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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1905)
Mrch K. IMS. mn omaita iLLrsTRATF.n men. 3 V Return of Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist ; 1 I ' )T n (Copyright, ivn fey A. fmui Dcjie and Collier Weefcry.) (Copyright, 1K, r MoClure, rhiEips A Co.) IV. RCt th rer 1H 1 Inclusive Mr. heriock Holm was very burr man- It I l r that there J bo public c of eiiy difficult In which be wa not iu....td during thou eight years, and there were hundreds of prlree eases, eome of them th most intricate ad eatranrdl rary character. In which he played aprom Inent part. Mtitr startling ueceae and a few unavoidable failure wer the outcome of this Ion" period of continuous wora. As I hart preserved my full note of all the rase and ws myself personally en gaged In many of Ihem. it may bo Imagined that It la bo easy tas to know which I ahouid select to lay before tbo public I ahall, hawever. preeerv my former rule and give tb preference to those tawi which dnlti their Interest not o much from the brutal!! of the fMme an from tha Ingenuity and dramatic quallt,' of the solu t!on. Tof this rean I will tiov lay before the reader tho fact connected with Miaa Vlolrt Smith, the solitary cyclist of Char llngton, and the corloua sequel of our In vestigation, which culminated In unex pected tragedy. It la true that the eircum stane did not admit of any striking- Illus tration of those powers for which my friend was famous, but there were some points about the case which made It atand out In those long- records of crime from which I gather the material for these little narra tives. On referring to my notebook for the year ISM I end that It was upon Saturday, the I3d of April, that we first heard of Miss Violin Smith. Her visit wa, I remember, extremely unwelcome to Holmes, for be was Immersed at the moment In a very ab uruse and complicated problem concerning thl aecullar persecution to which John Vin cent ..Harden, the well known tobacco mil lionaire, had been subjected. My friend, who lured above all thing precision and concentration of thought, reeented any thing which distracted his attention from ths matter In hand. And yet, without a harshness which was foreign to his nature. It wns Impossible to refuse to listen to the story of the young and beautiful woman, tall, graceful and queenly, who presented herself at Baker street late la the evening end Implored hi assistance and advice. It waa vain to urge that hi time was already fully -occupied, for the young woman had come' with the determination to tell her atory, and It wns evident that nothing short of force could get her out of the room until she haJ done so. With a resigned air and a somewhat weary smile, Holme begged the beautirul Intruder to take a seat, and to In form u what It was that waa troubling her. "At least It cannot be your health," said he, a hi keen eye darted over her; "so srrtent a bicyclist must be full of energy." She glanced down In urpris at her own feet, and I observed the slight roUghenlng of the side of the sole caused by the friction of the edge of the pedal. "Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes, and that haa something to do with my visit to you today." My friend took the ' lady un gloved hand and examined It with as close an attention and a little sentiment as a scientist would show to a specimen. . "You will excuse me, I am sure. It Is my business," said he. a he dropped it. "I nearly fell Into the error of supposing that you wer typewriting. Of course, It I ob vious that It Is music You observe the spatulate finger-end. Watson, which Is oommon to both professions? There I a spirituality about the faoe. however" she .genUy turned It toward the light "which the typewriter does not generate. Thl lady 1 a musician." - ' "Yes, Mr. Holme, I teach music." "In the country, I presume, from your complexion." "Ye, sir. near Farnham, on the border of Surrey." , "A beautiful neighborhood, and full of tha moat Interesting association. You remem ber. Watson, that It was near there that wa took Archie Stamford, the forger. Now, Miss Violet, what has happened to you. near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey?" The young lady, with great clearness and composure, made the following curious statement: "My father Is dead, Mr. Holme. He was James Smith, who conducted the orchestra at the old Imperial theater. My mother and I were left without a relation In tha world except one uncle, Ralph Smith, who went to Africa twenty-five years ago, and we have never had a word from him since. When father died we were left very poor, but one day ve were told that there was an advertisement In the Times Inquiring for our whereabouts. You ran Imagine how excited we were, for we thought that