Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-07-08
me thursday Brought us another let


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 l come up to town, and do
not intend to return. Mr.. Carruthers
las 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 it 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 acct
dent, and he is much disfgured. l saw
him out of the window, but am glad
to say l did not meet him. He had q
long talk with Mr.. Carruthers, who
seemed much excited afterward. Wood
ley must be staying in the neighbor-
hood, for he did not sleep here, and
yet I caught glimpse Of him again
this morning Sinking about in the
shrubbery. I would sooner have a saw
age wild animal loose about the place
loathe and fear him more than 1 can
say. How can Mr.. Carruthers endure
such creature for q moment? How
ever, all my troubles will be over or
Saturday"
$50 trust, Watson; so trust" said
Holmes gravely. 'There is some deep
intrigue going on round that little wom-
an, and it is our duty to see that no one
molests her upon that last journey I
think, Watson, that we must spare time
to run down together on Saturday
morning, and make sure that this Curl
GUS and inclusive investigation has no
untoward ending"
1 confess that I had not up to now
taken very serious view Of the case,
which had seemed to me rather gro
tesuue and bizarre than dangerous
, That a man should lie in wait for and
follow very handsome woman is no
unheard Of thing, and if he has so lit
tie audacity that he not only dared not
address her, but even fed from her ap-
proach, he was not very formidable
assailant The ruffian Woodley was &
very different person, but except on one
occasion he had not molested our client,
and now he visited the house of Car
ruthers without intruding upon her
presence. The man Oh the bicycle was
doubtless a member of those week end
parties at the hall of which the pub
lican had spoken, but who he was Or
what he wanted was as obscure as
ever 1t was the severity Of Holmes
manner and the fact that he slipped a
revolver into his pocket before leaving
our rooms which impressed me with
the feeling that tragedy might prove
to lurk behind this curious train Of
events
A rainy night had been followed by q
glorious morning, and the heath COW
cred countryside, with the glowing
clu1nps of Towering gorse, seemed all
the more beautiful to eyes which were
weary of the duns and drabs and slate
grays of London. Holmes and I walk
ed along the broad, sandy road, inhal-
ing the fresh morning air and rejoicing
in the music of the birds and the fresh
breath of the spring. From rise Of
the road on the shoulder of CroOksbury
hill we could see the GIN hall bristling
out from amid the ancient oaks, which,
old as they were, were still younger
than the building which they surround
ed. Holmes pointed down the long
tract of road which wound, reddish
yellow band, between the brown of the
heath and the budding green of the
woods. Far away, black dot, we
could see a vehicle moving in our direc-
tioH Holmes gave an exclamation Of
C,.,Gt!enle.
Il have given margin of half an
hour" said he. eff that is her trap
she must be making for the earlier
train. 1 fear Watson, that she will be
past Charlington before we can posi-
bly, meet her"
From the instant that we passed the
rise we could no longer see the vehicle,
but we fastened onward at such a
pace that my sedentary life began to
tell upon me, and l was compelled to
fall behind Holmes, however was al
ways in training, for he had inexhaust-
ible stores Of nervous energy upon
which to draw. His springy step never
slowed until suddenly, when he was
hundred yards in front Of me, he halt
ed, and / saw him throw up his hand
with a gesture Of grief and despair.
At the same instant an empty dogcart,
the horse cantering, the reins trailing,
appeared round the curve Of the road
and ratified swiftly toward us.
'Too late, Watson; too late" cried
Holmes as l ran painting to his side.
''Fool that 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 can repair the consequences Of
my own blunder."
We had sprung into the dogcart, and
Holmes, after turning the horse, gave
it sharp cut with the whip, and we
flew back along the road. AS we turn