The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-24

anu we STE w iltl liisll HAS leu W. LIZ
other is the bicycle with the patched
Dunlop. Before we start to investi-
gate that let us try to realize what we
do know, so as to make the most of it
and to separate the essential from the
accidental"
First of all, l wish to impress upon
you that the boy certainly left of his
own free will. He got down from his
window, and he went off either alone
or with some one. That is sure"
assented.
"Well, now, let us turn to this I'M
fortunate German master. The boy
was fully dressed when he fled. There
But the German went without his
socks. He certainly acted on very
short notice"
"Undoubtedly."
"W'hy did he go? Because from his
bedroom window he saw the flight of
the boy; because he wished to over
take him and bring him back. He
seized his bicycle, pursued the lad and
in pursuing him met his death"
$50 it would SEEM"
''Now l come to the critical part of
my argument. The natural action of
a man in pursuing little boy would
be to run after him. He would know
that he could overtake him. But the
German does not do So He turns to
his bicycle. am told that he was an
excellent cyclist. He would not do
this If he did not see that the boy had
some swift means Of escape"
1.-The other bicycle"
"I4et US continue our reconstruction
He meets his death FIVE miles from the
school-not by bullet, mark you,
which even a lad might conceivablJ
discharge, but by savage blow dealt
by vigorous arm. The lad, then, had
companion in his flight. And the
flight was swift one, since 1t took FIVE
miles before an expert cyclist could
overtake them. Yet we survey the
ground round the scene of the tragedy
What do we find? A few cattle tracks
nothing more l took q wide sweep
round. and there Is no path within fifty
yards. Another cyclist could have had
nothing to do with the actual murder.
nor We're there any human footmarks."
"Holmes," l cried, ''this Is impossi-
BILE"
Admirable" he said "a most IL
Illuminating remark. 1t is impossible as
I state it, and therefore l must in
some respect have stated 1t wrong.
Yet you saw for yourself. Can you
suggest any fallacy?"
"He could not have fractured his
skull in fall?"
'In a morass, Watson?"
II am at my wits end"
"Tut. tut, We have solved some
worse problems. At least we have
plenty Of material, If we can only use
1t. Come. then, and, having exhausted
the Palmer, let us see what the Dun
lop with the patched cover has to offer
u.s."
We picked up the track and followed
1t onward for some distance, but soon
the moor rose into long, heather tuft-
ed curve. and we left the water course
behind us. No further help from 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 rose
some miles to our left, or to "a low gray
village which lay i'll front of us and
marked the position of the Chesterfield
highroad.
AS we approached the forbidding and
squalid inn with the sign of a game
cock above the door Holmes gave a
sudden groan and clutched me by the
shoulder to save himself from falling.
He had haG. one Of those violent strains
of the ankle which leave man help.
less. With difficulty he limped up to
| the door, where a squat, dark elderly
man was smoking a black clay pipe
| How are you, Mr.. Reuben Hayes?
said Holmes.
"Who are you, and how do you get
my name so pat?. the countryman an
swerel, with a suspicious flash of q
pair of cunning eyes.
"Well it's printed on the board above
| your head. It's easy to see man who
is master of his own house. suppose
you haven't such thing as carriage
In your stables?"
mo, have not.'
81 can hardly put my foot to the
ground
Don't put it to the ground"
"But can't walk"
''Well, then, hop
Mr.. Reuben Hayes manner was fal
from gracious, but Holmes took it witt
admirable good humor
Look here, my man." said he. "Thi!
| Is really rather an awkward fix for me
don't mind how get on"
Neither do IT, said the morose land
lord.
1.-The matter is very important.
would offer you a sovereign for the us,
| of a bicycle"
The landlord priclled up his ears
'Where do YOU want to go?'
'"To Holdernesse Hail."
| "'als of the dock, | suppose" sal,
the landlord, surveying our mud stained
| garments with ironical eyes.
L