The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-04
"sut the bicvcle," I Objected

But the bicycle:" 1 objected.
Quite so. We will come to the bi.
cycle presently. To continue our reu-
sonins: ii these people did not go by
the road they must have traversed the
country to the north of the house or
to the south of the house. That is GER
tain. Let US weigh the one against
the other. On the south of the house
Is. as you perceive. Il large district of
arabic land, IL up into small fields.
With stone wall between them. There,
l admit that Il bicycle is impossible.
We can dismiss the idea. We turn to
the country on the north. Here lies a
grove of trees. marked as the Ragged
Shaw, and on the farther side stretch
es a great rolling moor. Lower Gin
Moor, extending for ten miles and slop-
ing gradually upwards. Here, at one
side OF this Wilderness, is Holdernesse
hall ten miles by road, but only six
! desolate plain. A few moor armer
have small holdings, where they rear
sheep and cattle. Except these, the
plover and the curlew are the only in
habltants until you come to the Chess
terfield RICH road. There is a church
there, You see. a few cottages and an
inn. Beyond that the hills become pre-
cipitous. Surely 1T is here to the north
tnat our quest must lie
But the bicycle?" l persisted.
We'll, We'll" said Holmes. impatient-
~. a good cyclist does not need a
nigh road. The moor is intersected
With paths, and the moon was at the
full. Halloa. what is this?"
There was an agitated knock at the
door, and an instant afterwards DR..
HuXtable was in the room. In his
hand he held a blue cricket cap, with
a white cheNron on the peak.
last We nave a clew!" he cried.
s"Tl2nE ha1Nnnf NJ 1oct wa ~ -, a..
dear boys track. 1t is his cap"
Where was it found?"
camped on the moor. They left on
Tuesday. Today the police traced them
down n examined their caravan. This
was found"
How did they account for it"
They shuf1led and lied-said that
they found it on the moor on Tuesday
morning. They know where he is, the |
rascals! Thank goodness, they are
safe under lock and key. Either the
fear of the law Or the dukes purse will i
certainly get out of them all they
so far. so good said Holmes. when
the doctor had at last left the room. 1T
at least bears out the theory that it
is on the side of the Lower Gill Moor I
lice have really done nothing locally,
save the arrest of these gypsies. Look
here. Watson. There is a watercourse
across the moor. You see it marked
mere in the map. In some parts it
Wldens into a morass. This is particu-
larly SO IN the region between Holder
n,esse hall and the school. 1t is ain to
O elsewhere for tracks in this dry
but at that point there is GER
talnly q chance of some record being
left. Will call you early tomorrow
morning. and YOU and / will try if we
can throw some light upon the mys-
The Cay was just breaking when I
woke to find the long, hin form of
by my bedside. He was fully
and had apparently already
been out. !,
Il have done the lawn and the BIZ
cycle she'd" said he. II have also had
ramble through the Ragged shaw.
Now, Watson. there is cocoa ready in
me next room. l must beg you to
aurry. for we have a great day before
u.s."
His eyes shone, and his cheek was /
lushed with the exhilaration of the
ne ready before him. A very different
iolnles, this active, alert man, from
retrospective II pallid dreamer of
street. j felt, as 1 looked upon
hat supple figure, alive with nervous
mercy, that 1t was indeed a strenuous
AeS AASI CIV us.
And yet 1t opened in the blacklist dis
lppointment. With high hopes we
struck across the peaty, russell moor.
ntersected With a thousand sheep
paths. until we came to the broad.
ightgreen belt which marked the
norass between us and Holdernesse.
Certainly. if the lad had gone home
wards. lie must have passed this, and
le could not p it without leaving his
races. But no sign Of him or the
could be seen. With a darken-
face my friend strobe along the
margin. eagerly observant OF every
muddy stain upon the messy surface.
sheep marks there We're in p%rofusion
md at one place. some miles down.
had LETT their tracks. Nothing
more.
Check number one" said Holmes.
ooking gloomily over the rolling ex.
'anse OF the moor. There is another
down yonder, and a narrow
leclk between. Halloa! halloa! halloai
have we hereo"
We d come On a small black rih.
'on OF pathway. In the middle of it.
learly marked on the sodden soil. was
he track OF a bicycle.
"Hurrah!" l cried. I'VE have it,"
But Holmes WIS shaking his head.
nd his face was puzzled and expectant
ather than joyous.
Continued Next Week)
Sympathy for the Engine.
New York Press: The fire engine
TODD propped up against the curb at
Broadway n Spring streets. sur
by a row of sympathetic adj