The evening world. Newspaper, May 6, 1905, Page 13

\ placed and the drugget had only just beon drawn straight when Lestrade's pice was heard in tho passage. He found Holmes leaning languidly against e mantelpiece, resigned and patient, endeavoring to conceal his irre- ssible yawns, “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Holmes. I can see that you are bored leath with the whole affair, Well, he has confessed, all right. Come In » MacPherson, Let these gentlemen hear of your most inexcusable con~ The big constable, very hot and penitent, sidled into the room. “1 meant no harm, sir, I’m sure. The young woman came to the door evening—mistook the house, she did, And then we got to talking, It's hesome, When You're on duty here all day.” “Well, what happened then?” “She wanted to see where the crime was done—had read about it in the {pers, she said. She was a very respectalle, well-spoken young woman, sir, pal * no harm in letting hei have a peep. When she saw that mark on éhe carpet, down she dropped on the tloor and lay as if she were dead, I ran to the back and got some water, but [ could not bring her to, Then I went round the corner to the Ivy Plant for some brandy, and by the time I had brought it back the young woman had recovered and was off—ashamed of herself, 1 duresay, and dared not face m “How about moving that drugget?” “Well, sir, it was a bit rumpled, certainly, when T came back, You see she fell on it and it les on a polished floor with nothing to keep it in place, ightened it out afterward,” lesson to you that yon can't decetve me, Constable MacPherson,” strade with dignity, ‘No doubt you thought that your breach of duty could never be disvovered, and yot 1 mere glance at the drugget was enough to convince me that some one had been admitted to thie reom, 1U's lucky for you, my man, that nothing is missing, or you would find yourself in Queer street, I'm sorry to have called you down over such a petty business, Mr. Holmes, but | thousht the point of the second stain not corresponding 30 the first would interest you “Certainly, it was most interesting, A once, constable?" “Yes, sir, only once.” “Who was she?" “Don't know the name, sir. typewriting, and came to the wrong number: woman, sir,” “Tall, handsome?" “Yos, sir: she was a well-grown young omany a snppose you might say handsome. Perhaps some would she was yery handsome. ‘Oh, offl- cer, do let me have # peep!’ si she. She had Bret coaxing Ways, as you might say, and I thought there was no harm in letting her just put her head throuh the door, “How was she dressed?" “Quiet —a long mantle “What time was it?” “Tt was just growing dusk as I came back with the brand Has this woman only been hore Was answering an advertisement about very pleasant, genteel young down to her feet.” s] at the time, They were lighting the lamps Very good," said Holmes. “Come, Watson, I think that we have more important work elsewhere.” As we left the house Lestrede remained in the front room, whilesthe turned onsthe ed intently, fepemant venstaile opened the door to Jet ens out. Holin atep and held up something in his nd. The constable od Lor he cried, with amozement on his face, Holmes put his finger on hi: lips, replaced his hand in his breast epocket and burat out laughing as we turned down the street xcellent, uid he, “Come, friend Watson, the curtain rings up for the last act, You will be relieved to hear that there will be no war, that the Right Honorable Trelawney Hope will uffer no setback in his brilliant ecareor, that the indiscreet Sovereign will receive no punishment for his indiscretion, that the Prime Minister will , atave no Fnropean complication to deal with, and that with a little tact and Managemen! upon our part nobody will be a penny the worse for what might have been a very ugly incident” My mind Miled with admiration for this extraordinary man “You hive solved it!’ T erle “Hardly that, Watson, There are some points which are as dark as ever, Bait we ha so much that it will be our own fault if we cannot get tho resi % We will go straight to Whitehall Terrace and bring the matter to a head,” When we arrived at the residence of the European Secretary it was for Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope that Sherlock Holmes inquired. We were snown into the morning-room. “Mr, Holmes,” sald the lady, and her face was pink with indignation, ‘this is surely most unfair and ungenerons upon your part. I desired, as I have explained, to keep my visit to you a secret, lest my husband should think that T was intruding into bis affairs, And yet you compromise me by } coming here and so showing that there are business relations between us.” ‘nfortunately, madam, T