Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-05-24
1.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
PRiORY SCHOOL.-Consinued.


ut seems TO be a curious class OF custom
thai is done by the Fighting Cock" sale
Holmes.
The bar Is on the other side"
quite so. These are what one may cal
the private guests. Nov. what in the
world is Mr. James Wilder doing in tina,
don at this hour of night. and who IS the
companion who comes to meet him there.
Conc. Watson. we must really take a risk,
and Try to investigate this a liltle MOI
closely
Together we stole down the road and
creDt across to the door of the inn. The
bicycle still leaned against the wall,
Holmes struck "A match and held ii to tho
back whecl. and l heard him chucklc rs
the lislt fell upon a patched Dunlop tire.
Up above Us Was the lighted window.
~ must have Il peep through that. Wat
son. III YOU bend your back and support
yourself upon the wall, l think that l can
manage"
I'm instant later, his feet were on my
shoulders. but he was hardly UP before
he was down again.
Come my friend" said he, our days
work has been quite long enough. / think
that we nave gathered ali that we can.
It's n long walk to the school. and the
sooner! we get started the better"
He hardly opened his lips during that
weary trudge across the moor, nor would
he enter the school when he reached IT.
but went on to Macileton station. whence
he could send some kilograms. Late at
night i heard him consoling DIR. HuXtable,
Frustrated by the tragedy of his masters
death. and later still he entered my room
as alert and vigorous as he had been when
ne started in the morning. "All goes well.
my friend" said he. Il promise that be-
fore tomorrow evening we shall have
reached the solution of the mystery"
AT IL O'Clock next morning my friend
and I were walking up the famous yew
avenue of Iiolderncsse hall. We were
ushcred through the magnificent Eliza
bethan doorway and into his srace's
study. There we found Mir. James Wild
er. dcmure and courtly, but with some
trace of that wild terror of the night be-
fore still lurking In his furtive eyes and
In his twitching features.
You have come to see his grace? I am
sorry. but the fact is that the duke is far
from we'll. He has been very much upset
by the tragic news. We received a tcle-
gram from DIR. HuXtable yesterday after
noon. which told us of your discovery"
II mast see the duke. Mr.. Wilder"
But lie is in his room"
Then l must go to his ROOM"
II believe he is in his bed
II will see him there
Holmes cold and inexorablc manner
showed the secretary that 1t was useless
to argue with him.
VERY good. Mr.. Holmes. I will tell him
that you are here"
After an hours delay. the great noble
man appeared. His face was more
cadaverotls than ever. his shoulders had
rounded. and he seemed to me to be an
altogether older man that he had been
the morning before. He greeted us with
a stately courtesy and seated himself at
his desk. his red beard streaming down
on the table.
We'll. Mr.. Holmes?" sad he.
But my friends eyes We're fixed upon the
secretary. who stood by his masters
chair.
II think. your grace. that I could speak
more freely in Mr.. Willer's absence"
The man turned a shade palcr and cast
a malignant glance at Holmes.
IF your grace wishes"
"Yes. yes. you had better go. Now. Mr..
Holmes. what have you to say
My friend waited until the door had
closed behind the retrcating secretary.
1.-The fact. is your grace" said he. THAT
my colleague. DIR. Watson. and myself had
an assurance from Or. Huxtable that a
reward had oeen offered IN this case.
should like to have this confirmed from
your own lips"
Certainly. MFR. Holmes"
ut amounted. IL I an, correctly in
formed. to five thousand pounds to anyone
who will tell you where your son is?"
exactly"
"And another thousand to the man who
will name the person or persons who keep
him in ~custody?"
, Exactly"
"Under the latter heading Is included. no
doubt. not only those who may have taken
him away. but also those who conspire to
keep him in his present position? ?"
Yes. yes" cried the duke, impaticntlv.
'If you do your work we'll, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes. you will have no reason to COM
plain of niggardly treatment"
My friend rubbed his thin hands toceth-
err with an appearance Of avidity which
was a surprise to me. who knew his frugal
tastes.
II fancy that I see your gracc's check
hook upon the table" said he. 81 should
be glad Il you would make me out a check
for six thousand pounds. 1t would be- as
well. perhaps. for you to cross it. The
Capital and Counties bank. oxford street
branch. are my agents"
I His grace sat very stern and upright IN
his chair. and locke stonily at nv friend.
: lis this a joke. Mr.. Holmes? 1t is hard
IL a subject for pleasantly"
mot at all. your grace. 1 was never
moro earnest In my life"
What do you mean. then?"
"I mean that l have earned the reward.
! know where your son is. and 1 know
some. al least, of those who are holding
him
The dukes beard had turned more ag-
excessively red than ever against his
CHASTITY white face.
Where ~ he"! he Easped.
'sie is. or was last night. at the Fight
ing Cock inn. about two miles from your
park gate"
The duke fell bach In his chair.
"And whom do you accuse?"
Sherlock Holmes answer was an as.
, founding one. He stepped swiftly for.
ward and touched the duke upon Tho
shoulder.
II accuse you" said ne. "And now. you,
grace. I'll trouble you for that check"
Never shall 1 forget the dukes appear.
ance as he sprang up and clawed with hi.
hands. like one who is sinking into ar
abyss. Then, with an extraordinary eff.
fort of ar.stocratic self-command. lie sa,
down and sank his face IN his hands. Il
was some minutes before he spoke.
How much do you Know he asked a
last. without raising his head.
II saw YOU together last night"
! Does anyone else beside Jour frient
know:
II have spoken to no one."
The duke took a pen III his quiyerine
fingers and opened his check book.
II shall be as good as my word, Mr.
Holmes. am about to write your check
o~.oa ~, .oirn, sl,a ,.,,.l