Morris tribune., 1905-07-22

derer, for l cannot doubt that any
money which was taken by James Will
der to aid his accomplice 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
these? 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 most unjustifiable action"
The proud lord Of Holdernesse was
not accustomed to be so rated in his
own ducal hall. The blood flushed into
his high forehead. but his conscience
! held him dumb.
81 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 go at once to the Fight
ing Cock inn to bring Lord Satire
home. -~--r-Ar
"Now," said Holmes when the re-
joicing Iackey 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 I should disclose all
that know. AS to Hayes, I say moth
ing. The eallows awaits him, and I
would do nothing to save him from it.
What he will divulge I cannot tell, but
I have no doubt that your grace could
make him understand that it is to his
interest to be silent. From the police
point of view he will have kidnapped the
boy for the purpose of ransom. If they
do not themselves find it out, / see no
reason why l should prompt them to
take a broader point Of view l would
warn your grace, however, that the
continued presence of Mr.. James Will
der in your household can only lead to
misfortune"
Il understand that, Mr.. Holmes, and
it is already settled that he shall leave
me forever and go to seek his fortune
in Australia
''1n 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 I have arranged, Mr.
Holmes. l wrote to the duchess this
In that case" said Holmes, II think
that my friend and l 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 counterfe;ted the tracks of cows
Was it from Mr. Wilder that he
earned so extraordinary device?'
The duke stood in thought for mo-
nent with a look of intense surprise
N his face. Then he opened door and
showed us into a large room furnished
Is museum. He led the way to
glass case in corner and pointed to
he inscription.
''These Shoes" it ran, "were dug up
n the mOat of Hoidernesse Hail. They
Ire for the use of horses, but they are
haped below with a cloven foot of iron
10 as to throw pursuers off the track
They are supposed to have belonged to
ome Of the marauding barons of Hol-
Lernesse in the middle ages"
Holmes opened the case, and, mois-
ening his finger, he passed it along the
hoe. A thin film Of recent mud was
eft upon his skin.
''Thank you,' said he as he replaced
he glass. "It is the second most inter
sitting object that 1 have seen in the !
lorth.'
"And the frst?" ;
Holmes folded up his check and
placed it carefully in his notebook. II
IN poor man. said he as he patted it
and thrust it into the 6
lepths Of his inner pocket.