some one had left us a fcrtune. We went at once to the lawyer whose name was given In the paper. There we met two gentlemen, Mr. CRrruthers and, Mr. Woodley, who were home on a vlslt-from South Africa. . They said that my uncle wan a friend of theirs, that he had died some months' before In great poverty In Johannesburg, and that he had asked thorn with his last breath to hunt up his relations, and see that they were In no want. It seemed strange to ue that Uncle Ralph, who took no police of us When he waa alive, ahouid be so careful to look after us when he waa dead, but Mr. Carrother explained that the reason was that my uncle had just beard of the death of his brother, and so felt resposlble for our fate." "Excuse me," said Holme "When was thl Interview?" "Last December four months ago." "Pray proceed." "Mr. Woodley, seamed to me to be a most odious person. He was for over mak ing eyas at me a course, puffy-facod, red moustached young man, with his hulr plastered down on each side of his fore head. I thought that he wa perfectly hateful and I was sure that Cyril would not wish me to. know such a person." "Oh, Cyril Is hi name!" said Holme, smiling. i The young lady blushed and laughed. "Yo. Mr. Holmes, Cyril Morton, an elec trlcal engineer, and we hope to be married at the end of the summer. Dear me, how did I get talking about him? What I wished to say wa that Mr. Woodloy was perfectly odious; but that Mr. Carruther, who wus a much older man, wa more agreeable. He was a dark, sallow, clean-shaven, silent person, but he had polite manners and a pleasant smile. He Inquired how we were left, and on finding that we were very poor he suggested that I should come and teach music to his only daughter, aged 10. I said that I did not like to leave my mother, on which he suggested that I ahouid go homo to sVr every week-end. and ho offered me one hundred a year, which was certainly splendid pay. So It ended by my accepting, and I went down to Chllteni Grange, about six mile from Farn ham. Mr. Carruther was a widower, but he had engaged a lady housokeepor, a very respectable, elderly person, called Mrs. Dixon, to look after hi establish ment. The child was a dear, and every thing promise! well. Mr. Carruther wa very kind and very musical, and we had moat pleasant evening together. , Every week-end I went houve to my mother In town. "The first flaw In my happinee waa the arrival of the red-mustached Mr. Wood ley. He carr.e for a visit of a week, and oh! It wenied three munllis to rue. Ha wa a dreadful parson bully to every cae else, but to m auuietblng InQuitely ( c-f Ms wraith, said that If I married him I could Lav the ft newt diamonds la In dn. and finally, when I would have noth ing to do with htm, Ke Msed me In his arm one day after dinner he wa hid eously strong and rwnr that he wou'd not let trte go until I had k laved blm. Mr. Carmtbers eanve In and tor Mm from me, cat which ha turned upon his own host, koorklog Mm down and cutting hi fare Pa. That waa ths end of kls rML as To Imagine. Mr. Carrutber apolo gised to me next day. aad assured me that I should never be exposed to swell an Insult ag-sia. 1 have not seen Mr, Woudley since. "Aad now, Mr. Motmea, I corn at Urt t the apeoiaJ thing which haa ceueed me t ask your advice today. You must know tiat every 0attaday forenoon I ride on my bicycle to fanirtam nation, la order to get the U S to town. The road from Ch tl tern Orange Is a lonely one, and at one spot It I particularly so, for It Ilea for over a mile between Charllngton Heath upon one side and the woods which, lie round Charllngton Hall upon the other. Tou could not find a more lonely tract of road anywhere, and It la quite rare to meet ma much as a cart or a peasant until you reach the high road near Crooksbury Hill. Two weeka agt I was passing this place, when I chanced to look back over my shoulder, and about ?00 yards behind me I saw a man, also on a bicycle. He seemed to be a middle-aged man, with a short dark beard. I looked back before I reached Farnham, but the man wa gone, o I thought no more at-out it. But you oan Imagine how surprised 1 was, Mr. Holmes, when, on my return on the' Mon day. I saw the same man on the same trotch of road. My astonishment was In creased when the incident occurred again, exactly aa before, on the following Satur day and Monday. He always kept his distance and did not molest me in any way. but still It certainly waa verv odd I mentioned It to Mr. Carruthera", who eemed Interested In what I said, and told me that he had ordered a horse and trap o that in future 1 should not pass over" these lonely roads without some com (Muiloa. The home and trap er to have come this week, but for some reason they were not delivered, and again 1 had to cycle yj That wa thl rnlg. You can think that