had no possible alternative, I lave been commissioned to recover this immensviy important paper, I must, therefore, ask you, madam, to be kind enough te place It In my hands,” Mie lady sprang to her feet with the color all dashed in an instant from her beautiful Her oyes glaved—she tottered—I thought that she would t faint Then with a grand effort she rallied from the shock and a supreme ‘vy astonishment and indignation chased every other expression from her fea- j tures, “You—you insult moe, Mr, Holmes,"” “Come, come, madam, it is useless. She darted to the hell, “The butler shall show you ut.” “Do not ring, Lady Hilda. If you do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid Give up the letter,” THE WORLD: SATURDAY EVE NIN 1905. MAY 6, a scandal will fe frustrated, Givo np the letter and all will be set right. If you will work with me I can arrange everything. If you work against me I must expose you.”” \ he stood proudly deflant, a queenly figure, hor eyes fixed upon his as if she would, read his very soul, Her hand was on the bell, but she had for- borne to ring it, “You are trying to frighten me, It is not a very manly thing, Mr, Holmes, to come here and browboat a woman, You say that you know somes thing, What. Is it that you know? “Pray sit down, madam, You will hurt yourself there if you fall, | will not speak untit you sit down, Thank you. “T give you five minutes, Mr. Holmes,” “One Is enough, Lady Hilda, I know of your visit to Eduardo Lucas, of your giving him this document, of your ingenious return to the room: last night, and of the manner in which you took the letter from the hiding-place under the carpet.” She stared at him with an ashen face and gulped twice before she could speak. “You re mad, Mr, Holmes—you are mad!" she cried, at last, He drew a small piece of card- board from his pocket. It was the face of 0 wo nut out of a portrait, “Il have carried this because T thought it might be useful,” sald he. “The policeman has recognized it.” She gave a gasp and her head dropped back In the chair, “Come, Lady Hilda. You havo the letter. The matter may still be adjusted, I have no desire to bring trouble to you, My duty ends when I have returned the lost letter to your husband, Take my advice and be frank with me, It is your only chance Her courage was admirable, I now she would not own defeat, “T tell you again, Mr. Holme: you are under some absurd {llusion,” Holines rose from his chair. » “Tam sorry for you, Lady Hilda, I haye done my best for you. I ean see that It is all In vain.” He rang the bell, The butler en- Mr. Trelawney Hope at He will be home, sir, at a quar- to one.” Holmes glanced at his watch, “Still a quarter of an hour,” said. “Very good, I shall wait.” The butler had hardly closed the door behind him when Lady Hilda was down on her knees at Holmea's. feet, her hands outstretched, her beautifal face upturned and wet with ter he, tears, “Oh. spare me, Mr. Holmes? Spare me!" she pleaded, in a frenzy. of supplication, ‘For heaven's sake, don't tell him! TI love him so! I would not bring one shadow on his Ufe, and this T know would break hfs nqble heart.’ Holmes raised the lady, thankful, madam, that you h to your senses even at this ment! There is not an instant lose. Where is the letter?” She darted across to a writing- desk, unlocked it and drew out a long blue envelone. “Here it is, Mr, Holmes, to tant paper.’’ “HOW cane ee eeolmes., Would to heaven I had never seen it!" return it?" Holmes muttered. ‘Quick, quick, we must think of some way! Where is the despatch box?" a a “Still in his bedroom,” “What a stroke of luck! Quick, madam, bring it here: A moment later she had appeared with a red flat box in her hand, “How did you open it before? You have a duplicate key? Yes, of omirse you have, Open tt.’ From out of her bosom Lady Hilda had drawn a small key. The box flew open. It was stuffed with papers, Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep down into the heart of them, between the lenves of some other docu: ment. The box was shut, locked, and returned to the bedroom, “Now we are ready for him," said Holmes. ‘We have still ten minutes, Tam going far to sereen you, Lady Hilda, In return you will spend the time in telling me frankly the real meaning of this extraordinary affair.” “Me. Holmes, I will tell you everything,” cried the lady, “Oh, Mr, Holmes, | would cut off ny right hand before I Bay e him a moment of sor- BY SIR A. CONAN DOYLE (COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY HARPER & BROTHERS.) “We are going well’ s window and glancing at present is fifty-three and that f shall have 3 we sat down t one morn AM afraid, Watson, ." said Holmes, together to our