The Washington herald., 1912-02-18

. Sal lHS private guests. NOW, Wnat IN
the world is Mr.. James Wilder doing
in that den at this hour Of night, aud
who IS the companion who comes to
meet him there? Come, Watson, we
must really take risk, and try to in
vestigate this a little more closely"
Together we stole down to the road
and crept across to the door of the inn.
The bicycle still leaned against the
wall Holmes struck a match and held
il to the back wheel and / heard him
chuckle as the light fell upon a patched
Dunlop tire Up above us was the
lighted window.
Il must have a peep through that,
Watson. II you bend your back and
support yourself upon the wall, / think
that can manage"
An instant later, his feet were on my
shoulders, but he was hardly up before
he was down again.
Come, my friend" said he, "our
days work has been quite long enough.
i think that we have gathered all that
We can. It's long walk to the school,
and the sooner we get started the bet
ter"
He hardly opened his lips during that
weary trudge across the moor, nor
would he enter the school when he
reached il, but went on to Mackleton
Station, whence he could send some
kilograms. Late at night heard him
consoling DR.. Huxtable, prostrated by
the tragedy OF his masters death, ana
later still he entered my room as alert
and vigorous as he had been when he
started in the morning "All goes well,
my friend" said he. Il promise that
hafAra a....s,,r. Kali ka.,.
reached the solution of the mystery"
At eleven o'clock next morning my
friend and were walking up the fa-
nous yew avenue Of HoldeTnesse Hail.
We were ushered through the magnif-
icent Elizabethon doorway and into his
grace's study. There we found Mr..
James Wilder, demure and courtly, but
with some trace of that wild terror of
the night before still lurking in his fur
tive eyes and in his twitching features.
You have come TO see his gracel /
am sorry, but the fact is that the duke
is far from we'll He has been very
much upset by the tragic news. We
received a telegram from DR.. Huxtable
yesterday afternoon, which told us of
your discovery"
II must see the duke, Mr.. Wilder"
"But he is in his room"
Then | must go to--his ROOM"
Il believe he is in his bed"
II will see him there"
Holmes cold and inexorable man
ner showed the secretary that it was
useless to argue with him.
Very good, Mr.. Holmes; will tell
him that you are here"
After an hours delay, the great noble
ann.araI HE fana
cadaverous than ever, his shoulders had
rounded, and he seemed to me to be
an altogether older man than he had
been the morning before. He greeted
us with a stately courtesy and seated
himself at his desk, his read beard
streaming down on the table.
well, Mr.. Holmes!" said he.
But my friends eyes were fixed upon
the secretary, who stood by his mas
ter's chair.
Il think, your grace. that l could
speak more freely in Mr.. Wilder's alb
sence"
The man turned a shade paler and
cast malignant glance at Holmes.
IF your grace wishes
"Yes, yes, you had better 60. Now,
Mr.. Holmes, what have you to sayl"
My friend waited until the door had
closed behind the retreating secretary.
"The fact is, your grace" said he,
that my colleague, DR.. Watson, and
myself had an assurance from DIR. HuN-
table that a reward had been offered in
this case. / should like to have this
confirmed from your own lips"
Certainly, Mr.. Holmes"
"It amounted, il | am correctly in
formed, to five thousand pounds to any
one who will tell you where your son
Isl"
Exactly"
"And another thousand to the man
who will name the person or persons
who keep him in custody"
Exactly" .. ......
"Under the latter heading is included,
no doubt, not only those who may have
taken him away, but also those who
conspire to keep him in his present
positionl"