Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-22

have now told you everything without
an attempt at circumlocution or con.
ccalment. DO you in your turn be as
frank with me-"
II WILL" said Holmes. "1n the first
place, your grace, am bound to tell
you that you have placed yourself In a
most serious position in the eyes Of tho
law. You have condoncd felony, and
you have aided the escape Of MUIR
derer, for cannot doubt that any
money which was taken by James VIII
der to aid his accomplish in his flight
came from your grace's purse"
The duke bowed his assent.
This Is indeed a most serious mat
ter Even more culpable In my opinion.
your grace, is your attitude toward
your younger son. You leave him In
this den for three days."
Under solemn promises
"What are promises to such people as
these3 You have no guarantee that he
will not be spirited away again. To
humor your guilty elder son you have
exposed your innocent younger son to
imminent and unnecessary danger. 1t
was a most unjustiflable action"
The proud lord Of Holdernesse was
not accustomed to be 80 rated in his
own ducal hall. The blood flushed into
his high forehead. but his conscience
held him dumb.
II will help you, but on one condition
only. 1t is that you ring for the foot
man and let me give such orders as
like"
Without word the duke pressed the
electric bell. A servant entered.
"You will be glad to hear" said
Holmes, that your young master Is
found. 1t Is the dukes desire that the
carriage shall 60 at once to the Fight
ing Cock inn to bring Lord Satire
home.
"Now," said Holmes when the re.
ioicing lackey had disappeared. "hav-
ing secured the future, we can afford
to be more lenient with the past am
not In an official position. and there Is
no reason so long as the ends Of justice
are served why should disclose all
that know. AS to Hayes. say moth
ing. The gallows awaits him. and I
would do nothing to save him from It..
What he will divulgc cannot tell. but
have no doubt that your grace could
make him understand that it IL to his
interest to be silent From the police
point Of view he will have kidnapped the
boy for the purpose of ransom. II they
do not themselves fnd it out. I see no
reason why should prompt them to
take broader point of view. l would
warn your grace, however. that the
continued presence OF Mr.. James Viii
der in your household can only lead to
misfortune"
Il understand that. Mr.. Holmes, and
1t is already settled that he shall leave
me forever and 80 to seek his fortune
In Australia"
'In that case. your grace, since you
have yourself stated that any unhappi-
ness In your married life was caused
by his presence, would suggest that
you make such amends as you can to
the duchess and that you try to resume
those relations which have been so I'm.
happily interrupted"
THAT also have arranged. Mr..
Holmes. l wrote to the duchess this
morning.
I'm that case" said Holmes. II thnk
that my friend and can congratulate
ourselves upon several most happy re-
suits from our little visit to the north
There Is one other small point upon
which desire some light. This fellow
Hayes had shod his horses with shoes
which counterfeited the tracks Of cows
Was 1t from Mr.. Wilder that he
learned SO extraordinary a deviccw
The duke stood In thought for mo-
ment, with look Of intense surprise
on his face. Then he opened door and
showed us into large room furnished
as museum. He led the way to a
glass case in a corner and pointed to
the inscription.
"These Shoes" II ran. "were dug up
in the moat Of Holdernesse Hall. They
are for the use Of horses. but they are
shaped below with a cloven foot Of iron
so as to throw pursuers of the track
They are supposed to have belonged tc
some Of the marauding barons Of Hol
dernesse in the middle ages"
Holmes opened the case. and. mois
tening his finger. he passed 1t along the
shoe. A thin Aim of recent mud was
left upon his skin.
Thank you," said he as he replaced
the glass. ut Is the second most inter
esting object that l have seen In the
north"
"And the first"
Holmes folded up his check and
placed 1t carefully in his notebook. 81
am n poor man." said he as he patted II
affectionately and thrust 1t into the
depths of his inner pocket