The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-05-10
BY a. CONAN DOYLE
cspyvishs. 1905.
~ Hscisss. PAiiiiss q Co.

certainly acted on very short notice.
| Undoubtedly"
bed room window he saw the flight Of
the boy. because he wished tn overtake
him and bring him back. He seized
his bicycle. pursued the lad. and In
pursuing him met his death"
so IL would seem"
! Now l come TO the critical part OF
my argument. The natural action OF a
man I'm pursuing n little boy would be to
| run after him. He would know that he
could overtake him. Hut the German
/ does not do so. lie turns To his bicycle.
/ I ann told that he was an excellent cy-
clist. lie would not do this, IL he did
not see that the boy had some swift
/ means OF escape.
| The other bicycle"
| Let us continue our reconstruction.
| lie meets his death Ave miles from the
school-not by a bullet. mark you.
which even lad might conceivably
! discharge. but by savage blow
dealt by vigorous arm. The
lad, then. had companion I'm
his flight. And the flight was n
swift one. since IL took Ave miles be-
| fore an expert cyclist could overtakc
them. Yet We survey the ground
| around the scene OF the tragedy. What
do We lind" \ few cattle tracks. moth
ing more. I took u wide sweep around.
and there IL 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 cried. this In impos-
sible"
Admire BILE" he said. ~ most H.
Illuminating remark. II Is impossible
as I state II. and therefore ! must In
some respect have stated IL wrong.
Yet YOU saw for yourself. Can you
suggest any fallacy?"
He could not have fractured his
skull IN n fallg"
In "a morRss, watson-''
Il am ut my wits end
Tut. tut. we have solved some worse
problems. At least we have plenty OF
material II we can only use u. Come.
then. and. having exhausted the Palm
or. let uS see what the Dunlop with the
patched cover has to offer us"
We picked up the track and followed
II EDWARDS for some distance. but soon
the moor ros" into "A long. heather tuft-
cd 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 II
might equally have led To Holdcrnessc
hall. the stately towers Of which arose
some miles To- our left. or To low. grey
village which lay In front OF us. and
high road.
AS we approached the forbidding and
suualid inn. with the sign OF u game
cock above the door. Holmes gave
sudden groan. and clutchcd me by the
shoulder To save himself from falling
VI" had had one Of those violent strains
81 the ankle which leave n man help
less. With difficulty he lsmped up To
the door. where "A squat. dark. elderly
man was smoking n 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
swcred, with a suspicious flash OF "A
pair az cunning eyes.
We'll. It's printed on the board above
Your head. It's easy To see "A man who
Is master III his own house. suppose
you haven't such "A thing as a carriage
In your stablcs?'
NO. | have not"
Il 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 far
from gracious. but Holmes took IL with
admirable good humor.
Look here. my man." said he. This
IL really rather an awkward fix for me.
I don't mind how | get on"
Neither do /" said the morose land
lord
The matter Is very important. I.
would Offer you a sovereign for the use
Of n bicycle"
The landlord prickcd up his ears.
Where do you want TO goy'
TO HoidernesSc hail.
Pals Of the dock. I suppose said
the 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 very visible
start.
What. you're Or his track"
He has been heard OF In Liverpool.
They expect tn get him every hour"
Again swift change passed over
the heavy. unshaven face. His manner
was suddenly genial
I've less reason TO wish that Dock
well than most men," said he. FOR l
WAS his head coaChmnn once. and cruel
bad ne treated me. II was him that
sacked me with a character on the
word Of lying corn-chandler. But
I'm glad To hear that the young lord
was heard OF In Liverpool, and I'll help
YOU take the news To the hall"
Thank you" said Holmes. Well
have some food first. Then you can
bring round the bicycle"
n haven't got bicycle
Holmes held up n sovereign.
n tell you. man. that I haven't got
one. I'll let you have two horses as far
us the hall"
Well. we'll" said Holmes. wen talk
about IL when we've had something to-
eat"
When We were left alone in the stone
Jagged Kitchen. II was astonishing how
rapidly that spralned ankle recovered.
II was nearly nightfall. and We had
j. IT,