THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

irst appearance of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded

er against the table, whence he slipped down upon the floor, and there was

a cushion for his head, and I with brandy for his lips. The heavy, white face was seamed with lines of trouble, the hanging pouches under the closed eyes were leaden in colour, the loose mouth drooped doloro

, Watson?"

" said I, with my finger on the thready pulse, w

Holmes, drawing it from the watch-pocket. "It is not twe

ant gray eyes looked up at us. An instant later the man h

and a biscuit, I have no doubt that I should be better. I came personally, Mr. Holmes, in order to insure

are quite

ame to be so weak. I wish you, Mr. Holmes,

d shook

etained in this case of the Ferrers Documents, and the Abergavenny murder is comin

"Have you heard nothing of the abductio

late Cabine

s, but there was some rumor in the GLOBE las

m and picked out Volume "H" in hi

les Appledore, 1888. Heir and only child, Lord Saltire. Owns about two hundred and fifty thousand acres. Minerals in Lancashire and Wales. Address: Carlton House Terrace; Holdernesse Ha

red to work for the work's sake. I may tell you, however, that his Grace has already intimated that a check for five thousand pounds will

consumed that milk, you will kindly tell me what has happened, when it happened, how it happened, and, finally, what Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable, of the Priory Sc

back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks, as he set hi

select preparatory school in England. Lord Leverstoke, the Earl of Blackwater, Sir Cathcart Soames-they all have intrusted their sons to me. But I felt that my school had reached its zenith when, weeks ago, the Duke of Holdernesse sent Mr. Jam

is an open secret that the Duke's married life had not been a peaceful one, and the matter had ended in a separation by mutual consent, the Duchess taking up her residence in the south of France. This had occurred very shortly before, and the boy's sympathies are

r room, in which two boys were sleeping. These boys saw and heard nothing, so that it is certain that young Saltire did not pass out that way. His wind

usual school suit of black Eton jacket and dark gray trousers. There were no signs that anyone had entered the room, and it is quite certain th

erman master, was missing. His room was on the second floor, at the farther end of the building, facing the same way as Lord Saltire's. His bed had also been slept in, but he had apparently gone away partly dressed, since his shirt

ry was, of course, made at once at Holdernesse Hall. It is only a few miles away, and we imagined that, in some sudden attack of homesickness, he had gone back to his father, but nothing had been heard of him. The Duke is greatly agitated, and, as to me, you have

n them showed that he needed no exhortation to concentrate all his attention upon a problem which, apart from the tremendous interests inv

rt me on my investigation with a very serious handicap. It is inconceivable, for ex

all public scandal. He was afraid of his family unhappiness being dr

een some officia

a neighbouring station by an early train. Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no connect

on was relaxed while this false

entirely

wasted. The affair has been

it and a

l be very happy to look into it. Have you been able to trace

e at

the maste

nged a word with hi

very singular. Had

N

ther bicyc

N

at cer

ui

hat this German rode off upon a bicycle in t

ainly

the theory i

It may have been hidden somewhere, a

bsurd blind, does it not? Were ther

ver

had he desired to give the idea that

ose he

point for an investigation. After all, a bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to des

N

get any

one le

m wh

his fa

en the boy

N

now it was fr

s addressed in the Duke's peculiar stiff h

e a letter

r sever

er one fro

, n

latter case, you would expect that some prompting from outside would be needed to make so young a lad do such a thing.

is only correspondent, so far as

s disappearance. Were the relations

d in large public questions, and is rather inaccessible to all or

s of the latter we

es

he sa

N

Duke,

heaven

w could

der, his Grace's secretary. It was he who gave m

r of the Dukes-was it found in

hink, Mr. Holmes, it is time that

e people in your neighbourhood to imagine that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool, or wherever else that red herring led your pack. In the meantime

s school is situated. It was already dark when we reached it. A card was lying on the hall table, and th

nd Mr. Wilder are in the study. Co

was of a dead pallor, which was more startling by contrast with a long, dwindling beard of vivid red, which flowed down over his white waistcoat with his watch-chain gleaming through its fringe. Such was the stately presence who looked stonily at us from the centre of Dr. H

d that your object was to invite Mr. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this case. His

that the polic

eans convinced that t

ely, Mr.

