Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-07-22


shoes. but new nails. This case de-
serves to be classic. Let us go across
to the smithy."
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. l saw Holmes eye dart
ing to right and left among the litter OF
iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor. Suddenly, however, we
heard step behind us, and there was
the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn
down over his savage eyes, his swarthy
features convulsed with passion. He
held short, metal headed stick In MS
/ hand. and he advanced in SO menacing
a fashion that was right glad to feel
the revolver in my pocket.
.sYou Internal spiesv' the man cried.
"What are you doing there"
"Why, Mr. Reuben Hayes" SAID
Holmes coolly, zone might think that
YOU were afraid Of our finding some
thing out"
The man mastered himself with
violent effort, and his grim mouth
loosened into false laugh, which was
more menacing than his frown.
you're welcome to all you can find
out in my smithy," said he. "But look
here. mister, I don't care for folk polk
ing about my place without my leave,
so the sooner you pay your score and
get out of this the better | shall be
pleased"
''All right, Mr.. Hayes; no harm
meant" said Holmes. "We have been
having a look at your horses, but
think I'll walk, after ALL It's not far, 1
believe"
"Not more than two miles to the hall
gates. That's the road to the left
He watched us with sullen eyes until
we had left his premises.
We did not go very far along the
road, for Holmes stopped the instant
that the curve hid us from the land
lords view.
"We were warm, as the children say,
at that inn,' said he Il seem to grow
| colder every step that 1 take away
from It, No, no; can't possibly leave
| it,
81 am convinced" said 1, 'that this
Reuben Hayes knows all about it.
more self evident villain never saw"
"Oh, he impressed you in that way,
did he? There are the horses, there is
| the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting
place, this Fighting Cock. 1 think we
shall have another look at it in an I'M
obtrusive way"
A long, sloping hillside dotted with
gray limestone powders stretched be-
hind us. We had turned off the road
and were making our way up the hill
when, looking in the direction Of Hol-
dernesse Hall, I saw a cyclist coming
swiftly along.
Get down, Watson" cried Holmes,
with heavy hand upon my shoulder.
We had hardly sunk from view when
the man flew past us on the road.
Amid a rolling cloud of dust [ caught
a glimpse of a pale, agitated face-a
face with horror in every lineament,
the mouth open, the eyes staring wild
ly in front It was like some strange
caricature Of the dapper James Wilder
whom we had seen the night before.
''The dukes secretaryv' cried Holmes.
"Come, Watson; let us see 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 glimpse
Of any faces at the windows. Slowly
the twilight crept down as the sun
sank behind the high towers Of Holder
nesse Hall. Then in the gloom we saw
the two side lamps Of trap light up
in the stable yard Of the inn and short
ly afterward heard the rattle Of hoofs
as it 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.
"It looks like a fight"
"a single man in dogcart, 50 far
as I could see. Well, it certainly was
not Mr.. James Wilder, for there he is
at the door,"
A red square Of light had sprung out !
Of the darkness. In the middle Of it |
was the black figure Of the secretary, |
his head advanced, peering out into
the night. It was evident that he was
expecting some one. Then at last |
there were steps in the road, second |
figure was visible for an instant |
against the light, the door shut and all |
was black once more. Five minutes |
later lamp was lit in room upon |
the first floor.
"It seems to be curious class Of
custom that is done by the Fighting
Cock said Holmes.
'NThe bar is on the other side.'
"Quite 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
H@