The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-12


what he does"
We scrambled from rock to rock, I'M
til in a few moments we had made our
way to a point from which we could
see the front door of the Inn Wilder's
bicycle was leaning against the wall
beside it. No one was moving about
the house, nor could We catch a
glimpse of any faces at the windows.
Slowly the twilight erept down as the
sun sank behind the high towers Of
Holderness Hall. Then. in the gloom.
we saw the two side-lamps of a trap
light UP In the stable-yard of the Inn.
and shortly afterwards heard the rat
tie of hoofs, as 1t wheeled out into
the road and tore off at furious pace
In the direction of Chesterfield.
What do you make of that. Wat
SOM" Holmes whispered.
ut looks like flight"
"A single man In a dog-cart. so far
as 1 could see. Well. 1t certainly was
not Mr.. James Wilder, for there he
is at the door,
red square of light had sprung out
of the darkness. In the middle of 1t
was the black figure of the secretary
his head advanced, peering out into
the night Ii was evident that he was
expecting someone. Then at last there
were steps in the road. a second fig
ure was visible for an instant against
the light, the door shut, and all was
black once more. Five minutes later
a lamp was lit in a room upon the first
floor.
ut seems to be a curious class OF
custom that is done by the Fighting
Cock" said Holmes.
1.-THE bar is on the other side.'
"Qthte so. These are what one may
call the private guests. Now, what in
the world is Mr.. James Wilder doing
in that den at this hour of night. and
who Is the companion who comes to
meet him there? Come, Watson. we
must really take a risk, and try to in
vestigate this little more closely"
Together we stole down to the road
and crept across to the door of the inn.
The bicycle still leaned against the
wall. Holmes struck a match and held
1t to the back Of the wheel, and l
heard him chuckle as the light fell
upon a patched Dunlop tyre. Up
above US was the lighted window.
II must have a peep through that,
Watson. If you bend your back and
support yourself Upon the wall,
think that I can manage"
An instant later, his feet were on
my shoulders, but he was hardly up
before he was down again.
Come, my friend,' said he, our
days work has been quite long enough.
I think that we have gathered all that
we can. It's long walk to the school,
and the sooner we get started the
better"
He hardly opened his lips during that
weary trudge across the moor, nor
would he enter the school when he
reached 1t, but went on to Mackelton
Station. whence he could send tele-
games Late at night I hearc him
consoling DR.. Huxtable, Frustrated by
the tragedy of his masters death,
and later still he entered my room as
alert and vigorous as he had been
when he started in the morning. "All
goes well, my friend" said he, II
promise that before tomorrow evening
we shall have reached the solution of
the mystery"
At eleven o'clock the next morning
my friend and I were walking up the
famous yew avenue of Holderness
Hall. We were ushered through the
magnificent Elizabethan doorway, and
into his Grace's study. There we found
Mr.. James Wilder, demure and courtly,
but with some trace of that wild ter
ror of the night before still lurking In
his furtive eyes and In his twitching
features.
you have come to see his Grace?
I am sorry, but the fact is that the
Duke is far from well. He has been
very much upset by the tragic news.
We received telegram from DR..
Huxtable yesterday afternoon, which
told us of your discovery"
II must see the Duke, Mr.. Wilder"
But he is in his ROOM
"Then l must go to his room"
Il believe he Is in his bed
II will see him there"
Holmes cold and memorable manner
showed the secretary that 1t was USE
less to argue with him.
VERY good, Mr.. Holmes, l will tell
him that you are here
After an hours delay, the great no
bleman appeared. His face was more
cadaverous than ever. his shoulders
had rounded, and he seemed to me to
be an altogether older man than he
had been the morning before. He
greeted us with a stately courtesy and
seated himself at his desk, his red
beard streaming down on the table.
well, Mr. Holiness" said he
But my friends eyes were fixed upon
the secretary, who stood by his mas
ters chair.
Il think, your Grace, that I could
speak more freely In Mr.. Wilder's alb
sence."
The man turned a shade paler and
cast a malignant lance at Holmes.
IF your Grace wishes
Eyes, yes. you had better go. Now,
Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?''
My friend waited until the door had
closed behind the retreating secretary.
1.-THE fact is, your Grace said he,
that my colleague, DR.. Watson, and
myself had an assurance from DIR.
Huxtable that a reward had been Of
fered in this case. I should like to
have this confirmed from your own
lips"
Certainly, Mr.. Holmes
ut amounted, If l am correctly in
formed to five thousand pounds to
anyone who will tell you where your
son is?'
Exactly"
"And another thousand to the man
who will name the person or persons
who keep him in custody?'
Exactly"
"Under the latter heading is includ-
ed, no doubt. not only those who may
have taken him away. but also those
who conspire to keep him In his pres
ent position?"
Yes, yes" cried the Duke impa-
tiently. IF you do your work well.
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes. you will have
no reason to complain of niggardly
treatment"
My friend rubbed his thin hands to-
gether with an appearance of avidity
which was a surprise to me, who knew
his frugal tastes.
IT fancy that I see your Graces
cheque-book upon the table," said he.