No. 4 The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist by Arthur Conan Doyle
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" we met the dog- cart on_the road . there_was no one in_it . we drove back to help the young lady ."

" good lord ! good lord ! what shall I_do ? " cried the stranger, in an ecstasy of despair ." they've got her, that hellhound Woodley and_the blackguard parson . come, man, come, if_you really are her friend . stand by me and we'll save her, if I_have to leave my carcass in Charlington wood ."

he ran distractedly, his pistol in_his hand, towards a gap in_the hedge .Holmes followed him, and I, leaving the horse grazing beside the road, followed Holmes .

" this_is where they came through," said he, pointing to_the marks of several feet upon_the muddy path ."Halloa ! stop a minute ! who's this in_the bush ? "

it_was a young fellow about seventeen, dressed like an ostler, with leather cords and gaiters . he lay upon his back, his knees drawn up, a terrible cut upon his head . he_was insensible, but alive .a glance at his wound told me that_it had_not penetrated the bone .

" that's Peter, the groom," cried the stranger ." he drove her . the beasts have pulled him off and clubbed him . let him lie; we_can't do him any good, but we_may save her from_the worst fate that_can befall a woman ."

we ran frantically down the path, which wound among_the trees . we had reached the shrubbery which surrounded the house when Holmes pulled up .

" they didn't go to_the house . here are their marks on_the left -- here, beside the laurel bushes ! Ah, I_said so ! "

as he spoke a woman's shrill scream -- a scream which vibrated with a frenzy of horror -- burst from_the thick green clump of bushes in front of us . it ended suddenly on its highest note with a choke and a gurgle .

" this_way ! this_way ! they_are in_the bowling alley," cried the stranger, darting through_the bushes ."Ah, the cowardly dogs ! follow me, gentlemen ! too late ! too late ! by_the living jingo ! "

we had broken suddenly into a lovely glade of greensward surrounded by ancient trees . on_the farther side of it, under the shadow of a mighty oak, there stood a singular group of three people . one was a woman, our client, drooping and faint, a handkerchief round her mouth . opposite her stood a brutal, heavy- faced, red-moustached young man, his gaitered legs parted wide, one arm akimbo, the other waving ariding- crop, his whole attitude suggestive of triumphant bravado . between_them an elderly, grey- bearded man, wearing a short surplice over a light tweed suit, had evidently just completed the wedding service, for he pocketed his prayer- book as_we appeared and slapped the sinister bridegroom upon_the back in jovial congratulation .

" they're married ! " I gasped .

" come on ! " cried our guide; " come on ! " he rushed across the glade, Holmes and I at his heels . as_we approached, the lady staggered against the trunk of_the tree for support .Williamson, the ex- clergyman, bowed to_us with mock politeness, and_the bully Woodley advanced with a shout of brutal and exultant laughter .

" you_can take your beard off, Bob," said he ." I_know you right enough . well, you and your pals have just come in_time for_me to_be_able to introduce you to Mrs Woodley ."

our guide's answer was a singular one . he snatched off the dark beard which had disguised him and threw it on_the ground, disclosing a long, sallow, clean-shaven face below it . then he raised his revolver and covered the young ruffian, who was advancing upon him with_his dangerous riding- crop swinging in_his hand .

" yes," said our ally, " I_am Bob Carruthers, and I'll see this woman righted if I_have to swing for_it . i_told you what I'd do if_you molested her, and, by_the lord, I'll be as good as my word ! "

" you're too late . she's my wife ! "

" no, she's your widow ."

his revolver cracked, and I_saw the blood spurt from_the front of Woodley's waistcoat . he spun round with a scream and fell upon his back, his hideous red face turning suddenly to a dreadful mottled pallor . the old man, still clad in_his surplice, burst into such a string of foul oaths as I_have never heard, and pulled out a revolver of_his own, but before he_could raise it he_was looking down the barrel of Holmes's weapon .

" enough of_this," said my friend, coldly ." drop that pistol ! Watson, pick it up ! hold it to_his head ! thank_you . you, Carruthers, give_me that revolver . we'll have no more violence . come, hand it over ! "

" who_are you, then ? "

" my name is Sherlock Holmes ."

