The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-11
BY 4. CONAN Y

certainly acted on Very short notice.
Undoubtedly"
why did he go? Because, from hi.
bed room window he saw the flight O
the boy: because he wished TO overtak,
him and bring him back. He seizec
his bicycle, pursued the lad. and III
pursuing him met his DEATH"
so it would SEEM"
Now l come to the critical part OF
my argument. The natural action of q
man in pursuing a little Soy would be tic
run after him. He would know that he
could overtake him. But the German
does not do so. He turns to his bicycle
l am told that he was an excellent cy-
clist. He would not do this, if he did
not see that the boy had some swift
means OF escape.
THE other bicycle"
Let us continue u reconstruction.
He meets his death five miles from the
school-not by a bullet, mark you,
which even a lad might conceivably
discharge, out by a savage blow
dealt by a vigorous arm. The
lad, then. had a companion In
his flight. And the flight was a
swift one, since it tool five miles be-
fore an expert cyclist could overtake
them. Yet we surve the ground
around the scene of the tragedy. What
do we find? A few cattle tracks, MOTH
ing more. / o a wide sweep around,
and there is no path within fifty yards.
Another cyclist could have had MOTH
ing to do with the actual murder. nor
were there any human footmarks."
"Holmes,"I cried, this is impos-
sible."
"Admirable!" he said. "A most IL
Eliminating remark. 1t is impossible
as l state 1t, and therefore 1 must in
some respect have stated 1t wrong.
Yet o saw for yourself. Can you
suggest n fallacy?"
He could not have fractured his
skull in a fall?"
I'm a morass Watson?"
II am at my wits end"
Tut, tut, We have solved some worse
problems. AT least we nave plenty of
material IL we can only use it. Come,
then, and, having exhausted the Palm
er. let us see what the Dunlop with the
patched owe has to offer u.s."
We picked up the track and followed
1t EDWARDS for some distance, but soon
the moor rose into a long, heather tuft-
curve. n we left the water course
behind us. No further help9from tracks.
could be hoped for. At the spot where
we saw the last Of the Dunlop tire it
might equally have led to Holdernesse
hall, the stately towers Of which arose
~ an VIVA ACAIs VI " u NOmt SISS
village which lay in front Of US. and
marked the position of the Chesterfield
high road.
AS We approached the f%orbidding and
squalid inn. with the sign of a game
cock above the door, Holmes gave a
groan. and clutched me by the
to save himself from falling.
He had had n of those violent strains
OF The ankle which leave a man help
less. With difficulty he limped up to
the door. where a squat, dark, elderly
a was smoking a black clay pipe.
How are you, Mr.. Reuben Hayes"
said Holmes.
WHO are you, n how do you get
my name SO pat?" the countryman an
swered. with a suspicious flash of a
pair of cunning eyes.
Well. it's printed on the board above
your head. It's easy to see Il man who
Is master OF his own house. l suppose
you haven't such a thing as a carriage
In your stables:"
No, l have not
II can hardly put my foot to the
ground"
Don't put it to the ground"
But 1 can't walk"
Well. then, hop"
Mr.. reuben Hayes manner was far
from gracious, but Holmes took it with
good humor.
here, my man, said he. This
Is really rather an awkward fix for me.
don't mind how I get on"
Neither do l." said the morose land
lord.
The matternis very important. I
would offer you a sovereign for the use
Of a bicycle"
The landlord pricked up his ears.
Where do you want to go??"
To Holdernesse hail."
MhDo1oN 1f thoF <io~VrI oys -.
landlord. surveying our mud
stained garments with ironical eyes.
Holmes laughed good naturedly.
Hell be glad to see us, anyhow"
"Why?"
Because we bring him news of his
lost son."
The landlord gave a very visible
start. M
What. you're on his track"
He has been heard OF in Liverpool.
They expect to get him every hour
Again a swift change passed over
the heavy, unshaven face. His
was suddenly genial.
1--WE lesssreasQn fto" wish that book
we'll than most men," said he, FOR 4
his head coachman once, and cruel
bad he treated me. 1t was him that
sacked me with a character on the
of a lying corn-chandler. But
glad to hear that the young lord
was heard of in Liverpool, and I'll help
you take the Jews to the hail."
THANK you." said Holmes. Wen
nave some food first. Then you can
bring round the bicycle"
Il haven't got a bicycle"
Holmes held up a sovereign.
II tell you. man. that 1 haven't go
one I'll let you have two horses as far
as the hail.
"Well, we'll" said Holmes, well talk
about it when we've had something to
When we we're left alone in the stone
tagged kitchen. it was astonishing how
that sprainedHankle recovered.
It was nearly nightfal. and we had
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