The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-04-20
sv-rHE ADVENTURE OF THE
SOLITARY CYCllST.-Ccntinued

! cDnfees that l had not up to now
Ansren a very serious view of the case,
watch had seemed to me rather gro
Basque "a bizarre than dangerous.
Hsass a maj should lie in walt for and
aoasDw . very handsome pms Is no
Nzasara OF thing, and Ii he has SO
Hssse anGacity that he not OILY dared
nDa address her, but ven fled from her
approach. he was not a very formidable
ASsassant The ruffian Woodley was a
very different person, but, except on
sJe occasion, he has not molested our
Faie1is, and now he visited the house of
fEafruehers without intruding upon her
presence. The man on the bicycle was
aonDtiess q member of those weekend
parties at the hall Of which the publi-
'ran had spoken. but who he was, or
what he wanted, was as obscure as
arsF. n was the severity of Eolmes'
uzanney and the fact that he slipped
. revolver into his pocket, before leav-
mg 1nr rooms which impressed me
With b feeling that tragedy might
prOve 70 lurk behind this curious train
al srents.
n rainy night had been followed by
a gaor1ons morning. and the heath COW
s5en country side, with the glowing
af9unaYs OF towering gorse. seemed all
Hiae more beautiful to eyes which were
weary Of the duns n drabs and slate
1Eeys Of london. Holmes and 1 walked
aspEg 1he broad, sandy road inha1ing
the fresh morning air, and rejoicing
M ahe music of the birds and the fresh
Aseath ~ spring. From a rise of the
1oAd en the shoulder of Crooksbury
AiIl we could see the grim hall bristling
~ from amidst the ancient oaks,
which. old as they were, were still
younger than the building which they
snrrcs1nded. Holmes pointed down
H. hong tract of road, which wound, q
1sdmsh yellow band, between the
11eeA Of the woods. Tar away, q black
80. we could see a vehicle moving in
Om direction. Holmes gave an ex-
~aaans1tsDn OF impatience.
I , given a margin Of half an
AouT.~ SAID he. IF that is her trap,
eae Nnst be making for the earlier
annan. ! fear, Watson, that she will be
A5f1y meet her"
EoE. ne could no longer see the We
Atc1G. hnt we fastened EDWARDS at such
. pace aAat my sendentary life began
10 sten upOn me, and I was compelled
- ma behind. Holmes, however, was
a9UAJs IN training, for he had mex
AAnst1hle stores of ervou energy upon
which 10 draw. His springy step never
ssOued until suddenly, when he was a
AnandTea yards in front Of me, he halt
ID. asb J saw him throw up his hand
W3a . gesture of grief and despair. At
~ same instant an empty dog cart.
IL horse cantering, the reins trailing.
oypeAned around the curve OF the road
ana 1Aasled swiftly toward US.
Too hate, Watson, too late!" cried
Nnatns9. as I ran painting to his side.
70 that I was. not to allow for that
0HS31AP &Yafnf TIE nhdyynfinp yNoScNp
-btnciion! Murder! Heaven knows
UAzs7 Block the road! Stop the
Aersss That's right. Now. Jump in.
= let rs see " 1 car repair the conse-
4nences OF my own blunder.'
BE had sprung into the dog cart, and
HGfzneA nfter turning the horse, gave
d a sharp cut with the whip, and we
aurned the curve, the whole stretch of
uDad between the hall and the heath
uAs opened UP. I grasped Holmes
arm.
'-rhafs the mani" 1 gasped.
x suaitary cyclist was coming to-
wards as His head was down and his
shoulders rounded, as he put every
b pedals. He was flying like a racer.
0n81enlf he raised his bearded face,
asnw us close to him, and pulled up,
8pxsnEsng from the machine. That
cna3-hnck beard was in singular con-
E1St TO the pallor OF his face. and his
Yrs were as bright as IL he had a
aeye1. He stared at us and at the dog
a11er his face.
: .Hassna! Stop there!" he shouted,
AoadinE his bicycle to block u road.
-WheTs did yOu get that dog cart?
Pull n.y. mani" he yelled. drawing a
pistol from his side pocket. Pull up,
B say. OF. by George. I'll put a bullet
AutC youT horse"
Holmes threw the retns into my lap.
1AH spTxng down from the cart.
-1p-aye the man we want to see.
Where - Miss Violet Smith?" he said.
"a Ills quick. clear way.
That's what I'm asking you. You're
m her dog cart. You ought to know
where she IT,"
met the dog cart on the road.
There was no one in 1T. We drove back
- help he young lady
-xssxl Lord! Good! Lord! what shall
= du-- cried the stranger. in an ecstasy
u ie4Eoar. They've got her. that hell
Apasrsd Woodley and the blackguard
ynrsun. Come, come, If you really
n1e her friend. Stand by me and We'll
Mare her, II I have to leave my carcasa
IA Eharsingt0n wood"
He zan ~distractediy, his pistol in
S1NNt0, dUW dIdS d zap III lue leuSG.
HaaIneS followed him. and /. leaving the
hume grazing beside the road. followed
N0kneA.
-Thssr Is where they came through
AuAl hsa. uointing to the marks OF sever
N Rect upoa the muddy path. HAL
&A, 3o2 o minute! Who's this in
Tm aush?:
u was a young fellow about seven
BEEN. dressed like an ostler, with
2Rosher cords and CATERS. He lay upon
Has hack. his knees drawn up. a ter
ctSae ROT upon his head. He was in
sensI1ae. but alive. A glance at his
Srpoxu1 tod me that 1t had not pene-
tasa1e,1 the bone.
THAT'S Peter. the groom" cried the
Yerar6er. HE drove her. The beasts
sAngE pulled him off and dubbed him,
1ea him lie; we can't do him any good,
hna NE may save her from the worst
1nfe that can befall a woman"
We ran frantically down the path
nhirh wound among the trees. We had
1zsGs,ed the shrubbery which surround
"a the house when Holmes pulled up.
They didn't so to the house. Here
ane their marks on the left-here. be-
~ the laurel bushes. Ah! l said So
N he spoke, a wonan's shrill scream
- scream which vibrated with 6
frenzy Of borror--burst from the thick
xxrcn CHIMP Of bushes in front of us
n eai1ed suddenly on Its highest D