I lookod out when I cam to Charllngton Heath, and there. ?? taa"gh- W,s ,ne ""otly as he bad been Uie two weeks before. He al- r?'JCt;t 80 far from me t"t I could not ctearly hl, tM but u a -VT1 dnrk ult "ith cloth cap. The only thing about his face that loould clearly see w w. dark Jf weL , alamwl- bu I wa-filled lut who ? y' "nd 1 detc""Ki to find out who he waa and what he wanted. I d, JLmy mhine, but he slowed WL 1 'to -lto,ether. b7t he mopped also. Then I laid a Iran for him- There a .narp ' J"? very quicy Lnd thla. and then I stopped and waited. I ex pected him to shoot round and pas m. - ThanhICw"r:Pb BUt Then I went back and looked round the corner. I could see a mile of roZ but ha traorS!1 n t maka " " mWext traordlnary, there waa no side road at thl. Point down which he could have g".!" Chuck1"1 arvJ rubbed his hand. Thl..case certainly presents some feature. JLl LTI' "Jd he- "Mow much elapsed between your turning the corner Jd your discovery that the road waa clear?" "Two or three minute." "Then he could not have retreated down the road, and yoti say that there are no id roads?" "None." "Then he certainly took a foot path on ona aide or the other. "It could not have been on .the aide of the heath, or I should have seen him." "So, by the process of exclusion, we ar rive at the fact that he made his way toward Charllngton Hall, which, aa I un derstand. Is situated in its own ground on one side of the road. Anything else?" "Nothing. Mr. Holmes, save that I waa so perplexed that I felt I should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice." Holme sat In silence for aom little time. "Where Is the gentleman to whom you are engaged?" he asked at last. "He Is In the Midland Electrical company at Coventry." "He would not pay you a aurprlse visit?" "Oh, Mr. Holmes! A If I should not know him!" "Have you had any other admirers?" "Several before I knew Cyril." "And Blnce?" "There was this dreadful man, Woodley, If you tan call htm an admirer." "No one else!"' Our fair cllunt seemed a little confused. "Who was he?" asked Holmes. "Oh. It may be a mere fancy of mine: but It seemed to me sometimes that my employer, Mr. Carruthere, takea a great deal of Interest In me. We are thrown rather togather. I play his accompani ments In the evening. He has never said anything. He Is a rerfect gentleman. But a girl always knows." "Ha!" Holmes looked grave. "What does he do for a living?" "He I a rich man." "No carriage or horaek?" "Well, st least ha Is fairly well-to-do. Hut he goes Into the city two or three times a week. He Is deeply . Interested In South African gold aliares." "You will let we know any fresh devel opment, Miss Smith. I am very busy Just now, but I will find time to make some Inquiries in your cose. In the mean time, take no step without lotting me know. Ooodby, and I trust that we shall havo nothing but good news from you." "It Is .part of the settled order of nature that such a girl should have followers," said Holmes, aa he pulled at his meditative pipe, "but for choice not on bicycles In lonely country roads. Some secretive lover, beyond all doubt. Hut there are curious and auggeatlve details about the case, Wat son." ' "That he should appear only at that point?" "Exactly. Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants of Charllngton Hall. Then, again, how about tho con nection between Carruthera and Wood ley, since they appear to be men of such a different type? How came they both to be so keen upon looking up Ralph Smith' relations? One more point: What sort of a menage Is It which pays double the market price for a governess, but doe not keep a horse, although six miles from the station? Odd, Watson very odd!" "You will go down?" "No, my dear fellow, you will go down. Thia may be some trifling Intrigue, and I cannot break my other Important research for the sake of It. On Monday you will ar rive early at Farnham; you will conceal yourself near Charllngton Heath; you will observe these facta for yourself and act a your own Judgment advises. Then, hav ing inquired aa to the occupants of the hall, you will come back to me and re port. And now, Watson, not another word of the matter until we have a few solid stepping stones on which w may hope to get across to our solution." W had ascertained from the woman that she went down upon the Monday train which leave Waterloo fro, so I started "IT WAS A STRAIGHT UCFT AOAINST A BLOOQINO RUFFIAN You early and caught the 1:11 At Farnham and you want to find out who he la atatlon I had no difficulty In being directed come to a London house-ag-cntt" to Charllngton Heath. It was Imposelblo to mistake the soene of the young woman's adventure, for the road runa between the open heath on on aide and an old yaw hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which