US weigh the one against the
ether. On the south of the house is,
as you perceive, a large district or
arabic land, cut up into small fields,
with stone walls between them. There,
I admit that q bicycle is impossible.
We can dismiss the idea. We turn to
the country on the north. Here there
lies q grove OF trees, marked as the
Ragged Shaw and on the farther side
stretches a great rolling moor, Lower
Gill Moor, extending for ten miles and
sloping gradually upward. Here, at
one side of this wilderness is Holder
nesse Hall, ten miles by road, but only
six across the moor. 1t is a peculiarly
desolate plain. A few moor farmers
have small holdings, where they rear
sheep and cattle. Except these, the
plover and the curiew are the only in
ha bitants until you come to the Ches-
terfleld high road. There is church
there, a few cottages and an inn. Be-
yond that the Hills become precipitous.
Surely it is here to the north that our
quest must lie.'
But the bicycle?' I persisted.
We'll, well,, said Holmes, inpa-
uently. "A good cyclist does not need
a high road. The moor is intersected
with paths. and the moon at the full.
aalloai what is this?"
There was an agitated knock at the
door and an instant afterward DR..
Auxtable was in the room. In his
hand he held a blue cricket cap, with
a white chevron on the peak
AT last we have a clew!" he cried.
Thank heaven! at last we are on the
dear boys track 1t is his cap"
Where was ii found?"
I'm the van OF the gypsies who
Tuesday. To-day the police traced
them down and examined their cara
van. This was found
How do they account for it?"
They shuffied and lied-said that
they found it on the moor on Tuesday
hascalsi Thank goodness, they are
ali safe under lock and key.
Either the fear of the law or the
Dukes purse will certainly get out of
them all that they know"
so far, so good" said Holmes, when
the doctor had at last left the room.
1T at least bears out the theory that it
is on the side of the Lower GIL Moor
that we must hope for results. The
police have really done nothing locally,
save the arrest of these gypsies. Look
here, Watson. There is a watercourse
across the moor. You see it marked
here in the map. In some parts II
Widens into a morass. This is partic-
ularly so in the region between Holder
nesse Hall and the school. 1t is vain
10 look elsewhere for tracks in this dry
weather, but at that point there is GER
tainly chance OF some record being
left. I will call you early tomorrow
morning and you and / will try if we
can throw some little light upon the
mystery"
The day was just breaking when I
woke TO f1Ed the long, thin form of
Holmes by my bedside. He was fully
dressed and had apparently already
been out.
II have done the lawn and the bicy-
Gle she'd" said he. II have also had
ramble through the Ragged Shaw.
Now, Watson, there is cocoa ready in
the next room. must beg you to hur-
ry, for we have a great day before u.s..
His eyes shone and his cheek was
flushed with the exhnaration of the
master workman who sees his work lie
ready before him. A very different
Holmes. this active, alert man, form
the introspective and pallid dreamer of
Baker street. felt, as 1 looked upon
that supple figure, alive with nervous
energy, that it was indeed a strenuous
day that awaited us.
And yet it opened in the blacklist dis
appointment. With high hopes, we
struck across the peaty, russet moor.
intersected with a thousand sheep
paths, until We came TO the broad,
light green belt which marked the mo-
rass between us and Holdernesse. Ger
tainly, If the lad had gone homeward,
he must have passed this, and he could
not pass 1t without leaving his traces.
But no sign Of him or the German
could be seen. With darkening face
my friend strode along the margin,
eagerly observant of every muddy
stain upon the mossy surface. Sheep
marks there were in profusion, and at
one place, some miles down, cows had
left their tracks. Nothing more.
Check number one" said Holmes,
looking gloomily over the rolling ex-