brealefs BL “T have not observed ing. said I, “ge! Where tot “Nor have I, But the Mine are sixty yards apa u simple one. T presume this matter of the murde sappearanee of Silver “IT have seen what the tole have to say." “It Is one of those cai reasoner should be used detalls than “Yo Dartmoor; to King's Pyland.’" I was not surprised, Indeed, my only wonder was that he had not already been mixed up in this extraordinary case, whieh was the one topic of con- versation through the length and breadth of Eng- land. For a whole day my companion had rambled about the room, with his chin upon his chest and his brows knittod, charging and recharging his pipe the strongest black tobacco, and absolutely Fresh with perfectly well what it was over which he was for the acquiring of fresh evidence, ‘Nhe tragedy has been so wnicommon, so complete 4ind of such personal tinportance to 30 many people ~ that we are suffering from a plethora of surmise, this sound basis, it la our duty to see what infor- row! he would never forgive me. could not forget or pardon a lapye in another. happiness, his happiness, our ver “Quick, madam, the time grows short!" “Tt was a letter of mine, Mr Holmes, fore my marriage ~a foolish letter, « letter of an impulsive, loving girl, meant no harm, and yet he would have thought it ¢ letter his confidence would have heen forever des Thad thought that the whole matter was forgotten, Lucas, that it had passed into bis hands, I implored his morey. that he would return my letter ff T would bring him a eertain document which he described in my husband's desnateh box, t since I wrote it. at last I heard from tila man, tnat he would lay ft before my husband. the office who had told nim of its existence, could come to my husband, What was 1 to do?” “Take your husband into your confidence.” “IT could not, Mr. Holmes, T could not! For his own honor Help me, Mr, Holmes! lives are at stake!" minal, royed There {8 no woman {n all London who loves her husband as T do, and yet tf he knew how I have acted—how I have been compelled to act— stands so high that he My Indiscreet letter, written be- Had he read He had some spy Me assured me that no harm Put yoursels in my position, Mr. Holmes! “Madam, | haye been commissioned to recover this immensely impor On the one side seemed certain ruin, on the other, terrible av it seemed to take my husband’s paper, stil] in @ matter of politics I could not understand the consequences, while in a and He satd in of a dark, frantic face, of a woman's voice, which acreamed in French, waiting Js not In vain, At Jast, at last I have found you wih her!” Thee Was & Savage struggle. in hers, I rushed from the horrible scene, ran from the house, and only next morning In the paper did J learn the dreadful result, That night { was happy, for I had my letter, and I had not seen yet what the future would bring. s "It was the next morning that I realized that T Aad only exchanged one trouble tor another, My husband’s anguish at the loss of his paper went to my heart, IT could hardly prevent myself from there and then kneeling down at his feet and telling hira what T had done, But that again would mean u confession of the past, T came to you that morning in order to understand the full enormity of my offense, From the instant that I grasped it my whole mind was turned to the one thought of getting back my hus. land's paper, It must still be where Lucas had placed it, for {t was cone eomled before this dreadful woman entered the room, If {t had not been for her coming, I snould not have known where his hiding plece wae. How was I to gei Into the room? Wor two days I watched the place, but the door was never left open. Last night I made a last attempt. What I did and how I succeeded, you have already learned, I brought the paper back with me, and thought of destroying it, since I could see no way of returning it without confessing my guilt to my husband, Heavens, I@hear his step upon the stair!” ‘The European Secretary burst excitedly Into the room, “Any news, Mr, Holmes, any news?" he cried, “I have some hopes.” “Ah, thank heaven!" His face became radiant. vis lunching with me, May he share your hopes? He has nerves of steel, and yet I know that he has hardly slept since this terrible event, Jacobs, will you ask the Prime Minister to come up? As to you, dear, I fear that this is a matter of polities. We will join you in a few minutes in the din+ ing-room, ‘he Pi Minister's manner was subdued, but T could ses by the gleam of hy. nd the twitehings of his bony bands that he shared the eyeltement of his young colleague. T understand that you have something to report, Mr. Holmes?’ “Purely negattve as yet,’ my friend answered, “I have inquired at every point where it might be, and I am sure that there is no danger to be apprehended.” “Bul that ts not enough, Mr, Holmes, n volcano. We must have something definite, ‘Lom in hopes of getting It. That is why [am here, The more [ think of the matter the more convinced I am vhat the letter has never left this house." ‘Mr, Holmes!" "If it had it would certainly have been public by now.” “But why should any one take it in order to keep it in this house?” “lam not convinced that any one did take ft." “Then how could it leave the despatch box?! “Tam not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch box.” “Mr, Holmes this joking ts very (ll-timed, You have my assurance that it left the box." “Have you mined the box since Tuesday morning?” “No. Ii was not necessai “You may con velvably have overlooked it.” “Tinposs'ble, ‘But Lam i convinced of it, presume there are other papers there, the ‘The Prime Minister me We cannot live forever on such Well, it may have got nixed with “It was on the top." “Some one may have shaken the hox and displaced {t.” “No, no, I had everything out.” “surely it is easily decided, Hope," sald the Premier, the despateh box brought in." The Seeretary rang the bell, “Jacobs, bring down my despatch box, This 13 a tareieal waste of time, Dut still, i nothing else will satisfy you, dt shall be done. Thank you, Jacols, put It here, 1 have always had the key on my watch chatn, Here are the papers, you see, Letter from Lord Merrow, report from Sir Charles Hardy, memorandum from Belgrade, note on the Russo-Germian grain taxes, letter from Madrid, note from lord Flowers—— Good heavens! what ia this? Lord Bellinger! Lord Bellinger!" ‘The Premier snatched the blue envelope from his hand, “Yes it is it-oend the letter is intact. Hope, I congratulate you, ‘Phank you! Thonk you! What a weight from my heart. Butethis is “Let us have matter of love and trust they were only too clear to me, I did it, Mr. inconceivable—impossible. Mr, Holmes, you are a wizard, a sorcerer! How Holmes! [ took an impression of his key, This man, Lucas, furnished a did you know jt was there?” duplicate, I opened his despatch box, took the paper, and conveyed it to “Because I knew tt was nowhere else.” Godolphin street.” “I cannot believe my eyes!” He ran wildly to the door, “Where is “What happened there, madam?” “I tapped at the door, as agreed. Lucas opened it. leaving the hall door ajar behind me, for I feared to be alone I remember that there was a woman outside as I entered, He had my letter on his desk, T handed him At this instant there was ¢ Lueas anickly turned back the drugget, thrust the document Into some hiding place there and covered his_room:, with the man, Our business was soon done, she document. He gave me the letter at the door There were steps in the passage. It over, “What happened after that Is like some fearful dream, events which had led to our journey, "Silver, Blaze,” said he, “Is from the Somomy stovk, and holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor, He :s now in his fitth year, and has brought in turn each of the priaes of the turf é to Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner, Up to the time of the catastrophe he was the first favorite for the Wessex Cup, the betting being three to one on him, He has always, however, been a prime aid he, looking out of the favorite with the racing public, and has never his wateh, "Or rate at yet disappointed them, so that even at those odds {half miles an hour.’ enormous sums of money have been laid upon the quarter-mile posts,” him. It is obvious, therefore, that there were many people who had the strongest interest in telegraph posts upon this preventing Silver Blaze from being there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday. The fact was, of course, appreciated at King’s caleulation Is looked into ry and the that you have r of John Straker and bhe — Pyland, where the Colonel's training stable is sit- Blaze? nated, Every precaution was taken to guard the ‘VYelegtaph and the Chron- favorite, The trainer, John Straker, is a retired Jockey who rode in Col Ross's colors before he ; where the art of the became too heavy for the weighing chair, He has served the Colonel for five years as jockey and for seven as trainer, and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant, Under him were Unree lads; for the establishment was a small one. contulning only four horses in all, One of these rather for the sifting of deaf to any of my questions or remarks, Ru dads sat up each night in the stable, while the editions of every paper had been sent wp by our COMecture and hypothe ts, ‘ho dimeulty Is to de- Giners slept In the loft. All