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

pfeSSlOn or aIlloSdHtes
 "It was invisible. buried in the mud. it.
 What You expected to find it?'
 q thought 1t not unlikely"
 He took the boots from the bag. and compared the impression of each of them with marks upon the ground. Then he clamored up to the rim of the hollow, and crawled about among the ferns and bushes.
 "I am afraid that there are no more tracks," said the Inspector. T have ex- amined the ground very carefully for hundred yards in each direction"
 "Indeed!" said Holmes, rising. "I should not have the lmpertinence to do 1t again after what you say. But l should like to have a little walk over the moor be- fore 1t grows dark, that l may know my ground tomorrow. and | think that 1 shall put this horseshoe in my pocket for luck"
 Col Ross, who had shown some signs of impatience at my companions quiet and systematic method of work, glanced at his watch. "I wish you would come back with me, Inspector" said he. There are several points on which l should like your advice and especially as to whether we do not owe it to the public to remove our horses name from the entries for the Cup"
 Certainly not" cried Holmes with de- cison. ''I should let the name stand"
 The Colonel bowed. "I am very glad to have had your opinion. sir" said he You will find us at poor Straker's house , when you have finished your walk and we can drive together into Tavistock."
 He turned back with the Inspector, while Holmes and I walked slowly across the moor. The sun was beginning to sink
 behind the stable of Mapleton, and the long sloping plain In front of us was fn1 Int sc ruddy brows where the faded ferns and brambles caught the evening light But the glories of the landscape were all
 wasted upon my companion, who was sunk in the deepest thought. Its this way, Watson" said he at last We may leave the question of who killed John Straker for the instant, and confine ourselves to finding out what has become of the horse. Now, supposing
 that he broke away during or after the tragedy. where could he have gone to?
 The horse is a very gregarious creature. If left to himself his instincts would
 have been either to return to Kings Py-
 land or go over to Mapleton. Why should he run wild upon the moor? He
 would surely have been seen by now.
 And why should gypsles kidnap him?
 These people always clear out when
 they hear of trouble, for they do not wish to be pestered by the police. They
 could not hope to sell such a horse. They would run great risk and gain nothing
 by taking him. Surely that is clear" Where is he, then?'
 'I have already said that he must have gone to Kings Pyland or to Maple ton. He is not at Kings Pyland There
 fore he Is at Mapleton. Let us take that
 as working hypothesis and see what 1t | leads us to. This part of the moor, as the Inspector remarked, Is very hard and
 dry. But 1t falls away toward Maple l ton, and you can see from here that there 1 is long hollow over yonder. which must | have been very wet on Monday night ] If our supposition Is correct, then the | horse must have crossed that and there
 is the point where we should look for his l tracks,
 We had been walking brskly during ' this conversation, and a few more min l utes brought us to the hollow in ques
 tion At Holmes request l walked dowi 1 the bank to the right, and he to tn,
 left, but had not taken fifty paces be
 fore l heard him give q shout, and saw
 him waving his hand to me. The track | of horse was plainly outlined in tho l soft earth in front of him, and the shoe
 which he took from his pocket exactly | fitted the impression
 See the value of imagination" said ! Holmes. Tt is the one quality which | Gregory lacks. We imagined what
 might have happened, acted upon tn, l 1uStl1pd ' Let us proceed"
 1 We crossed the marshy bottom ant
 passed over a quarter of a mile of dry hard turf. Again the ground sloped, anC
 again came on the tracks. Then W,
 lost them for half a mile, but only tC 1 pick them up once more quite close tt | Mapeton. It was Holmes who saw then
 first, and he stood pointing with q looI
 of triumph upon his face. A mans tract
 was visible beside the horse's. | "The horse was alone before," I cried.
 Quite so. It was alone before. Hullo | what is this?'
 The double track turned sharp off ant
 took the direction of Kings Pyland
 Holmes whstled and we both followed | along after it. His eyes were on tn, | trail but l happened to look a little tc | one side and saw to my surprise tho | same tracks coming back again in tho | opposite direction.
 l "One for you Watson. said Holmes
 when l pointed it out. You have saved
 us a long walk, which would have | brought us back on our own tracks. Lei
 us follow the return track. | We had not to go far. It ended at the | paving of asphalt which led up to the | gates of the Mapleton stables. As we l approached groom ran out from them ] we don't want any loiterers about | here" said he.
 | "1 only wished to ask question:" said | Holmes, with his finger and thumb in his | waistcoat pockets. "Should I be too earl, l to see your master, Mir. Silas Brown, fl l were to call at o'clock tomorrow | morning.
 "Bless you, sir, if any one is about he 1 will be- for he is always the first stirring l But here he Is, sir, to answer your uues- | tons for himself. No, sir, no: 1t is as
 much as my place is worth to let him
 see me touch your money. Afterwards | If you like"
 As Sherlock Holmes replaced the half crown which he had drawn from his | pocket, a ferce-looking elderly mar strode out from the gate with d hunting | crop swinging in his hand. Whats this, Dawson?' he cried. INC gossiping! Go about your business And you. what the devil do you want here?"
 "Ten minlees talk with you. my good sir" said Holmes in the sweetest oi voices.
 I've no time to talk to every gada- bout. We want no strangers here. Be off, or you may find a dog at your heels. '' Holmes leaned forward and whispered something in the trainers ear. He start ed violently and flushed to the temples. Its q lie!' he shouted; ''an internal l lie.'
 Very good. Shall we argue about 1t | in public or talk it over in your parlor?'' "Oh come In if you wish to-" Holmes smiled. 'I shall not keep you
 more than few minutes, Watson" said 1 he. Now. MT. Brown, 1 am quite at your disposal"
 | Tt was twenty minutes and the reds I daI ft.ta l.afa IIoI. h.