Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-04

IL am afraid Watson, that l shall
have TO Co." said Holmes. "a we sat
down together to our breakfast one
morning
CO. Where to?''
TO Dartmoor; to Kings Pyland."
! was not surprised. Ind ecd, my
only wonder was that he had not
alrrady been mixed up in this extra
ordinary case, which was the one topic
of conversation through the length and
breadth OF England. For a whole day
INV companion had rambled about
the room with his chin upon his chest and
his brows knitted charging and re-
charging his. pipe with the strongest
black tobacco, and absolutely deaf TO
any Of INV questions or remarks. Fresh
editions OF every paper had been sent up
ky our news agent, only to be glanced
over and tossed down into a corner.
Vet. silent as he was. knew perfectly
well what il was over which he was
hroodinc. There was but one problem
hciorc the public which could challenge
his powers of analysis, and that was
the singular disappearance of the favorite
for the Wcssex Cup, and the tragic
murder OF its trainer. When, there fore,
he suddenly announced his intention
cf setting out for the scene of the drama
II was only what | had both expected
and hoped for.
Il should he most happy to go down
with YOU If should not be in the way,
said |.
My dear Watson, you would con-
fcr. great favor upon nc by COM
inc. And | think that your time
will not be misspent, for there arc
points about the case which promis,
io make i, an absolutely unique one
We have, ! think, Just time to catch
our train at Paddington, and / will
30 further into the matter upon oul
Journey. You would obligc me b,
bringing with you your very excellent
fcld-glass."
And 50 il happened that an hour
ar 20 later found myself in the corner
of hrst-clsSs carriage flying alonl
en- route for Exeter, while Shcrlocl
HOLMES, with his sharp, eager fac,
framed IN his ear-fapped travelling
cap. dipped rapidly into the bundle
of fresh papers which he had procured al
raddington. We had left Reading
far behind US before he thrust the last
one Of them under the seat, and Offered
mc his cigar-caSe.
We are going we'll" said he. looking
out Of the window and glancing at hi
watch. Our rate at present l. fifty
THREE and a half miles an hour
II have not observed the quarter-mile
posts" said |.
Nor have I. But the telegraph
posts upon this line arc sixty yard
anart. and the calculation is a sim
ple ono presume that YOU have looked
into this matter of the murder of JohI
sirakcr and the disappearance o
Silver Blaze
Il have seen what the Telegraph
and the Chronicle have 10 say"
1t = ono of theoSc cases where III
nrt of the reasoncr should he used rather
for the sitting of details than for th
acquiring Of fresh evidence. Tn
tragedy has been so uncommon, so CON
pletc, and Of such personal Importance Il
~ many people, that we are suiferin
from n plethora or siirmiSe. conjecture
and hypothesis. The difficulty is {
detach the frame work OF fact-C
absolute undeniable fact from th
embellishments OF theorists and II
portcrs. Then, having establishe
ourselves upOn this sound basis,
J. our duty 10 see what infercnccs ma
he drawn and what'are the special point
upon which tho whole mystery turns. O
Tuesday evening J received telegram
from both Colonel Ross, the owner {
the horse, and from Inspector Gregor,
Who l. looking after the case, invitln
my cooperation
Tuesday evening" exclaimed
And this Is Thursday morning. VIII
didn't YOU 60 down Yesterday
Because ! made a blundcr. m
dear Watson-which is, ] am afr aiC
q more common occurrence than an
one would think who only knew n
through your memoirs. The fact is tbs
j could not believe II possible that th
most remarkable horse in Englan
could long remain concealed. especial
IN 50 spsrsely inhabited q place as th
north Of Dartmoor. From hour TO hoJ
Yesterday ] expected TO hear that /
had been found. and that his abducto
was the murderer Of John Strake
When, however, another morning Ia
conc, and found that beyond the are
Of young Fitzroy Simpson nothing ha
been done. fell that II was time for n
20 take action Yet IN some ways ! fe
that yesterday has not been wasted" "
You have formed a theory, then
at least | have got grip of Il
csscntiao facts OF the case. ] Sha
cnumerate them 10 you, for nothir
clears up a case so much as statir
" 20 another person, and ] can hard
expect your cooperation II ] do n,
show YOU the position from whiC
We start"
lay back against the cushion
puffing AZ my cigar, while Holme
leaning forward with his long tn
fo-cfnrcr checking off the points up,
the palm of his left hand, gave me
sketch of the events which had led
our journey
Silver Blaze said he, SIS fro
the >omomy stock, and holds as brillia
record ~ his famous ancestor. He
now in his fifth year, and has broug
IN turn each of the prizes of the turf
Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner. Up