larly anxious to avoid all public scandal. He prefers

brow-beaten doctor; "Mr. Sherlock Holm

ing and pleasant, so I propose to spend a few days upon your moors, and to occupy my mind as best I may

indecision, from which he was rescued by the deep, sonorous voice

dy been taken into your confidence, it would indeed be absurd that we should not avail ourselves of his service

estigation, I think that it would be wise

mation which Mr. Wilder or I can g

mes. "I would only ask you now, sir, whether you have formed any explan

r I ha

u, but I have no alternative. Do you think that

er showed percep

ink so," he

has been kidnapped for the purpose of levying

, s

tand that you wrote to your son up

e upon the

he received it

es

hich might have unbalanced him or

, certai

t that lette

rrupted by his secretary, who

" said he. "This letter was laid with others upon th

this one was

observ

s did your Grace

e correspondence. But surely thi

rely," sa

I do not believe that the Duchess would encourage so monstrous an action, but the lad had the most wrong-headed opinions, and it is

at an end. It was evident that to his intensely aristocratic nature this discussion of his intimate family affairs with a stranger was most

my friend flung himself at once with c

German master's room and effects gave no further clue. In his case a trailer of ivy had given way under his weight, and we saw by the light of a lantern the ma

hood, and this he brought into my room, where he laid it out on the bed, and, having balanced the lamp in the middle

S' MAP OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD

interest in connection with it. In this early stage, I want you to realize tho

s the main road. You see that it runs east and west past the school, and you see also that there

act

positive that neither boy nor man could have gone that way unseen. I have spoken with this policeman to-night and he appears to me to be a perfectly reliable person. That blocks this end. We have now to deal with the other. There is an inn here, the Red Bull, the landlady of which was ill. She had sent to Mackleton for a doctor, but he did not arrive until morning, being

icycle?" I

them. There, I admit that a bicycle is impossible. We can dismiss the idea. We turn to the country on the north. Here there lies a grove of trees, marked as the 'Ragged Shaw,' and on the farther side stretches a great rolling moor, Lower Gill Moor, extending for ten miles and sloping gradually upward. Here, at one side of this wilderness, is Holdernesse Hall, ten miles by road, but only si

icycle?" I

not need a high road. The moor is intersected with path

rwards Dr. Huxtable was in the room. In his hand he he

Thank heaven! at last we are on the

was it

y left on Tuesday. To-day the police traced them

hey accou

where he is, the rascals! Thank goodness, they are all safe under lock and key. Either t

rest of these gipsies. Look here, Watson! There is a watercourse across the moor. You see it marked here in the map. In some parts it widens into a morass. This is particularly so in the region between Holdernesse Hall and the school. It is v

g, thin form of Holmes by my bedside. He was fu

rumble through the Ragged Shaw. Now, Watson, there is cocoa ready in the

him. A very different Holmes, this active, alert man, from the introspective and pallid dreamer of Baker Street. I

s between us and Holdernesse. Certainly, if the lad had gone homeward, he must have passed this, and he could not pass it without leaving his traces. But no sign of him or the German could be seen. With a darkening

panse of the moor. "There is another morass down yonder, and a

y. In the middle of it, clearly marked

I cried. "

and his face was puzzled and ex

This, as you perceive, is a Dunlop, with a patch upon the outer cover. Heidegger's tires were Palmer's, leaving l

oy's,

t this we have utterly failed to do. This track, as you perceive, w

oward

veral places where it has passed across and obliterated the more shallow mark of the front one. It was undoubtedly heading awa

ckled across it. Here, once again, was the mark of the bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows. After that there was no sign, but the path ran right on into Ragged Shaw,

to leave unfamiliar tracks. A criminal who was capable of such a thought is a man whom I should be proud to do business

iously rewarded. Right across the lower part of the bog lay a miry path. Holmes gave a cry of delight as he ap

ed Holmes, exultantly. "My reasoning

ratulat

k clear of the path. Now let us follow th

intersected with soft patches, and, though we frequently lost sig

at this impression, where you get both tires clear. The one is as deep as the other. That can only mean that t

me yards of the track. Then there were a

lip," I s

perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson. On the

emounted-he proceeded. But there is no other track. Cattle on this side path. He was surely not gored by a bull? Impossible! But I see

front of it horribly smeared and slobbered with blood. On the other side of the bushes a shoe was projecting. We ran round, and there lay the unfortunate rider. He was a tall man, full-bearded, with spectacles, one glass of which had been knocked out. The cause of his death was a fright

