The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-11

opened on to Il squalid courtyard. Ii
the far corner was u smithy, where
grimy lad was at work. On the othe
sides We're the stables. Holmes hat
sat Town again after one of these ex
curSions. when he suddenly sprane OH
of his chair with u loud exclamation
BY heaven. Watson, L believe tina
I've got it," he cried. Yes. yes, 1t mus
be so. Watson, do you remember see
ing any COW tracks today"
Yes, several"
"Where?"
morass, and again OIL the path, anG
again where poo Heidegger met his
death"
Exactly. Well, now, Watson. how
many cows did you see on the moore
II don't remember seeing any"
Strange, Watson, that we should see
tracks all along our line. but never a
cow on the whole moor. Very strange,
Watson. eh?"
Yes. it is strange"
Now. Watson, make an effort to
throw your mind back. Can YOU see
those tracks upon the PATH"
Yes. I cam"
Can you recall that the tracks were
sometimes like that. Watson'-he ar
ranged a number OF bread crumbs in
this fashion: /: land sometimes
like this . and OCCASION
ally like this. Can you re-
member that?"
NO. 1 cannot"
But 1 can. l could swear to 1t. How.
ever. we will go back at our leisure
and verify it. What a blind beetle
l have been, not to draw any conclus-
ions.'
And what is your conclusion?"
only that 1T is a remarkable COW
which walks, canters and gallops. BY
(SaOrp0f NSofcovo ~ 1v.o ,N0 =
country publican thst thought out such
a blind as that. The coast seems to
be clear, ave for that lad in the
smithy. Let us slip out and see what
we can see."
There were two rough haired, I'M
kempt horses in the t%umbledown stable.
Holmes raised the hind leg of n of
them and laughed aloud.
NJ shoes, but newly shod-old shoes,
but new nails. This case deserves to be
a classic. Let US go across to the
smithy."
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. I saw Holmes eye DART
ing from right to left among the litter
of iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor. Suddenly. however, we
heard a 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 a short metal-headed stick in his
hand. and he advanced In SO menacing
a fashion that I was right glad to feel
the revolver in my pocket.
You internal spies!." h man cried.
"What are you doing there"
why. MI. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes, coolly. one might think that
you We're. afraid. of u finding some
thing OUT
The man mastered himself with a
violent effort. and his grim mouth
loosened into a false laugh, which was
more menacing than his frown.
You're welcome to all you can find
out in u smithy." said he. But look
here, mister, I don't care for folk poking
about my place and without my leave,
SO the sooner you pay your score and
out of his the better 1 shall be
pleased"
All right. Mr.. Hayes. no harm
meant" said Holmes. we have been
having a look at your horses. but I,
think I'll walk after all. It's not sol
Not more than two miles to the hall
gates. That's the o 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 WdTLIl, dS lue CIlllOFeE say,
at the inn." said he. II seem to grow
colder every step 1 take away from it.
No, no, 1 can't possibly leave it."
II am convinced said ], that this
Reuben Hayes knows all about 1t. A
more self evident villain l never saw"
ooh! he impressed you in that way,
did he? There are the horses, there is
the slmithy. Yes. 1t is an interesting
place. this Fighting Cock. I think we
shall have another look at it in an un-
obtrusive way" .u.
Along. slipping, hillside, dotted with
grey limestone boulders, stretched be-
hind us. We had turned off the road,
and were making u way up the hill.
when. looking In the direction OF Hold
ernesse hall. 1 saw q cyclist coming
swiftly along.
Get down. Watson:" cried Holmes,
with a heavy hand upon my shoulders
We had hardly sank from view when
the nan flew past us on the road Amid
a rolling cloud Of dust. l caught a
glimpse Of a pale. asitated face-a face
with horror in every lineament. the
front. 1t was like some strange Carl
cature of the dapper James Wilder,
whom VIZ had seen the night before,
The dukes secretary" cried Holmes.
''Come, Watson, let us see what he
does" .
we scrambled from fOCk TO rock. un-
TIL fnfa5 few moments we had madefour
WAY to a point which we could
see the front door of the Inn. Wilder's
bicycle was leaning against h wall be-
side it. No was moving about the
house. nor could we catch a glimpse
of any faces at the windows. Slowly
the twilight crept down Is he sun sank
behind the high towers of Holdernesse
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 rattle of hoofs.
as it wheeled out into the road and
tore off at a furious pace in the direc-
ton of Chesterfield. -
What do you make Of that. Watson?"
Holmes whispered.
ut looks re q flight"
IA single man in a dog-cart. so far as
I could see. Well. 1t certainly was not
Mr. James Wilder. for there ne is at
the door,"
A 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. 1T
u,no o,,fSort fhot no u,ac ovror&i,r 49,