" good lord ! "

" you_have heard of me, I_see . i_will represent the official police until their arrival . here, you ! " he shouted to a frightened groom who had appeared at_the edge of_the glade ." come here . take this note as hard as_you_can ride to Farnham ." he scribbled a few words upon a leaf from_his note- book ." give it to_the superintendent at_the police- station . until he comes I_must detain you all under my personal custody ."

the strong, masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic scene, and all were equally puppets in_his hands .Williamson and Carruthers found themselves carrying the wounded Woodley into_the house, and I_gave my arm to_the frightened girl . the injured man was laid on_his bed, and at Holmes's request I examined him .I carried my report to where he sat in_the old tapestry-hung dining- room with_his two prisoners before him .

" he_will live," said I .

" what ! " cried Carruthers, springing out of_his chair ."I'll go upstairs and finish him first . do_you tell me that that girl, that angel, is_to_be tied to Roaring jack Woodley for life ? "

" you_need not concern yourself about_that," said Holmes ." there_are two very_good reasons why she should under no circumstances be his wife . in_the first place, we_are very safe in questioning Mr Williamson's right to solemnise a marriage ."

" I_have_been ordained," cried the old rascal .

" and also unfrocked ."

" once a clergyman, always a clergyman ."

" i_think not . how about_the license ? "

" we had a license for_the marriage . I_have it here in my pocket ."

" then you got it by a trick . but in any case aforced marriage is no marriage, but it_is a very serious felony, as_you_will discover before_you have finished . you'll have time to_think the point out during the next ten years or so, unless I_am mistaken . as to_you, Carruthers, you_would_have done better to_keep your pistol in your pocket ."

"I begin to_think so, Mr Holmes; but when i_thought of all the precaution I had taken to shield this girl -- for I loved her, Mr Holmes, and it_is_the only time that ever I_knew what love was -- it fairly drove me mad to_think that she was in_the power of_the greatest brute and bully in south Africa, a man whose name is a holy terror from Kimberley to Johannesburg . why, Mr Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but ever_since that girl has_been in my employment I never once let her go past this house, where I_knew these rascals were lurking, without following her on my bicycle just to_see that she came to no harm .I kept my distance from her, and I wore a beard so_that she should_not recognise me, for she_is a good and high- spirited girl, and she wouldn't have stayed in my employment long if she had thought that i_was following her about_the country roads ."

" why didn't you tell her of her danger ? "

" because then, again, she would_have left me, and I couldn't bear to_face that . even if she couldn't love me it_was a great deal to_me just to_see her dainty form about_the house, and to hear the sound of her voice ."

" well," said I, " you call that love, Mr Carruthers, but i_should call it selfishness ."

" maybe the two things go together .Anyhow, I couldn't let her go . besides, with_this crowd about, it_was well that she should_have someone near to look after her . then when_the cable came I_knew they were bound to_make a move ."

" what cable ? "

Carruthers took a telegram from_his pocket .

" that's it," said he .

it_was short and concise:--

" the old man is dead ."

" hum ! " said Holmes ." i_think I_see how things worked, and I_can understand how this message would, as_you say, bring them to a head . but while we wait you_might tell me what you_can ."

the old reprobate with_the surplice burst into a volley of bad language .

" by heaven," said he, " if_you squeal on us, Bob Carruthers, I'll serve you as_you served jack Woodley . you_can bleat about_the girl to your heart's content, for_that's your own affair, but if_you round on_your pals to_this plain- clothes copper it_will_be the worst day's work that ever you_did ."

" your reverence need_not_be excited," said Holmes, lighting a cigarette ." the case is clear enough against you, and all I ask is a few details for_my private curiosity . however, if there's any difficulty in your telling me I'll do_the talking, and then you_will_see how far you_have a chance of holding back your secrets . in_the first place, three of you came from south Africa on_this game -- you Williamson, you Carruthers, and Woodley ."

" lie number one," said the old man; "I never saw either of_them until two_months_ago, and I_have never been in Africa in my life, so you_can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr busybody Holmes ! "

" what he_says is true," said Carruthers .