three bore excellent AS Reed L tosses tah the framework of fact, of abwolute, undeniable Characters. John Straker, who is a marted man 5 Wy ) » glanced over id tosse aiey 6 ombol o | res ( ‘ + i iq news agent, only to be glanced over in fact-from the embellishments of theorists and re- jiyeq in a small. villa about two hundred yards from down Into a corner, Yet, silent as he was, I knew porters, ‘Then, having established ourselves upon the stables, He Hae no children, keeps one mula servant, and is comfortably off, The country round shiek RAMEN 8 enoes may be drawn and what are the special {g yery lonely, but abou mile to. the north brodding, ‘There was but ono problem before the FONT, iugon which tho whole myatery turns, ON there ia one ait atures Tele @ eit pagancel ube which could challenge his powers of analysis, ‘Tuesday evening 1 received telegrams from both built hy a Tavlatock contractor for the use of in- and that was the singular disappearance of the Colonel Ross, the owner of the horse, and from vallds and others who may wish to enjoy the pure favorite for the Wessex Cup and tho tragic murder Inspector Gregory, who is looking after the case, Dartmoor alt, Tavistock itself Hes two miles to inviting my oo-operation," the west, while across the moor; also about two HB (of Ata truinor, When, therofore, ho suddenly an~ MITE, My So-momeniot cclaimeds. “And thie £9 miles autant, te the larger training oetavlishrasnt nounced his Intention of setling out for the scene phursday morning, Why didn't you go down yess of Mapleton, which belongs to Lord Blackwater, of the drama It was only what I had both expected — terday?" and {s managed by Silas Brown. In every other "Ad oped tbe: “Because T made a blunder, my dear Watson— direction the moor 1s a completo wilderness. —In- ff ; vn with you if Which is, {am afraid, a more common occurrence hablited only by a few roaming gypsies. Such was T should be most happy to go down with you than any one would’ tyink who only knew me the general situation last Monday night when the T should not be In the way,” sald L through your momolra, ‘The fact Is that 1 could Citastrephe occurred: “My dear Watson, you would confer a great favor not believe it possible that the most remarkable On that evening: Hie horses Bnd (been: energised ‘ ade Hy and watered as usual and the atablos were locked upon me by coming, And I think that your time horse In Wngland could tong remain concealed, vicanien, white the third, Ned Hunter, remained on will not be misspent, for there are points about the Sspeclally in so sparsely Inhabited a place as the cia. At a fow minutes after 9 the mald, FdithBa , forth of Dartmoor, From hour to hour yesterday cand, Atafew minutes after 9 the maid, Edith Bax- cave whieh promise to make It an absolutely UNIMUe —T expected to heor that he had been found, and BS Ae Hiteal EAR: one, Wo have, f think, Just tlme to eateh our that his abductor was the murderor of John Stra- consisted of a dish of curried mutton, She took train at Paddington, and I will go further into Ker. When, however, another morning had come no tiquid, as there waa a water tap li the stables, tho matter upon our Journey. You would oblige me Ad 1 found that boyond the arrest of young Fit and it was the rule that the lad on duty should roy Simpson nothing had been done, 1 felt that 1t drink nothing else, ‘The maid carried a lantern by bringing’ with you your very excellent fleld was timo for me to take action. Yet In some with her, ag it waa véry dark and the path ran glass," ways I foel that yestorday has not boen wasted," — across the open moor, And so it happened that an hour or so later 1 ae have formed a theory, then?" ( “Ddith Baxter was within thirty yards of the i “At least T have got a grip of the essential facts stables, when « man appeared out of the darkness found mysolt ini the corner of @ firatrqiass carrinwe 06/116 sass, o£ ahall enumerate them to you, for and called to her to atop. As he atepned Into the |g ing alongen routo for Bxeter, whlleBhotlock Holmes, noining clears up a case so much as stating It to olrclo of yellow Ight thrown by the lantern sho with his sharp, eager face framed in his ear: another person, and I flapped travelling cap, dipped rapidly into the bun- — o le of fresh papers which he had procured at Pad- Which wo start.” fington, We had left Reading far behind us ber fore he thrust the last | _ long, -operation if I do not show you the position from I lay back agalnat the cushion clgar, wrote Holmes, leaning dogl veh his i nahin 2 the saw that he was a perron of gentlemanly bearing, dressed In a gray sult of tweeds, with a cloth cap, He wore gaiters, and carried a heavy stick with & knob to It, She was most Impressed, however, by the extreme pallor of his face and by the nor- AS apyd of pie shanges. His age, she thought, than under. ean hardly expect your , puffing at my “Can you tell me where T am? ho asked, ‘I had almost mage up my mind to sleep on the moor, when I saw the light of your lantern,’ “You are close to the King's Pyland training: stables,’ said she. “Oh, indeed! What a stroke of luck!’ ‘he oried. ‘I understand that a stable boy sleeps there alone every night, Perhaps that is his supper which you are carrying to him. Now, I am sure that you would not be too proud to earn the price of @ new dress, would you He took a plece of white paper folded up out of his walsteoat pocket, ‘See that the boy has this to-night and you shall have the prettlest frock that money can Duy.’ “She was frightened by the earnestness of his manner and ran past him to the window thr which she was accustomed to hand the moals. Jt was already opened, and Hunter was seated at the small table Inside, She had begun to te him of what had happened, when the stranger came up aguin, “'Good-evening.’ sald he, looking through ue window. ‘I wanted to have a word with i she notice protruding. The girl has sworn that the corner of the little from his closed hana. “'What business have y “It's business that ma pocket,’ sald the other, ‘You've two horses tn the Wessex Cup—Silver Blaze and Bayard me have the straight Up and you won't be a loser as he spoke per packet pu here? asked the lad put something into your Ie it a fact that at the weights Ba give the other a hundred yards in tive furlon that the stable have put their money on him "$0, you're one of those damned touts!’ cried the lad, ‘I'll show you how we serve them tn King's Pyland He sprang up and rushed acros the stable to unloose the dog, ‘The girl ted away to the house, but as she ran she looked back and saw that the stranger was leaning through the window, A minute later, however, when Hunter rushed out with the hound he was gone, and thowgh he ran all round the buildings he failed to find any trace of him.” “One momont," I asked. “Did the stable boy, when he ran out with the dog, leave the door unlocked behind him?" "Excellent, Watson, excellent!’ murmured my companion, The importance of the point struck me xo forelbly that T sent a sp wire to Dart moor yesterday to clear the matter up, The boy locked the door before he left It ‘The window, f may add, was not large enough for a man ty get through, ‘Hunter waited until his fellow grooms had re- turned, w n he sent a me we to the trainer and told him what had oceurred, Straker was excited at hearing the ageount, although he does not seem to have quite realized its true significance. It loft ‘him, however, vagwely uneasy, and Mrs. Stras ker, waking at one in the morning, found that ho was dressing, In reply to her inquiries, he sald that he could ndt sleep on account of his anxhity about the horses, and that he intended to walk down to the stables to sor that all was well, Sho bogged him to remuin at home, as sho could oar tho rain pattering against the window, but T followed him into sound T have a vision (ROAR OHH 1H AO AER YHOO OC EE a RRR ROC RC JOON R MERC OMe e EOE ECC CKSORC ex nee ae C30 ACTER EE CERRO RET EXT SATURDAY ---THE FIRST “RAFFLES” STORY ---“THE IDES OF MARCH.” “Wy SHIH eR BP Ht HO RR Re SU DSUARE EADREN ENE NMEMR SRR ERE RTREE KHRWEREARERBES HS) HO URL RADE E EE EEE eee pa aid SILVER BLAZE. my wife? T must tell her that all is well. Hilda! Hilda!” we heard his volee on the stairs, The Promier iooked at Holmes with twinkling eyes. “Come, sir,” sald he, ‘Phere is more in this than meets the eye, How cme the letter back in the box?" Holmes turned away smiling from the keen scrutiny of those wonderful eyes. “We also have our diplomatic secrets,” he turned to the door, said he, and, picking up his hat, THE END. In spite of her entreaties he pulled on his large hose are the main facts of the case, stripped mackintosh and left the house. of all surmise, and stated as badly as. possible, “Mrs, Strakor rose at seven in the morning, (9 I shall now recapitulate what the police hive done find that her husband had? not yet returned, She in the matter, dressed herself hastily, called the maid and set “Inspector Gregory, to whom the case tas been off for (he stables, ‘The door was open; Inside, mitted, 18 an extremely competent officer, Were huddled together upon a chair, Hunter was sunk he but gifted with imagination, he might rise to in uw state of absolute stupor, his favorite's stall great heights in his profession, On his. arrival was empty and there were no signs of his trainer, he promptly found and arrested the man upon “Phe