The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-03

mand he sat down and sank bis fac,
in his hands II was some minutes be
fore he spoke.
How much do you know?" he asked
at last without raising bis head.
II saw YOU together last night"
Does any one else beside your friend
] know
II have spoken to no one"
The duke took a pen in his quiveriup
fingers and opened his cheek book.
Il shall be as good as my word. Mr.
Holmes. | am about to write your
check, however unwelcomc the infor.
nation which you have gained may be
to me When the offer was first made
] little thought the turn which events
might take But you and your friend
are men Of discretion, Mr.. Holmes?v
Il hardly understand your grSee.s
Il must put II plainly, Mr.. Holmes.
lf'ohly you two know OF this incident
there Is no reason why it should go
any further, think f12.oo0 is the sum
that owe you, is 1t notf"
But Holmes smiled and shook his
head.
Il fear, your grace, that matters can
hardly be arranged so easily. There Is
the death OF this schoolmaster to be ac-
counted for"
But James knew nothing OF that.
You cannot hold him responsible for
that. II was the work OF this brutal
ruffian when' he had the misfortune 20
employ"
Il must take the view, your grace.
that when a man embarks upon a
crime be Is morally guilty Of any other
crime which may spring from IT,"
Morally, Mr.. Holmes. no doubt You
are right; but sunely not in the eyes of
the law. A man cannot be condemned
for murder at which he was not
present and which he loathes and alb
hors as much as you do. The instant
that he beard OF Il he made q complete
confession to me, so filed was be with
horror and remorse. He lost not an
hour In breaking entirely with the mur-
derer. Oh, Mr.. Holmes, you must save
him-you must save himl tell YOU
that you must save himg The duke
had dropped the last attempt at self
command and was pacing the room
with convulsed face and with his
ciinched hands waving in the air. At
last he mastered himself and sat down
once more at his desk. II appreciate
your conduct 10 coming here before You
spoke to any one else" said he. "At
least we may take counsel how far we
can minimize this hideous scandal"
Exactly said Holmes ~ think.
your grace. that this can only be done
by absolute frankness between us. /
am disposed to help your grace to the
best Of my ability. but in order to do
so | must understand 10 the last detnil
how the matter stands. l realize that
your words applied TO Mr.. James VIII
der and that be is not the murderer"
mo, the murderer has escaped"
Sherlock Holmes smiled demureIy.
Your grace can hardly hare heard
Of any small reputation which / pos
sess or you would not imagine that it Is
so easy to escape me Mfr. Reuben
Hayes was arrested at Chesterfield on
my information at IL O'Clock last night,
had telegram from the head OF the
ocal police before left the school this
The duke leaned back In his chair
and stared with amazement at my
'riend
"fou seem to have powers that are
hardly human" said he. 80 Reuben
Hayes is taken7 / am right glad To
iear it II it will not react upon the fate
II James"
Your secretaryT
mo, sir; my SON"
II was Holmes turn TO look aston
shed.
Il confess that this is entirely new 10
ne, your grace. must beg you to be
nore explicit"
Il Will conceal nothing from you.
gree with you that cornplete frank
ess, however painful II may be 10 me
the best policy IN this desperate situ-
ton to which James folly and jeaI-
usy have reduced us. When I was a
cry young man, Mr.. Holmes, / loved
7ith such love as comes only once IN
lifetime. l offered the lady marriage.
ut she refused It on the grounds that
uch a match might mar my career.
Lad she lived / would certainly never
ave married any one else. She died
nd left this one child. whom for her
ske have cherished and cared for. I
Duld not acknowledge the paternity 70
le world, but / gave him the best OF
iucations. and since he came to man
ood have kept him near my person.
Le surmised my secret and has pre-
imed ever since upon the claim which
has upon me and upon his power Of
royoking a scandal which would be
bhorrent 70 me. His presence had
'mething 70 do with the unhappy Is
he OF my marriage Above an. ne ,
ltci my young legitimate heir from
r. DIST with d persistent hatred.
You may well ask me why, under
lese circumstances, / still kept James :
nder my roof answer that IL was
ecause could see his mothers face /,
his and that for her dear sake there
as no end to my long suffering. All
a pretty ways, too--there was not
le OF them which be could not suR-
~ and bring back TO my memory. /
'uld not send him away. But feared
much lest he should do Arthur
AT Is. Lord Saltire-a mischief that {
dispatched him for safety to Dr.
school
James came into contact with this
How Hayes because the man was a
nant OF mine and james acted as /