" well, well, two of you came over . his reverence is our own home- made article . you had known Ralph smith in south Africa . you had reason to_believe he_would_not live long . you found out that his niece would inherit his fortune . how's that -- eh ? "

Carruthers nodded and Williamson swore .

" she was next- of- kin, no_doubt, and you were aware that_the old fellow would make no will ."

"Couldn't read or write," said Carruthers .

" so you came over, the two of you, and hunted up the girl . the idea was_that one of you was to marry her and_the other have a share of_the plunder . for some reason Woodley was chosen as_the husband . why was_that ? "

" we played cards for her on_the voyage . he won ."

" I_see . you got the young lady into your service, and there Woodley was to_do_the courting . she recognised the drunken brute that he_was, and would_have nothing to_do with_him . meanwhile, your arrangement was rather upset by_the fact that you had yourself fallen in love with_the lady . you_could no longer bear the idea of_this ruffian owning her ."

" no, by George, I couldn't ! "

" there_was a quarrel between you . he left you in a rage, and began to_make his own plans independently of you ."

" it strikes me, Williamson, there isn't very_much that we_can tell this gentleman," cried Carruthers, with a bitter laugh ." yes, we quarreled, and he knocked me down . I_am level with_him on_that, anyhow . then I lost sight of him . that was when he picked up with_this cast padre here . I_found that_they had set up house-keeping together at_this place on_the line that she had to_pass for_the station .I kept my eye on her after_that, for I_knew there_was some devilry in_the wind . I_saw them from_time to_time, for i_was anxious to_know what they were after . two days_ago Woodley came up_to my house with_this cable, which showed that Ralph smith was dead . he asked me if i_would stand by_the bargain . I_said i_would_not . he asked me if i_would marry the girl myself and give him a share . I_said i_would willingly do_so, but that she_would not have me . he_said, ` let_us get her married first, and after a week_or_two she may see things a bit different .' I_said i_would_have nothing to_do with violence . so he went off cursing, like the foul- mouthed blackguard that he_was, and swearing that he_would_have her yet . she was leaving me this week- end, and I had got a trap to_take her to_the station, but i_was so uneasy in my mind that I followed her on my bicycle . she had got a start, however, and before I_could catch her the mischief was_done . the first thing I_knew about_it was when I_saw you two gentlemen driving back in her dog- cart ."

Holmes rose and tossed the end of_his cigarette into_the grate ." I_have_been very obtuse, Watson," said he ." when in your report you said that you had seen the cyclist as_you thought arrange his necktie in_the shrubbery, that alone should_have told me all . however, we_may congratulate ourselves upon a curious and in some respects a unique case .I perceive three of_the county constabulary in_the drive, and I_am glad_to_see that_the little ostler is able to_keep pace with_them; so it_is likely that neither he nor the interesting bridegroom will_be permanently damaged by their morning's adventures . i_think, Watson, that in your medical capacity you_might wait upon miss smith and tell her that if she_is sufficiently recovered we_shall_be happy to escort her to her mother's home . if she_is_not quite convalescent you_will_find that a hint that we were about to telegraph to a young electrician in_the Midlands would probably complete the cure . as to_you, Mr Carruthers, i_think that you have_done what you_could to_make amends for your share in an evil plot . there_is my card, sir, and if_my evidence can_be of help to_you in your trial it shall be at your disposal ."

in_the whirl of_our incessant activity it has often been difficult for_me, as_the reader has probably observed, to round off my narratives, and to_give those final details which the curious might expect . each_case has_been the prelude to another, and_the crisis once over the actors have passed for ever out of_our busy lives . I_find, however, a short note at_the end of_my manuscripts dealing with this_case, in_which I_have put it upon record that miss violet smith did indeed inherit a large fortune, and_that she_is now the wife of Cyril Morton, the senior partner of Morton & Kennedy, the famous Westminster electricians .Williamson and Woodley were both tried for abduction and assault, the former getting seven years and_the latter ten . of_the fate of Carruthers I_have no record, but I_am_sure that his assault was not viewed very gravely by_the court, since Woodley had the reputation of being a most dangerous ruffian, and i_think that a few_months were sufficient to satisfy the demands of justice .

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