The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-18
caro- OF Mrs. Hayes who in a kindly
woman. but entirely under the control OF

SAAoA S1N ohAsSh ANA NAo kANAO vi
her brutal husband.
We'll. MIR. Holmes, that was the state
OF affairs when L first say you two days
ago. 1 had no more idea of the truth than
you. You Will ask me what was James
motive in doing such a deed. 1 answer
that there was a great deal which vas
unreasoning and fanatical in the hatred
which he bore my heir. In his view he
should himself have been heir of all my
estates. and he deeply resented those So
cial laws which made it impossible. at
the same time, he had a definite motive
also. He was eager that l should break
the entail. and he was of opinion that it
lay in my power to do so. He intended to
make a bargain with me-to restore Ar
thur If l would break the entail. and so
make II possible for the estate to be left to
him by will. He knew we'll that l should
never Willingly invoke the aid of the police
against him. l say that he would have
proposed such a bargain to me; but he
did not actually do so, for events sloved
too quickly for him, and he had not time
to put his plans into practice.
What brought all his wicked scheme to
wreck was your discovery of this man
Heidegger's dead body. James was seized
With horror at the news. 1t came to us
yesterday. as We sat together in this
study. DR.. Fuxtable had sent a telegram.
James was so overwhelmed with grief and
agitation that my suspecions, which had
never been entirely absent. rose Instantly
to a certainty. and l taxed him with the
deed. He made a complete voluntary con-
fession. Then he implored me to keep his
secret for three days longer. so as to give
his wretched accomplice a chance of saw
Ing his guilty life. 1 yielded-as I nave all
ways yielded-to his prayers, and Instantly
James hurried off to the Fighting Cock to
warn Hayes and give him the means of
Hight. l could not go there by daylight
without provoking comment, but as soon
as night fell | hurried off to see my dear
Arthur. l found him safe and we'll, but
Mortified beyond expression by the dread
full deed he had witnessed. In Difference
to my promise. and much against my will,
l consented to leave him there for three
days. under the charge of Mrs. Hayes,
since it was evident that it was impos-
sible to inform the police where he was
without telling them also VINO was the
murderer. and I could not see how the
murderer could be punished without ruin
to my unfortunate James. You asked for
frankness, Mr.. Holmes, and I lave taken
you at your word, for I have now tod
YOU everything without an attempt at
circumlocution or concealment. Do you
In your turn be as frank with me-"
II WILL" said Holmes. I'm the first
place. your grace, I am bound to tell you
that you have placed yourself in a most
serious posit'.- in the eyes of the law.
You have condoned a felony, and you have
aided the escape of a murderer, for I can-
not doubt that any money which was
taken by James Wilder to aid his accom-
plice In his flight came from your Grace's
purse"
The duke bowed his assent.
This is. indeed, a most serious matter,
Even more culpable in my opinion, YOUR
grace, is your attitude towards your
younger son. You cave him in this den
for three days"
Under solemn promises"
wv hat are promises to such people as
these? You have no guarantee tina he
Will not be spirited away again. To
You guilty elder son, you have
your innocent younger son TO I'M
minent and unnecessary danger. 1t was a
most unjustif1able action"
The proud lord of Holdernesse was not
accustomed to be so rated in his own
ducal hall. The blood flushed into his
high forehead. but his conscience held him
dumb.
II will help you, but on one condition
only. 1t is that you ring for the footman.
and let me give such orders as 1 like"
Without a word. the duke pressed the
electric bell. A servant entered.
You will be glad to hear said Holmes,
that your young master is Gun 1t is
the dukes desire that the carriage shall
at once to the Fighting Cock inn to
bring Lord Satire home.
Now" said Holmes, when the rejoicing
lackey had disappeared, having secured
the future, we can afford to be more len
lent with the past. I am not in an official
and there is no reason, so long as
the ends of justice are served, why I
should disclose all that I know. AS to
Hayes, / say nothing. The gallows awaits
him, and I would do nothing to save him
from it. What he will divulge I cannot
tell: but L nave no doubt that your grace
could make him understand tina it is to
his interest to be silent. From the police
point of view he will nave kidnapped the
boy for the purpose of ransom. If they
do not themselves find 1t out, l see no
reason why l should prompt them to take
a broader point Of view. I would warn
your grace. however. that the continued
OF Mr.. James Wilder in your
household can only lead to misfortune"
II understand that, Mr.. Holmes, and
1t is already settled that he shall leave me
forever, and so to seek his fortune in
Australia"
IN That case. your grace. since you have
stated that any ~unhappiness in
your married life was caused by his pres
ence, | would suggest that you make such
amends as you can to the Duchess. and
that you try to resume those Yela tons
which have been so unhappily interrupts
mat also have arranged, Mr.. Holmes
l wrote to the duchess this morning."
I'm that case" said Holmes, rising. az
that my friend and can congrat-
ulate ourselves upon several most happy
results from our little visit to the north.
There is one other small point upon which
] desire some light. This fellow HAYES
had shod his horses with shoes which
counterfeited the tracks of COWS. Was IL
MIR. Wilder that he learned so ex-
traordinary a device?"
The duke stood in thought ~ a moment
with a look of intense surprise on his face
Then he opened a door and showed us into
a large room furnished as a museum. IIe
led the way to a glass case in a corner.
and pointed 10 the inscription.
'These Shoes IT ran. were dug nn IN
the moat of Holdernesse hall. They are
the use of horses. but they are shanad
below with n clover foot of iron, so az to
throw pursuers off the track. They are
supposed to nave belonged to some OF tho
.marauding barons of Holdernesse In the
ages S
Holmes opened the case. and mo,,ten,ny
his finger he passed it along the shoe. A
thin film of recent mud was left upon his
skin.
THANK you." said he, as he renlaced +ha