He then sat in deep thought for a time, and I could see by his ruffled brow th

quiry on, for we have already lost so much time that we cannot afford to waste another hour. On the other h

take a no

There is a fellow cutting peat up yonder. Bri

olmes dispatched the frightened man

what that has led to. The other is the bicycle with the patched Dunlop. Before we start to investigate that, le

left of his own free-will. He got down from his window an

sse

lly dressed when he fled. Therefore, he foresaw what he would do. But the

oubt

e boy, because he wished to overtake him and bring him back. He sei

would

ter him. He would know that he could overtake him. But the German does not do so. He turns to his bicycle. I am to

ther b

, then, HAD a companion in his flight. And the flight was a swift one, since it took five miles before an expert cyclist could overtake them. Yet we survey the ground round the scene of the tragedy. What do we find?

ried, "this i

s I state it, and therefore I must in some respect have stated

ve fractured his

orass,

t my wi

material, if we can only use it. Come, then, and, having exhausted the P

us. No further help from tracks could be hoped for. At the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop tire it might equally have led to Holdernesse Hall, the

lutched me by the shoulder to save himself from falling. He had had one of those violent strains of the ankle which leave

r. Reuben Hayes

pat?" the countryman answered, with

o see a man who is master of his own house. I suppose y

I hav

put my foot

t it to t

can't

, the

from gracious, but Holmes took i

is really rather an awkward fix for

," said the m

I would offer you a sovereign f

d pricked u

o you wa

derness

the landlord, surveying our mu

ghed good-

lad to see

hy

ing him news o

gave a very v

u're on h

n Liverpool. They expec

the heavy, unshaven face. His m

he treated me. It was him that sacked me without a character on the word of a lying corn-chandler. But I

have some food first. Then you ca

't got a

ld up a s

got one. I'll let you have two

e'll talk about it when we've

ent some time over our meal. Holmes was lost in thought, and once or twice he walked over to the window and stared earnestly out. It opened on to a squalid courtyard. In the far corner was a smi

he cried. "Yes, yes, it must be so. Watso

seve

he

s, and again on the path, and again

atson, how many cows d

emember se

all along our line, but never a cow

t is st

row your mind back. Can you see

, I

a number of bread-crumbs in this fashion-: : : : :-"and sometimes like this"-:

I can

back at our leisure and verify it. What a blind

is your co

t was no brain of a country publican that thought out such a blind as that. The coast see

n the tumble-down stable. Holmes raised

new nails. This case deserves to be

loor. Suddenly, however, we heard a step behind us, and there was the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn over his savage eyes, his swarthy features convulsed w

the man cried. "What

olly, "one might think that you we

and his grim mouth loosened into a false

, mister, I don't care for folk poking about my place without my leave, so the

have been having a look at your horses, but I th

t's the road to the left." He watched us

r Holmes stopped the instant that t

he. "I seem to grow colder every step that I take

uben Hayes knows all about it. A

is the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting place, this Fighting Coc

us. We had turned off the road, and were making our way up the hill, when, loo

. Amid a rolling cloud of dust, I caught a glimpse of a pale, agitated face-a face with horror in every lineament, the mouth open,

d Holmes. "Come, Watson, let

g about the house, nor could we catch a glimpse of any faces at the windows. Slowly the twilight crept down as the sun sank behind the high towers of Holdernesse Hall. Then, in the gloom, we saw the two s

of that, Watson?

s like a

ld see. Well, it certainly was not Mr.

into the night. It was evident that he was expecting someone. Then at last there were steps in the road, a second figure was visible for a

of custom that is done by the Fi

s on the o

ilder doing in that den at this hour of night, and who is the companion who comes to meet him th

l leaned against the wall. Holmes struck a match and held it to the back wheel, and I heard

you bend your back and support yourse

n my shoulders, but he was hardly

gh. I think that we have gathered all that we can. It's a long

me telegrams. Late at night I heard him consoling Dr. Huxtable, prostrated by the tragedy of his master's death, and later still he entered my room as alert and vigorous as he

gh the magnificent Elizabethan doorway and into his Grace's study. There we found Mr. James Wilder, demure and courtly, b

far from well. He has been very much upset by the tragic news. We received a t

the Duke,

is in hi

ust go to

e he is i

see hi

er showed the secretary that it w

mes, I will tell hi

d rounded, and he seemed to me to be an altogether older man than he had been the morning before. He greeted

