The Washington herald., 1912-02-18


which walks, canters, and gallons. By
George! Watson, il 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
There were two rough-haired TN
kempt horses in the tumble down stable
Holmes raised the hind leg of one OF
them and laughed aloud.
"Old shoes, but newly shod-old
shoes, but new nails. This case de-
serves to be classic. Let us go across
to the smithy"
The lad continued his work without
regarding us. | saw Holmes eve dart
ing to right and left among the litter
or 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 short, metal-headed stick in his
hand, and he advanced in so menacing
a fashion that | was right glad 10 feel
the revolver in my pocket.
You internal spiesp the man cried.
What are you doing therel"
Why, Mr.. Reuben Hayes" said
Holmes, ooolly zone might think that
you were. afraid of our finding some-
thing out"
The man mastered himself with
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 my smithy," said he. "But look
here, mister, / don't care for folk pok-
ing about my place without my leave.
so the sooner you pay your score and
pleased"
"All right, Mr.. Hayes, no harm
meant" said Holmes. "We have been
having look at your horses, but I
believe"
Not more than two miles 10 the
Hall gates. That's the road 10 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.
We were warm, as the children saw.
at that inn" said he. Il seem to grow
colder every step that | take away from
1t. No no, can't possibly leave IT,"
am convinced" said |, that this
Reuben Hayes knows all about il. A
more self-eyident villain never saw"
.Oh! he impressed you in that way,
did he! There are the horses. there is
the Smlthy. Yes, il is an interesting
place, this Fighting Cock. | think we
shall have another look at il in an un-
obtrusive way"
A long. sloping hillside, dotted with
grey hmstone boulders, stretched be-
nind US. We had turned off the road,
ana were making. our way up the hill
when, looking in the direction OF
ltoldernesse Hall, saw cyclist COM
ing swiftly along
Get down, Watson" cried Holmes.
with heavy hand upon nv shoulder
We had hardly sunk from view when
he man fiew past us on the road. Amid
l rolling cloud of dust, caught a
glimpse OF a pale, agitated face-a face
with horror in every lineament, the
mouth open, the eyes staring wildly in
'front.'. II was like some strange carl
'ature OF the dapper James Wilder
whom We had seen the night before.
lhe dukes secIetaryp cried
Holmes. Come, Watson, let us see
what he does"
:. We scrambled from rock to rock, un-
IL in few moments we had made our
way to a point from which we could
&c the front door of the inn. Wilder's
'icycle was leaning against the wall be-
ide 1t. No one was moving about the
louse, nor could we catch a glimpse OF
ny faces at the windows. Slowly the
Wight crept down as the sun sank
ehlnd the high towers of Holdernesse
Hall. Then, in the gloom. we saw the
wo lamps of a trap light up in the
table-yard of the inn, and shortly af-
erward heard the rattle of hoofs, as
wheeled out in the road and tore
II At furious pace in the direction
4 Chesterfield.
What do you make of that. Wat
on" Holmes whispered.
1T looks like flight" .....
=" A single man in a dog-cart. so far
S | could see. Well it certainly was
ot Mr.. James Wilder, for there he is
I the door"