Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-26


will. In the latter case you would ex-
pect that some prompting from outside
would be needed To make 80 young a
lad do such thing. If he has had
no visitors. that prompting must have
come in letters; hence l try to find
| out who We're his correspondents
Il fear l cannot help You much. His
only correspondent. 80 far as l know,
was his own father"
Who wrote To him on the very day
of his disappearance. Were the rela-
lions between father and son very
friendly"
His grace Is never very friendly
with any one He is completely i'm
mersed in large public questions and is
rather inaccessible TO all ordinary emo
| tiOns. But he was always kind to the
boy in his own way
But the sympathies of the latter
| were with the mOtherT"
Yes"
Did lie say soy"
"No"
1.-The duke. them"
Good heavens. no."
Then how could You know"
Il have had some confidential talks
with Mr.. James Wilder. his grace's
secretary. 1t was he who gave me the
information about Lord Saltires feel
ings.'
Il see. BY the way, that last letter
of the duke's-was it found in the boys
room after lie was gone?''
NO; he had taken it with him. l
think. AIr. Holmes, it is time that we
were leaving for EustOn."
Il will order II four wheeler. In q
quarter OF an hour we shall be at your
service. If you are telegraphing home,
DR.. Huxtable. it would he well to al
low the people in your neighborhood to
ina CINE that the inquiry is still going
on in Liverpool or wherever else that
red herring led your pack. III the mean
time l will do a little quiet work at
your own doors, and perhaps the scent
is not so cold but that two old hounds
like Watson and myself may get a sniff
of IT."
That evening found us in the cold
bracing atmosphere of the Peak cOun-
try, in which Dir. HuXtable's famous
school is situated. 1t was already dark
when we reached il. A card was lying
on the hall table, and the butler whis-
pered something to his master, who
turned to us with agitation in every
heavy feature.
The duke is here" said he The
duke and Mr. Wilder are III the rdy.
Come, gentlemen. and / VIII intro ee
YOU"
l. was, OF course familiar with the
pictures of the famous statesman. but
the man himself was very different
from his representation. He was a
tall and stately person. scrupulousl-
dressed, with drawn. thin face ant
nose which was grotesquely curv
and long. His complexion was of :,
dead pallor, which was more startling
by contrast with a long: dwindling
beard OF vivid oil which flowed down
over his wiz '-+eoat with his
watch chain rough Its
fringe. Such was tlts = presence
who looked stonily at us from the cen
ter of DIR. HuXtable's hearth rug. Be
side him stood a very foung man.
whom l understood TO wilder. the
private secretary. He was small, merry
Gus, alert. with intelligent light blue
eyeS and mobile features. 1t was he
who at once. in an inclsive and positive
tone. opened the conversation.
II called this morning. DR. Huxtable.
too late 10 prevent you from starting
for London. learned that your object
was 10 invite Mr.. Sherlock Holmes to
undertake the conduct Of this case. His
grace is surprised, Dir. Huxtable, that
You should have taken such a step
without consulting him"
when I learned that the police had
failed
His grace is by 10 means convinced
that the police have failed"
But surely. Mr.. Wilder
You are well aware. DIR. HuxtabIe,
that his grace is particularly anxious
TO avoid all public scandal. He prefers
to take as few people as possible into
his confidence"
The matter can be easily remedied."
said the brOwbeaten doctor. mfr. Sher-
lock Holmes can return to London by
the morning train
Hardly that. doctor; hardly that"
said Holmes In his blandest voice
This northern air is invigorating and
pleasant 50 / propose TO spend a few
days upon your mOors and to 90 Dy
my mind as best / may. ....er
have the shelter Of your roof or of the
village inn is, OF course, for you to de-
eide"
] could see that the unfortunate doc
tor was in the last stage Of indecision,
| from which he by the
| deep. sOnoFous .ed beard
1e d saas "hi'' hed out ike a din
Il agree with Mr.. Wilder Or. Hux-
table, that you would have done wise
/ ~ n consult me. But since Mr.
| Holmes has already been taken into
lEour confidence it would indeed be