I studded with magnificent trees. There wa a main gateway of lichen studded stone, each aide pillar aurmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems, but be side this central carriage drive I observed several point where there were gap In the hedge and paths leading through them. The house wa Invisible from the road, but the surrounding all spoke of gloom and decay. The heath waa covered with golden patch of flowering gorse, gleaming- mag nificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine. Behind on of those clump I took up my position, so a to command both the gateway of the hall and a long stretoh of the road upon either side. It had been deserted when I left It, but now I saw a cyclist riding down It from the opposite dlreotlon to that In which I had com. He waa clad In a dark suit and I saw that he had a black beard. On reach ing the end of the Charllngton grounds ho sprang from his machine and led It through a gap In the hedge, disappearing from view, ' A quarter of an hour passed and then a second cyclist appeared. This time It was the young woman coming from the station. I saw her look about her aa ahe came to the Charllngton hedge. An Instant later the man emerged from his hiding place, prang upon hi cycle and followed her. In all the broad landscape those were the only moving tlgures, the graceful girl, sitting "What ahouid I have done?" I cried, with some heat "done to the nearest public-house. That ts the centre of country gossip. They would have told you every name, from tho master to the scullery-maid. William son. It convey nothing to my mind. If he I an elderly man he I not thl active cyclist, who sprints away from that young lady's athletic pursuit. What have we gained by your expedition? The knowledge that the girl' story I true. I never doubted It. That there Is a connection be tween the cyclist and the Hall. I never doubted that either. That the Hall I ten anted by Williamson. Who' the better for that? Woll, well, my dear sir, don't look so depressed. We can do little more until next Saturday, and In the meantime I may make one or two Inquiries myself." Next morning, we had a not from Mis Smith, recounting shortly and accurately the very Incident which I had en, but the pith of the letter lay In the post script: "I am sure that you will respect my confidence, Mr. Holmes, when I tell , you thnt my plnce here has become difficult, owing to the fact thnt my employer has proposed marriage to me. I am convinced thnt his feelings are most deep and moat honorable. At the en me time, my promlne Is of course given. He took my refusal very seriously, but slso very gently. You can understand, however, that the nit nation la a little strained." "Our young friend seems to be getting Into deep waters," said Holmes, thoughtfully, as very straight upon her machine, and the he fin Inn ed the letter. "The cu.se. certainly man behind her, bending low over his handle bar, with a curiously furtive aug gestion In every movement. She looked back at him. and slowed her pace. Ho slowed also. She stopped. He at onoe stopped, too, keeping 200 yards behind her. Her next movement was as unexpected aa It waa spirited. She suddenly whisked her wheels round and dashed straight at htm. He waa aa quick as she, however, and darted off in desperate flight. Presently she came back up the road again, her head haughtily In the air, not deigning to take any further notice of her silent attendant. He had turned also and still kept his dis tance until the curve of the rood hid them from my sight. I remained in my hiding place, and It was well that I did so, for presently the man reappeared, cycling slowly back. He turned In at the hall gates and dismounted from his machine. For some minutes I could see Mm standing among the trees. His hands were ruiscd and ho seemed to be settling his neehtle. Ttien he mounted hi cycle, and rojo away from me down the drive towards the hall. I ran acros the heath and peered through presents more features of interest and more possibility of development than I hud orig inally thought. I hull be none the worse for a quiet. peaceful day In the country, and I am In clined to run down this afternoon and test one or two theories which I have formed." Holmes' quiet il.iy in the country lind a singular termination, for he arrived at Maker street lute In the evening, with a cut lip and a discolored lump, upon his fore head, besides a general air If dissipation which would have made his own person the fitting object of u Scotland Ysrd Investiga tion. Ha was Immensely tickled by his own adventures and latiRhed heartily a he re counted thm. "I get so little active exercise 'that It Is always a treat,',' said he. "You are aware that I have some proficiency In the good old Rrltlsli sport of boxing. Occasionally, It