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

We scrambled from rock to rock I'M
til In Il few moments we had made our
way to a point from which we could
see the front door of the inn Wilder's
bicycle was leaning against the wall
beside it. No one was moving about
the house, nor could we catch a glimpse
of any faces at the windows. Slowly
the twilight crept down as the sun
sank behind the high towers of Holder
nesse Hall. Then in the gloom we saw
the two side lamps of a trap light up
in the stable yard of the inn and short
ly afterward heard the rattle of hoots
as it wheeled out into the road and tore
off at ii furious pace in the direction of
Chesterfield
What do you make Of that, Wat
SOM" Holmes whispered.
ut looks like a flight"
"a single man in a dogcart, so far
as could see. Well, it certainly was
not Mr.. James Wilder for there he is
ut the door,
\ red square of light had sprung out
of the darkness. In the middle of it
was the black figure of the secretary,
his head advanced, peerng out into
the night 1t was evident that he was
expecting some one Then at last
there We're steps in the road, second
figure was visible for an instant
against the light, the door shut and all
was black once more Five minutes
later lamp was lit In a room upon
the first floor.
at seems to be curious class Of
custom that is done by the Fighting
Cock. said Holmes.
''1he bar is on the other side"
"Quite so. These are what one may
call the private guests. Now. what in
the world is Mr.. James Wilder doing
in that den at this hour of night, and
who is the companion who comes to
meet him there? Come, Watson, we
must really take a risk and try to in
vestigate this Il little more closely"
Together we stole down to the road
and crept across to the door of the
inn. The bicycle still leaned against
the wall. Holmes struck match and
held it to the back wheel, and l heard
him chuckle as the light fell upon a
patched Dunlop tire. Up above us
was the lighted window
81 must have peep through that,
Watson. If you bend your back and
support yourself upon the wall think
that l can manage"
An i,,.tnpf lotov h;s, FOOT ,,,o.<. ~
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 have gathered all that
we can. It's long walk to the school,
and the sooner we get started the bet
ter"
He hardly opened his lips during
that weary trudge across the moor, nor
would he enter the school when he
reached II, but vent on to Mackleton
station. whence he could send some
teAsgramo. Late at night heard him
consoling DR.. Huxtable, FRUSTRATED by
the tragedy of his masters death, and
later still lie entered my room as alert
and vigorous as he had been when he
started in the morning. "All goes we'll.
my friend,' said he. 81 promise that
before tomorrow evening we shall have
reached the solution of the mystery"
At II O'Clock next morning my friend
and Were walking up the famous yew
avenue of Holdernesse Hail. We were
ushered through the magnificent Eliza
bethan doorway and into his grace's
study. There we found Mr.. James Will
der, demure and courtly, but with some
trace of that Wild terror of the night
before still lurking in his furtive eyes
and in his switching features.
You have come to see his grace? l
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 re-
ceived telegram from DR.. Huxtable
yesterday afternoon, which told us Of
your discovery"
II must see the duke, Mr. Wilder"
"But he is in his room"
'Then l must so to his ROOM"
IL believe he is in his bed"
81 will see him there"
Holmes cold and ineXora BILE manner
showed the secretary that it was use
less to argue with him.
Every good. Mr.. Holmes. will tell
him that you are here"
After an hours delay the great noble
man appeared. His face was more ca