The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-29

down together to our breakfast one
morning.
"Go! Where to7'
"To Dartmoor; to Kings Pyland.."
wonder was that he had not already
been mixed up in this extraordinary
case, which was the one topic of con-
versation thru the length and breadth
Of England. For whole day my COM
paniiop had rambled about out the e. room ON
brows knitted, charging and recharging
ais pipe with the strongest black to-
Sacco, and absolutely deaf to any Of
ny questions or remarks. Fresh editions
f every paper had been sent up by our
>ews agent, only to be glanced over and
ossed down into corner. Yet, silent
IS he was, I knew perfectly well what
t was over which he was brooding.
There was but one problem before the
public which could challenge his powers
disappearance of the favorite for the
Wessex cup, and the tragic murder of
its trainer. When therefore, he sud
denly announced his intention Of setting
out for the scene of the drama it was
Hoped for"
II should be most happy to 90 down
with you if should not be in the way"
"My dear Watson, you would confer
great favor upon me by coming. And
I think that your time will not be mis-
spent for there are p0nts "a about The the
lutely unique one. We have, I think,
Just time to catch our train at Pad
dington, and will go further into the
matter upon our journey. You would
/ oblige me by bringing with you your
! very excellent feld-g lass.
- And so it happened that an hour or so
later I found myself in the corner of a
for Exeter, while Sherlock Holmes, with
his sharp, eager face framed in his ear
4 tapped travelling cap, dipped rapidly
into the bundle Of fresh papers which
he had procured at Paddington. We had
left Reading far behind US before he
thrust the last one OF them under the
seat, and offered me his cigar-case.
ing out of the window and glancing at
his watch. 'Our rate at present is
ffty-three and a half miles an hour. "
J ~ have not observed the quarter
mile posts,'' said l.
"Nor have I. But the telegraph posts
upon this line are sixty yards apart, and
the calcul alton is simple one. | pre-
m matt 1 Of the mu I of John straKe1
and the disappearance of Silver Blaze?''
81 have seen what the Telegraph and
the Chronicle have to say
cit is one of those cases where the
art of the reasoner should be useG
rather for the sitting of details than fol
the acquiring Of fresh evidence. The
tragedy has been SO uncommon, 50 com
plete, and Of such personal Importance
to so many people, that we are suffer
ing from a plethora of surmise, con
lecture and hypothesis. The difficulty
Is to detach the framework Of fact-ot
absolute, undeniable fact-from the EN-
bellishments Of theorists and reporters
Then, having established ourselves upon
this sound basis, it is our duty to see
what differences may be drawn and what
are the special points upon which the
ing I received kilograms from bott
Colonel Ross, the owner Of the horse
and from Inspector Gregory, who i:
looking after the case, inviting my co
operation.'
NTuesday evening!' I exclaimed
"And this is Thursday morning. Why
didn't you 90 down yesterday9'
"Because made blunder, my dea
Watson-which is, am afraid, a NOR,
think who only knew me thru you
memoirs. The fact is that I could no
believe it possible that the most re
markable horse in England could Ions
searsa eSpeeai{ in nori
of Dartmoor. From hour to hour yes
terday I expected to hear that he ha(
been found, and that his abductor wa
Is the murderer Of John Straker. When
: however, another morning had come an
I found that beyond the arrest Of youn,
Fitzroy Simpson nothing had been done
A I felt that it was time for me to tax
action. Yet in some ways L feel tina
vaut not ham wasta6 -
HYou have formed theory then9'
cat least have got grip of tn
essential facts Of the case. I sha]
enumerate them to you, for nothing
clears up case so much as stating i
to another person, and I can hardly ez
s you the position from which we start.
55 I lay back against the cushions, puff
ing at my cigar, while Holmes, leanin
forward, with his long, thin forefnge
checking off the points on the palm o
* his left hand, gave me a sketch of tn
events which had led to our Journey
"silver Blaze,,' said he; "is f fro!
81 liant a record as his famous ancestor
He is now in, his fifth year, and ha
brought in turn each of the prizes o
II the turf to Colonel Ross, his fortunat
@ owner. Up to the time Of the catas
i trophe he was the first favorite for tn
W6SS9& cup, INC DeCLluR DS1uS 10
on him. He has always, however, bee
& q prime favorite with the racing publ
III and has never yet disappointed them, S
that even at those odds enormous sum
81 Of money have been laid upon him. ]
Is obvious, therefore, that there wer
many people who had the strongest IL
serest in preventing Silver Blaze frol
eng there at the fall of the flag mex
'sThe fact was, of course, appreciate
1T Kings Pyland, where the colonel
training stable is situated. Every Or
caution was taken to guard the favorit
The trainer, John Straker, is retire
jockey who rode in Colonel Ross s color
before he became too heavy for til
weighing chair. He has served the co
one1 for five years as jockey and If
seven as trainer and has always show
himself to be jealous and honest Sc
want. Under him were three lads; fl
the establishment was small one, col
q tanning only four horses in all. One {
4 stable, while the others slept in the lof
fB.All three bore excellent character
John Straker, who is a married ma
wed in small villa about two hundre
ards from the stables. He has no chi
rem. keeps one maid-servant and
Is very lonely, but about half
mile to the north there is small clust,
of villas which have been built by
Tavistock contractor for the use of i