The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-05-10

eaten nothing size. early morning., &c
that we spent some time over our meal
Holmes was lost in thought, and once
or twice he walked over to the win
dow and stared earnestly out. 1t
opened on to a squalid courtyard. In
the far corner was a Smithy, where a
arirny lad was at work. On the other
sides were the stables. Holmes had
sat down again after one of these ex-
cursions, when he suddenly sprang out
of his chair with q loud exclamation.
by heaven, Watson, l believe that
I've got it!' he cried. Yes, yes, it must
be so. Watson, do you remember see
ing any COW tracks today"
Yes, several"
"Wherc?"
We'll, everywhere. They were at tn.
morass, and again on the path, and
again where poor Heidegger met his
DEATH"
Exactly. Well. now, Watson, how
many cows did you see on the moor"
Il don't remember seeing any"
Strange, Watson, that we should see
tracks all along our line, but never a
COW on the whole moor. Very strange,
Watson. eh?"
Yes, it is strange"
Now, Watson, make an effort to
throw your mind back. Can you see
those tracks upon the PATH"
Yes, I can."
Can you recall that the tracks were
sometimes like that. Watson'-he ar
ranged 4 nunbe of bread crumbs in
this fashion: :-'and sometimes
ike this and occasion
ally like this. -. Can YOU re-
member that"
NO, I annOt.
But 1 can. I could swear to it. How
ever, we will go back at our leisure
and verify it. What a blind beetle
| AVE been, no. to draw any conclus-
ionS!"
And VIA is your conclusion?"
only that it is q remarkable COW
which walks, canters and gallops. BY
George! Watson, it was no brain of u
country publican tl;.t thought out such
a blind as that. The coast seems to
be clear, save for that lad in the
smithy. Let us slip out and see what
We can see"
There We're two rough haired, I'M
kempt horses in the tumbledown stable.
Holmes raised the hind leg of one of
them n laughed aloud.
odd shoes, but newly shod-old shoes,
but new nails. This case deserves to be
Il classic. Let us go across to the
smithy."
The lad continued his work without
regarding US. i saw Holmes eye dart
ing from right to left among the litter
of iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor. Suddenly. however, we
heard a step behind us, and there was
the landlord. his heavy eyebrows drawn
down over his savage eyes, his swarthy
features convulsed with passion. He
held a short metaT-headed stick in his
hand, and he advanced in so m%enacing
a fashion that I was right glad to feel
the revolver in my pocket.
You Internal spfes!" the man cried.
What are o doing there?"
why, MIR. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes, coolly, "one might think that
you were afraid OF our finding some
thing out
The man mastered himself with a
violent effort, and his grim mouth
loosened into a false laugh, which was
more menacing than his frown.
You're welcome to all you can find
out in our smithy,' said he. But look
here, mister, I don't care for folk pokins
about my place and without my leave,
so the sooner you pay your score and
get out of this the better l shall be
pleased"
"All right, Mr.. Hayes. no harm
meant" said Eolrnes. W have been
having a look at your horses, but T
think IlT walk after all. It's not SO.
far, I believe
Not more than two miles to the hall
gates. That's the road to the left" He
watched US with sullen eyes until we
had left his premises.
We did not go very far along the
road. for Holmes stopped the instant
that the curve hid us from the land
lords view.
I'VE were warm. as the children say.
at the inn," said he. Il seem to grow
colder every step | take away from it.
No, no. 1 can't possibly leave it."
II ANN convinced" said I, that this
Reuben Hayes Knows all about it. a
more self evident villain I never saw
ON. he impressed you in that way.
did he? There are the horses, there is
the slnithE. Yes, it is an interesting
place, this Fighting Cock. I think we
shall have another look at it in an un-
obtEusive way"
A long. sloping hillside, dotted with
grey limestone boulders. stretched be-
hind us. We had turned OFF the road,
and We're making our way up the hill,
when. looking in the direction Of Hold
ernesse hall, l saw a cycliSt coming
swiftly along.
Get down. Watson!" cried Holmes,
with a heavy hand upon my shoulder.
We had hardly sank from view when
the man flew past us on the road. Amii,
a rolling cloud OF dust. I caught a
glimpse of a pale, agitated face-a face
with horror in every lineament. the
mouth open, the eyes staring wildly in
front. 1t was like some strange Carl
cature of the dapper James Wilder,
whom We had seen the night before.
The dukes secretary" cried Holmes.
Come, Watson, let us see what he
does
We scrambled from rock to rock, I'M
til in a 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 be-
side 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 Holdernesse
hall. Then, In the gloom, we saw the
two side lamps of a trap light up in
the stable yard of the inn, and shortly
afterwards heard the rattle of hoofs,
as it wheeled out into the road and
tore off at a furious pace in the direc-
ton of Chesterfield.
What do you make of that. Watson?"
Holmes whispered.
cit looks like a flight"
"a single man In dog-cart, so far as
I could see. Well, 1t certainly was not
Mr.. James Wilder, for there he is al
the door"
rcd SQUARE Of tight had sprung on