. Holmes?

d upon the secretary, who stoo

could speak more freely in

paler and cast a mali

Grace w

er go. Now, Mr. Holmes,

door had closed behind the

myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable that a reward had been offered

ly, Mr.

d, to five thousand pounds to any

act

who will name the person or perso

act

y those who may have taken him away, but also thos

our work well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you will ha

h an appearance of avidity which was a

if you would make me out a check for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps,

upright in his chair and look

olmes? It is hardly a

ace. I was never mor

you mea

now where your son is, and I know so

aggressively red than ever agai

s he?" h

e Fighting Cock Inn, about two m

ell back i

m do you

ng one. He stepped swiftly forward

d now, your Grace, I'll trou

one who is sinking into an abyss. Then, with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic self

" he asked at last, wi

together

lse beside you

spoken t

his quivering fingers a

he information which you have gained may be to me. When the offer was first made, I little thou

nderstand y

ident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. I thin

miled and sh

be arranged so easily. There is the dea

esponsible for that. It was the work of this bru

an embarks upon a crime, he is morally gui

was he with horror and remorse. He lost not an hour in breaking entirely with the murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must save him-you must save him! I tell you that you must save him!" The Duke had dropped the last attempt at self-command, and was pacing the room with a convulsed

posed to help your Grace to the best of my ability, but, in order to do so, I must understand to the last det

urderer ha

olmes smil

is so easy to escape me. Mr. Reuben Hayes was arrested at Chesterfield, on my information, at eleven o'clock

his chair and stared wit

. "So Reuben Hayes is taken? I am right glad to he

secr

ir, my

's turn to lo

new to me, your Grace. I must b

ld, whom for her sake I have cherished and cared for. I could not acknowledge the paternity to the world, but I gave him the best of educations, and since he came to manhood I have kept him near my person. He surmised my secret, and has presumed ever since upon the claim which he has upon me, and upon his power of provoking a scandal which would be abhorrent to me. His presence had something to do with the unhappy issue of my marriage. Above all, he hated my young legitimate heir from the first with a

in a little wood called the Ragged Shaw, which is near to the school. He used the Duchess's name, and in that way got the boy to come. That evening James bicycled over-I am telling you what he has himself confessed to me-and he told Arthur, whom he met in the wood, that his mother longed to see him, that she was awaiting him on the moor, and that if he would come back into the wood at midnight he would find a man with a horse, who would take him to her. Poor Arthur fell into the tr

been heir of all my estates, and he deeply resented those social laws which made it impossible. At the same time, he had a definite motive also. He was eager that I should break the entail, and he was of opinion that it lay in my power to do so. He intended to make a bargain with me-to restore Arthur if I would break the en

so as to give his wretched accomplice a chance of saving his guilty life. I yielded-as I have always yielded-to his prayers, and instantly James hurried off to the Fighting Cock to warn Hayes and give him the means of flight. I could not go there by daylight without provoking comment, but as soon as night fell I hurried off to see my dear Arthur. I found him safe and well, but horrified beyond expression by the dreadful deed he had witnessed. In deference to my promise, and much against my

ous position in the eyes of the law. You have condoned a felony, and you have aided the escape of a murderer, for I c

bowed h

n my opinion, your Grace, is your attitude towards your

olemn pr

spirited away again. To humour your guilty elder son, you have exposed your innocent

rated in his own ducal hall. The blood flushed into

y. It is that you ring for the footm

e pressed the electric

s found. It is the Duke's desire that the carriage shall go

Hayes, I say nothing. The gallows awaits him, and I would do nothing to save him from it. What he will divulge I cannot tell, but I have no doubt that your Grace could make him understand that it is to his interest to be silent. From the police point of view he will have kidnapp

eady settled that he shall leave me for

d life was caused by his presence I would suggest that you make such amends as you can to the

Mr. Holmes. I wrote to the

our little visit to the North. There is one other small point upon which I desire some light. This fellow Hayes had shod hi

face. Then he opened a door and showed us into a large room furnished as a muse

but they are shaped below with a cloven foot of iron, so as to throw pursuers off the track. They a

inger he passed it along the shoe. A t

lass. "It is the second most interes

the f

ook. "I am a poor man," said he, as he patted it affectio