Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-12
The Adventure of
the Solitary Cyclist
Part Four
By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLs

Part Four
By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOY

The story thus far:
Miss Violet Smith, tall, beautiful
and queenly, presented herself at Baker
Street late one evening She lived at
Farnham with her widowed mother,
and was a musician. Her only relation
was an uncle who had gone to Africa
twenty-five years ago, from whom they
had never heard She was engaged to
Cyril Morton, a young electrical engi--
neer One day young man named
Woodley, and an older man named
Carruthers went to Violet and told her
that her uncle was dead, that he had
left no money, but that he had asked
them to see that no harm came to Violet.
The older man asked her to come to
his house, Chiltern Grange to teach
music to his small daughter. So she
went. Chiltern Grange was about
six miles from her home, which she was
permitted to visit every weekend.
Young Woodley, a repulsive man, made
violent love to Violet, but Carruthers
interposed.
She rode home each Saturday on 3
bicycle over lonely road. Always
she noticed man with a dark beard
following her, never overtaking her.
He was there again Monday morn
ings when she returned to Chiffon
Grange from her home. She was
worried about the situation, and more
over was afraid Mr.. Carruthers was
becoming interested IN her. Holmes
asked Watson to go down and find out
about the case, and he arrived Monday
morning at the spot where she had
usually seen the strange cylist, near a
neighboring house called Charlington
Hall.
Watson hid behind q clump of gorse
and presently saw cyclist behind the
hedge of Charlington Hall, and later
saw him emerge and follow Violet,
always keeping an even distance from
her. He found that the Hall had recent
ly been rented to a Mr.. Williamson.
Next day Holmes had another note from
Miss Smith saying her employer had
proposed to her, but that she had re-
fused him. Holmes went down to the
country, but only succeeded in finding
that Mr.. Williamson was an unfrocked
clergyman of bad repute, and that
Woodley frequently visited him. Wood
lev overheard him asking questions,
and they had fist fight.
TODAY'S INSTALMENT.
The Thursday brought us another
letter from our client.
You will not be surprised MIR.
Holmes" said she, ''to hear that ! am
leaving Mr.. Carruthers' employment.
Even the high pay cannot reconcile
me TO the discomforts of my situation,
On Saturday come up to town, and
do not intend to return. Mr.. Carruthers
has got a trap, and so the dangers of the
lonely road. If there ever were any
dangers, are now over.
''As to the special cause Of my leav-
ing, it is not merely the strained sltua-
ton with Mr.. Carruthers, but it is the
reappearance of that odious man, Mr..
Woodley. He was always hideous, but
he looks more awful than ever now,
for he appears to have had an acci-
dent, and he is much dishgured. l saw
him out of the window, but | am glad
to say did not meet him. He had long
talk with Mr.. Carruthers, who seemed
much excited afterwards. Woodley
must be staying in the neighborhood
for he did not sleep here, and yet
caught a glimpse of him again this
morning, Sinking about in the shrub
berry. | would sooner have q savage
wild animal loose about the place.
loathe and fear him more than l car
say How can Mr.. Carruthers endure
such creature for a moment? However
all my troubles will be over on Saturday.
so | trust, Watson, so | trust, y
said Holmes, gravely. There is some
deep intrigue going on round that little
woman, and it is our duty to see that
no one molests her upon that last jour.
ney. ! think, Watson that we must
spare time to run down together or
Saturday morning and make sure thaf
this curious and inclusive investigation
has no untoward ending"
| confess that | had not up to nov
taken a very serious view of the case
which had seemed to me rather gro
tesque and bizarrethan dangerous Tha
man should lie in wait for and follow
very handsome woman is no unheard-o
thing, and if he has so little audacity tha
he not only dared not address her, bu
even fed from her approach, he wa
not very formidable assailant. Th
rufhan Woodley was a very differen
person, but, except on one occasion
he had not molested our client, ant
now uc NlslVcQ tiit llOust VI SdIIulilcl
without intruding upon her presence
The man on the bicycle was doubtles
member of those weekend parties a
the Hall of which the publican ha'
spoken, but who he was, or what h
wanted, was as obscure as ever. /
was the severity of Holiness manner
and the fact that he slipped revolve
into his pocket, before leaving on
rooms which impressed me with tn
feeling that tragedy might prove to lurl
behind this curious train of events
A rainy night had been followed b,
glorious morning, and the heath
covered countryside, with the glow
ing clumps of Towering gorse, scenes
all the more beautiful to eyes whc
were weary of the duns and drabs an
slate-greys Of London. Holmes and
walked along the broad, sandy road in
You'Rs CONG TO GIVE vp
SMOKING AND DRINKING !