Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-05-10


ally like this. :.:. Can you re-
member that?"
NO. cannot"
But I can. could swear to 1t. How
ever, we will go back at our leisure
and verify it. What blind beetle
l have been, not to draw any conclus-
IONS"
t4And what is your conclusion
"Only that it Is n remarkable cow
which walks. canters and gallops. BY
George! Watson. 1t was no brain of a
country publican that thought out such
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 were two rough haired. W.
kempt horses in the tumbledown stable.
Holmes raised the hind leg OF enc q.
them and laughed aloud.
.'Old shoes. but newly shod--old shoes
but new nails. This case deserves 10 b.
Il classic. Let us go across to The
smithy."
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. saw Holmes eye dart
ing from right to left among the littec
of iron and wood which was scattered
about the floor. Suddenly. however, we
heard a step behind us, and lhere was
the landlord. his heavy eyebrows drawn
down over his savage eyes. his sWirthT
features convulsed with passion He
held a short metal-headed stick IN his
| hand. and he advanced in SO n1enae cling
a fashion that was right glad To fec!
the revolver in my pocket.
You Internal spies." the man erie9.
| What are you doing there
why, MIR. Reuben Hayes, said
Holmes, coolly. lone might thinK that
you We're afraid of our finding so,iae-
| thing out"
violent effort. ane his grim mouth
oosened into n false laugh. Which ""s
| more menacing than his frown.
you're welcome to all you can ard
out in our smthy," said he. ls1i, ,ooE
here. mister. don't care for folk poKlig
about my place and without my leave
so the sooner You pay Your Scor" and
Sst out of this the better l shall s@
| Pleased
IAN right. Mr.; Hayes; 10 horn
meant" said Holmes. I'VE have. neeit
having II look ut No"r horses. hns
| think I'll walk after all KS 40. So
| far believe
Not more than two miles To TIC hal
gates. That's the road 10 the left He
4 watched us With sullen eyes Gis'4l We
| had left his premises.
| We did not go Very far along INC
| road. for Holmes stopped the instant
that the curve hid us from The .a'.e-
lords siew.
I'VE were warm as the children s..,.
at the inn" said he. ~ seem I" grow
colder every step take away from ~
! No. no. can't possibly leave H.
4 II ann convinced. said i. that this
Reuben HAYES knows I'LL about Il a
more self evident villain j never saw
"Oh. he impressed you i'll that way.
\ did he? There are the horses. there IS
tine smi,hy. Yes. it is AN Interesting
place, this Fighting Cock think we
shall have another look at IL III 'fil M
obtrusive way"
A long. sloping hillside. dotted with
grey limestone bouders. stretched be
| hind us We had turned off the road.
| and were making our way up the hlil,
when, looking in the direction OF Hold
crlesse hall. / saw Il cyclist coming
swiftly along.
Get down, Watson cried Holmes.
| with :, heavy hand upon my shoulder.
We had hardly sank from view when
tine man flew past us ON the road. Amid
II rolling cloud of dust, caught q
| glimpse of :. pale, agitated face-;a face
| with horror in every linealneit the
| mouth open. the eyes staring %id'y in
'front.' II w;ss like some strange carl
c;.,lirc III the aapper James Wilder,
\ WHOM VIC ll;Nu st''li wv IliSi' '''''i
! ..rhe dukes secretary" cried Holmes.
Come, Watson, let us see what ne
/ does
We scrambled from rock to roel, ula-
iii i'm II few moments we had ll;.de our
I May 10 3. point from which! We could
SEE. the front door of the inn. Niidel's
bicycle WAS leaning against the wall be-
side. il. No one WAS moving about the
house. nor could we catch :. slinps,
of amy faces ut the windows. SLOWLY
the twilight crept down us the sun sinl
behind the high towers of Holderncsst
hall. Then, i'm the gloom. we saw The
Two side lamps of II trap light up IL
the stable yard of the inn, aud shortly
afterwards heard the rattle of boots
us III Wheeled out into III. road ;lllG
lor,. of 1T ~ furious pace i'll the dliec-
ton of Chesterfield.
..W'ha, do you make o. that, Watson"
Holmes whispered.
II; looks like n fight
IA single man in a dog-cart. so far o.
/ could see. Well. il certainly Was no
Mr.. James Wilder. for there he IS a
the door.
A rcd square of light bad sprang Gu
of the darkness. In the middle OF y W.
the black figure of the secretary, his 10 az
advanced, pcel'ing out into the might
was evident that he was expecting some
one. Then at last there were steps in Tn
road "a second figure WAS visible for o.
instant against the light. the door shat
and All WAS black once more. F'jve mir.
aios later a lamp was lit IN room apol
the iis, floor.