Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-31

l He was cn6rmlng yOuJn, ana ne soon fell into our ways. l may tell you-I trust that am not indiscreet, but half 1 condolences are absurd in such a case that he was not entirely happy at home. It is an open secret that the dukes married life had not been a peaceful one, and the matter had end ed in a separation by mutual consent, the duchess taking up her residence in the south of France. This had occurred very shortly before. and the boys sym. pathies are known to have been strong ly with his mother He moped after her departure from Holdernesse Hall, and it was for this reason that the duke desired to send him to my estab- lishment. In fortnight the boy was quite at home with us and was appar- entity absolutely happy.
 He was last seen on the night of May 13-that is. the night of last Mon day. His room was on the second floor and was approached through another larger room, in which two boys were sleeping. These boys saw and heard nothing, so that 1t Is certain that young Saltire did not pass out that way. His window was open, and there is stout ivy plant leading to the ground We could trace no footmarks below. but It is sure that this is the only possible exit
 His absence was discovered at ' o'clock on Tuesday morning His bed i ell ;y, uo <l self fully before going of in his usual school suit of black Eton jacket and dark gray trousers. There were no signs that any one had entered the room. and it Is quite certain that any thing in the nature of cries or strug- gle would have been heard, since Caun- ter, the elder boy in the inner room, is a very light sleeper.
 When Lord Saltire's disappearance was discovered. at once called roll of the whole establishment-bo mas- ters and servants. 1t was then that we ascertained that Lord Saltire had not been alone in his flight. Heidegger. the l German master. was missing His room was on the second floor at the farther end of the building. facing the same way as Lord Saltires His bed l had also been slept in. but he had ap- i parently gone away partly dressed since his shirt and socks were lying oh the floor. He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy, for we could l see the marks of his feet where he had landed on the lawn. His bicycle was kept in small shed beside this lawn, and 1t was also gone
 He had been with me for two years and came with the best refer ences, but he was silent. morOse man, not very popular either with masters or boys. No trace could be found of the fugitives, and now. on Thursday morning, we are as igno- rant as we were on Tuesday. Inquiry was. of course. made at once at Holder nesse Hall It is only few miles away. and we imagined that in some sudden attack of homesickness the boy had gone back to his father. but nothing had been heard of him. The duke is | greatly agitated. and as to me-you i have seen yourselves the state of i nervous prostration to which the sus- ' pense and the responsibility have re- 1 duced me Mir. Holmes. if ever you i put forward your full powers I i'm plore you to do so now fur never in your life could you have case which is more worthy of them"
 Sherlock Holmes had listened with 1 the utmost intentness to the statement of the unhappy schoolmaster. His drawn brows and the deep furrow be- tween them showed that he needed no exhortation to concentrate all his at tention upon a problem which. apart from the tremendous interests involved, must appeal so directly 10 his love of the complex and the unusual. He now drew out his notebook and jotted down one or two memoranda.
 You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner" said he severe ly. You start me on my investigation with very serious handicap. It is i inconceivable. for example, that this Ivy and this lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer"
 'I am not to blame. Mir. Holmes His grace was extremely desirous to avoid all public scandal. He was afraid of his family unhappiness being dragged before the world. He has deep hor- TOT of anything of the kind"
 But there has been some official in- vestigation?'
 "Yes. sir. and it has proved most dis appointing. An apparent clew was at once obtained. since boy and young man were reported 10 have been seen leaving a neighboring station by an early train. Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool. and they prove to have no connection whatever with the matter in hand. Then Ii was that in my despair and disappointment after sleepless night I came straight io you by the early train"
 "I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false ciew was being followed upf"
 "lt was entirely dropped"
 '.So that three days have been vast ed. The affair has been most deplor. ably handled
 .'I feel it and admit it."
 And yet the problem should he "a. pahIe of ultimate solution I shall be very happy to look into it. Have you been able to trace any connection he sua1n shn snsSSFro hav and tnfS l.ar-