Is of pervlce; today, for example, 1 should have come to very Ignominious grief with out It." I ketrged him to tell me what had oc curred, y "I found that country pub which I had already recommended to your notice, and gers of the lonely road. If there evr were any danger, are now over. "A to the special cause of my leaving, It la not merely the strained situation with Mr. Carruthera. but It la the reappearance of that odloua man, Mr. Woodley. He was always hideous, but he look more awful than ever now, for he appear to have had an accident, and he I much disfigured. I mw him out of the window, but I am glad to y I did not meet htm. He had a long talk with Mr. Carruthera, who aeemed much excited afterward. Woodley must be stay. Ing In the neighborhood, for he did not sleep here, and yet I caught a glimpse of him again this morning, slinking about In the shrubbery. I would sooner have a savage wild animal loo about the place. I loathe and fear htm more than I can say. How can Mr. Carruther endure such a creature for a moment? However, all my trouble will be over on Baturday." "So I trust, Watson, so I trust," said Holme, gravely. "There 1 some deep Intrigue going on round that little woman, and It I our duty to see that no one molest her upon that last Journey. I think, Watson, that wo must spare some time to run down together on Saturday morning and makoNsure that this curious and Inclusive Investigation has no untoward ending." I confers that I had not up to now taken a very serious view of the case, which had Boomed to me rather grotesque and bltarre than dangerous. That a man should II in wait for and follow a very handsome wriman la no unheard-of thing, and If he has so little audacity thst he not only dared not address her, but even fled from her approach, ho wus not a very formld ablo assailant. The rufflelnn, Woodley, was a very different person, but. except on one occasion, he had not molested our client, and now he visited the house of Carruthera without Intruding upon her presence. The man on the bt.jvV doubtless a member cf thoa eck-en.l r t:es at the Hall f hlch the publican had spokc-v but who. he as or wht he wanted na aa obsvure as ever. It was ir se verity cf Holme' mner and the fi.t thst he aitpped a re-eJver In hi Vo. ket before leaving e-ur reon ahloh lmpre,l me with the feellr-g that t'-eredy miei-t prove to lurk behind trvs rurlim train of event. A rainy night bad been followed by a glorious momlii. and the heath-cm erM oountryldek tth the glowing clumps ' floer.r1ng gorse. sormcd all the more beaut;, ful to eye which erere weej y of the duns end drabs and slate gray of lnd-n. Il.tlme and I walked along the broad, sandy road Inhaling the fresh morning air and rejoicing In the music of the Mvd and the freak breath of the spring. Kro.n a rise of the road on the shoulder of Crookshury hill we could see the grim Mali bristling cut from amidst the ancient oak a. which, old thsy were, were still younger than the budding which they surrvun.ied. Holme pointed down the long tract of voa.l which wound, a reddish )ePow NrM, be tween the brown of the heath and the budding grevn of the wocols Kar awsr a black dot. we could see a ehu le comma In our direction. Holmes gave an exclama tion of Impatience. "t have given a margin of half an hour." sld he "If that Is her trap, she must be making for the earlier train. I foar, Wat son, that she will be pent Charllnaton be fore we can possible meet her.'' From the Instant that we passed the rise e could no longer see the vehicle, but e hastened on want at audi a pace that my sedentary life began to tell upon me. end I was compelled to fall behind. Ho'nies, however, was always tn traltiinc. for he had ltiehaustib!o stores of nervous eneisv upon which to draw. His springy step never slowed until suddenly, when he ess ItW yards In front of me, he halted, and I saw him throw lip his hand with a gesture of grief and despair. At the same Instant an empty dog cart, the horse cantering, the rein trailing, appeared round the curve of the road and rattled swiftly toward us "Too late, Watson, t.vi late!" cried Holmes, as I ran panting to his sliie. "Fool that I wns. not to allow for tl'at earlier train! It s abduction, Watson-iib-diH'tlon! Murder! Heaven know what! Mock the road! Stop the horse! That's fight. Now. Jump In and let us see If t can repair the consequence of my own blunder." We had sprung Into the dog cart, and Holmes, after turning the horse, gavn If a sharp cut with the whip, and we flew back along the road. As we turned the curve the whole stretch of road between the Hall and the heath was opened up. I grasped Holmes' arm. "That's the man!" I gaeped. A solitary cyclist wa coining toward us Ills head was down and his shoulders rounded, as ho put every ounce of