two lads who slept In the chaff-cutting loft who suspicion naturally rested, ‘There was ttle wove the harness room were quickly aroused, ‘The dimeulty in finding him, for he Inhabited one of had heard noviing during the night, for the those villas which [ have mentioned, Hls name, © Doth sound sleepers, Hunter was obviously it appears, was Fitzroy Simpson, He was a man uncer Qe Influence of some powerful drug, and of excellant birth and education, who had squane 1s no sense could be got out of him, he was left dered arfortune upon the tur’, and who lived now to gleop it off, while the two lads and the two by doing a litte quiet and genteel bookmaking in women ran out in areh of the absentees, ‘They uh sporting clubs of London, An examination of still fad hopes thac the trainer had for some his betting book shows that bets to the amount of reason taken out the horse for early exereige, but five thousand pounds had been registered by hin on aiding the knoll near the house, from which against the favorite, On being arrested he voluns Vit the neigaboring: moors were visible, they not leered the statement that he had come down to only eould see no signs of the missing favorite, Dartmouth in the hope of getting some informa buy t perecived something which warned them tion about the Wing's Pyland ho Ss and also Uhat they were in the oresence of a tragedy, about Desborough, the second favorite, which was “About a cuarter 1 mile from the stables in charge of Silis Brown at the Mapleton stables, Jon Straker’s overcoat w: lapping from a furgze Tle didenot attempt to deny that he had aeted as bush, Immediately nd there was @ bowl- described upon the evening before, but declared shaped depression in the moor, and at the bottom that he had no sinister designs, and had simply of this was found the dead body of the unfortu- wished to obtain first-hand Information, When nate trainer. Hs head had been shattered by a confronted with his eravat he turned very. pale savage blow from some heavy weapon, and ho and was utterly unable to account for tts presence wos wounded on the thigh, where there was 4 in the hand of the murdered man. Hig wet cloth= Jong, clean cut, inflicted evidently by some very ing showed that he had beer out In the storm sharp instrument, ft was clear, however, that M the night before, and pls stiek, which was a Straker had defended himself vigorously against Ponang-lawyer weighted with lead, was Just such his liants, for in his right Nand he held a a weapon as might, by repetted blows, have Ins snuul knif was clotted with blood up to flicted the terrible injuries 'o which the trainer the handle in his left he clasped @ red and had succumbed, On the other hand, the:y was ne bluck silk era which was recognized by the wound upon his person, while the state of Strakera mall as having been worn on the preceding — knife would show that one it least of his assalle evening the stranger who had visited the sta- ants must bear his mark upon him, There you b Ilunter, on recovering from his stupor, was ha it all tn a nutshell, Watson, and if you can aso quite positive to the ownership of the give me any light I shall be Infinitely obliged to's Ife was equciy certain that the same — you." nger had, while ding at the window, 1 had listened with the greatest interest to the sed Js currlod mutton and so deprived thy statement which Holmes, with characteristic clears stables of thelr watchman, As to Uhe missing ness, had kd before me, ‘Though most of the facts vorse, there were abundant proofs in the mud — were familiar to me, L had not suMfelently appre- which lay at the bottom of (he fatal hollow that clited their relative importance, nor thelr con+ he aad beet there at the time of the struggle, nceton to each other, But from that moraing he has disappeared, anc “Is It not possible,’ T suggested, “that the tn vltiough a lar ward hus been offered and «all vised wound upon Straker may have been caused ypsies of Dartmoor his own Knife in the convulsive struggles whieh are on the alert, no news by h me of him, Finaly, an analysis has shown — follow any braln injury that the remains of his supper left by the stable ‘It is more than possible; it is probable,” sa'd lad contain an appreciable amount of powde Holmes, "In that case one of the main pointy tn opiam, while the people at the house partook of — favor of the accused disappears.” the same dish on the same night without any ill And yet," sald I, “even now I fall to under= effect, stand what the theory of the pollce can be," The concluston of this Story will be published in to-morrow’s SUNDAY WORLD MAGAZINE, I saw him with a chair In his hand, a knife gleamed |” 1 have known such things to happen, T°