energy that he possessed onto the pedals. He was flying like a racer. Suddenly ho raised hi bearded face, saw us close to him, and pulled up, springing from hi machine. That coal black beard was In singular contrast to the pallor of hi face, and his eyes were as bright ns If he had a fever. He stared st us and at the dog cart. Then a look of amusement came over his face. "Halloa! Stop there!" he shouted, hold ing his bicycle to Mock our road, "Where did you get that dog cart? Full up man!" he yelled, drawing a pistol from his side pocket. "Pull up, I soy, or, by George, I'll put a bullet Into your horse." Holmes threw the reins Into my lap, and aprang down from tho cart. "You're the man we want to see. Where I Miss Violet Smith?" he said, In his quick, clear way. . "That's what I'm asking you. You're In her dog cart. You ought to know where she I." "We mot the dog eart nn the roed. There wa no one In it. W drove back to help the young lady." "tlood Iord! Oood lyvrd! what shall 1 do?" cried the stranger. In an eostacy of despair. "They've got her, thst hellhound Woodley and the blsckguard parson. Come, mail, comn, If you really are her friend. Stand by me and we'll save her. If I hnve to leave my ceroaa In Charllngton Wood." He rait distractedly, his pistol In bis hand, towards a gap in the hedge. Holmes followed him, and I, leaving the horse graslng beside the road, followed Holmes. "This Is where they came through," said ho, pointing to the marks of several feet upon the muddy path. "Halloa! Htop a minute! Who's this In the bush?" It was a young fellow about 17, dressed like an ostler, with leather cords and suit ers. He lay upon bis Itack, Ids knee drawn up, a terrible cut upon hi head. He was Insensible, but alive. A glance at M wou'id told me that It b1 rot pen Ira ted the bone. "TViat lvter, the groom," cried tha stt.ir.rer - He drove her. The beast bav pulled Mro off ami clubbed Mm. 1 Mm be; we cant do Mm any good, but wa may ve her from the worst (ale that can befall a iimh." We ran frantically down the pi". whVh, e-ound among the tree We had reached toe shrubK'ty which surrounded tha hus when Holme pulled tip. They didn't r to the bouse. Her are their mat on the len-her. r-eeld the liot-el bushe Ah! 1 said so." As he siVe, a woman's ehrlll soreaan a scream which vibrate,! with a frenaf el horror-urt from the thick, greea dump of bushe In front of It ended sud denly on its blithest note with a choke and a ruralc. -Thia w! Thl wey! They are in th howling, alley. " cried the atranger. dartlnt through the bushe "Ah. Ihe cow-ardlr dogs' Follow me, gentlemen! Too late! too lite! hy the living Jingo!" We had broken suddenly Inta a level glade of sreenswsrd surrounded by ancJrnt tree On the further side of It. under tha shadow of a mighty oak. there tod singular group of three people. On era woman, our client. drvoplng and faint, handkerchief round her mouth. Oppeent her stood a brutal, heavy faced, red noiistched young man, hi galtereA legs parted wide, one arm kh bo. the other waving r1Aln crop l.i whole attitude suggeellT t triumphant bravado. Itetween them eldorlv, grav-berdd man, weartne a short surplice over a llgrht twved ssllt, had ert. domly Just completed the wedding service for he pocketed hi prayer book a we poared, and slapped the slnleter brWe gtvont upon the back tn Jovial oongrat jtae lion. They're married!" I gaped. "Come on!" cried our guide: "coma tmT He rushed ocroee the glade, Holme ana I at hl heels. A w e approached -the woman staggered aminst the trunk of the tree for support Williamson, the ex-elrfy man, bowed to us with mock politeness, and the bully. Woodloy, advanced WlTtl a shout of brutal and exultant laughter. You can take your beard off. Hob," said he. "I know you. right enough. Well, yw and your pals have Jiisl come 1n time for ma to bo ablo to Introduce tu to Mr. Woodley." Our gnlile's answer was a singular one. He snatched off the dark board which had disguised Mm bjvI threw It on tha ground, disclosing a long, sallow, clean shaven face below It. Then he raised Ma revolver and covered the young ruffian who waa advancing upon Mm with Ma dangerous lidind rrop swinging In his bend. Yes," said our ally, "1 am Bob Car rnthei. and i ll sea this woman righted, If I have to swing for It. I told you what I d do ir you molested her, and. by tha Iord! I'll be a good as my word." "You're too late, fh' my wife." "No, she jour widow." HI revolver cracked, and I saw th bieo4 spurt from the front of Woodley' wle coat. He spun round with a soreem and! fell upon his back, bis hideous red roj turning suddenly to a dreadful M04t!4l pallor. Tho old man, still clad In hi sur plice, burst Into such a siring of foul oath ns I have never heard, and pulled out a revolver of his own. but, Tefor ha could raise It, he was looking down tha barrel of Holme' weapon. "F.nough of this," sold my friend. Coldly, "Orop thnt plstoll Wntson, pick It tipJ Hold U to his head! Thank you. You, Carruthera, glvo me thst revolver. We'll have no more violence. Come, hand sf over!" ,, -' v "Who are you. then?" tl "My name I Sherlock Holme," ' "Oood Isirdl" " "' "You havo heard of me, I seex I will represent the official police until their ar rival. Here, you!" he shouted to a flight enod groom, who had appeared at the edgw of the glade. "Cuiiin here. Take thl note ns IibM n. you can ride, to Farnham." He scribbled a few word upon a leaf front bis notebook, "tllve It to the superintend ent at tho pollen station. Until he come I must detain you all under personal cus tody." The aironig, masterful personality of Holme dominated the tragic scene, ana all were equally puppela In his hand. Wil liamson and Carruthera found themselvea carrying the wounded Woodley Into th hoiiMo, rind I gave my arm to the fright ened girl. The Injured man waa laid on his bed, and nt Holmes' request I exam ined hltn. 1 curried my report to where he sat In the old tapestry-hung dining room with hi two prisoners before him, "He will live," said L "Whttti" cried CB.rruthe.rs; springing otrt of his chair. "I'll go upstairs and finish. (Continued On Tngn Right.) the trees. Far awny I could catch glimpse thero I made my discreet Inquiries. I wa of the old grey building with It bristling in the bar, and a garruloti landlord was Tudor chimney but the drive ran through a dense shrubbery, and I aw no more of my man. ( However, it seemed to me that I had don a fairly good morning's work, and I walked back In hlgk spirits to Farnham. The local houae agent could tell me nothing about Charllngton Hall, and referred mo to a well-known, firm tn Pall Mall. There I halted on my way home, and met with courtesy from the representative. No, I could not have Charllngton Hall for a summer. I was just too late. It had been let about a month ago. Mr. Williamson wa the name of tha tenant. Ha waa a respectable, elderly gentleman. The polite agent wa afraid he could say no more, as tha affairs of his client wer not mut ter, which he pould discuss. Mr. Sherlock Holme listened with at tention to the long report which I wa able to present to him that evening, but It did not elicit that word of curt praise which I bad hoped for and should hav valued. On the contrary, hi austere face wa even more severe than usual as he commented upon the thing that I had done and th thing that I had not. "Your hiding-place, my dear Watson, wa giving me all that I wanted. Williamson U a whlte-beardnd man and he lives alone with a small stuff of servants nt the hall. There Is some rumor that he Is or has been a clergyman, but one or two Incidents of hi short residence st the Hall struck mo aa peculiarly unecclcslastlcal. I have al ready made some Inquiries at a clerical agency and they tell me that there was a man of that name In orders, whose career haa been a singularly dark ona. The land lord further Informed me that there are usually week-end vlsltors-'a warm lot, air at th Hall, and especially one gentleman with a red moustache, Mr. Woodley by name, who was alwaya there. We had got s far as this, when who should wslk In but th gentleman hlmsolf, who bad bon dr lik ing his beer in the tap-room and had hoard the whol conversation. Who wafc I? What did I want? What did I mean by asking questions? He hsd a fins flow of Isnguuge nd his adjectives were very vigorous. He ended a string of ahuse by a vicious back hander, which I failed to entirely avoid. The next few minutes were delicious. It wss a straight left against a slogging ruffian. I emerged as you see me. Mr. Woodley went home In a cart. So ended my country trip. very faulty. You should have been be- end It must be confesaed that, however en' hind the hedge, then you would hav had Joyable, my day nn the Surrey border hag a close view or this Interesting person, A It Is, you wer some hundred of yard away, and can tell me evsn less than Miss Smith. Ske think she does not know the roan; I am convinced he does. Why, otherwise, should he be so desperately anx ious that she should not get so near him aa to see hi feature? You duecrib blm as bending over tha handle-bar. Conceal ment again, you ee. You really hava done not been much more profitable than your own." The Thursday brought us another letter from our client. "You will not be surprised, Mr. Holmes, said she, "to hear that I am leaving Mr. Carruther' employment. Kven the high pay (annul reconcile me le tit dlaeomfort f my situation. On Saturday I came up I town, and I du not Intend to return, Mr. remarkably badly, lie returns to the house, Carruther bss gut a trap, and so lb dan. 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