"You take my breath away ! "

" him hands of fakir, and took the liberty of running him just as sent over "

"My , you wonders The horse looks very fit and well It never went better in its life I owe you thousand apologies for having doubted your ability You me great service by recovering my horse do me greater still lay your hands murderer of John Straker "

" so," said Holmes quietly

The Colonel and I stared at him in amazement " got him ! Where is he, then ? "

" here "

"Here ! Where ? "

"In my company present moment "

The Colonel flushed angrily "I quite recognise that under obligations , Mr Holmes," said he, "but regard what just said as either very bad joke or an insult "

Sherlock Holmes laughed "I assure you that associated you crime, Colonel," said he "The real murderer is standing immediately behind you " He stepped past and laid his hand glossy neck thoroughbred

"The horse ! " cried both the Colonel and myself

"Yes, the horse And it may lessen his guilt if done in self-defence, John Straker was man who was entirely unworthy of your confidence But there goes the bell, and as I stand to win little next race, defer lengthy explanation until more fitting time "

We had the corner of Pullman car to ourselves that evening whirled back to London, and I fancy journey was short one to Colonel Ross myself, listened to our companion's narrative events which had occurred Dartmoor training-stables Monday night, means he had unravelled them

"I confess," said he, "that any theories which I had formed newspaper reports were entirely erroneous And yet there were indications there, had they not been overlaid by other details which concealed their true import I went to Devonshire conviction that Fitzroy Simpson true culprit, although, , evidence against him was by no means complete while carriage, just reached the trainer's house, immense significance curried mutton occurred remember that distrait, and remained sitting after you had all alighted marvelling in my own mind how possibly have overlooked so obvious clue "

"I confess," said the Colonel, "that even now I how it helps us "

"It first link in my chain of reasoning Powdered opium is by no means tasteless The flavour disagreeable, but perceptible Were it mixed with any ordinary dish the eater would undoubtedly detect it, and would probably eat no more curry was exactly the medium which would disguise this taste By no possible supposition could this stranger, Fitzroy Simpson, have caused curry served trainer's family that night, and surely too monstrous coincidence to suppose that he happened along with powdered opium very night when dish happened served which would disguise the flavour unthinkable Therefore Simpson becomes eliminated case, attention centres upon Straker wife, the only two people who chosen curried mutton for supper that night The opium was added dish was set aside stable-boy, others had the same for supper with no ill effects Which , then, had access dish without the maid seeing them ?

"Before deciding that question I had grasped the significance silence dog, true inference invariably suggests others The Simpson incident had shown me that dog was kept stables, and yet, though some one in and had fetched out horse, he barked enough to arouse the two lads loft Obviously the midnight visitor was some one whom the dog knew well

" already convinced, or almost convinced, that John Straker went down stables dead night and took out Silver Blaze For what purpose ? For dishonest one, obviously, or why should he drug his own stable-boy ? And yet at loss why been cases before now where trainers sure of great sums of money by laying against their own horses, through agents, and then preventing them from winning by fraud Sometimes pulling jockey Sometimes some surer and subtler means it here ? I hoped contents pockets might help me conclusion

"And so forgotten the singular knife found dead man's hand, knife which certainly no sane man would choose for weapon , as Dr Watson told us, form of knife used most delicate operations known in surgery And used for delicate operation that night know, with your wide experience of turf matters, Colonel Ross, possible slight nick tendons of horse's ham, and subcutaneously, so leave absolutely no trace horse so treated would develop slight lameness, which put down to strain in exercise or touch of rheumatism, but never to foul play "

"Villain ! Scoundrel ! " cried the Colonel

" here the explanation of why John Straker wished to horse out on moor So spirited creature certainly roused the soundest of sleepers when it felt the prick knife absolutely necessary open air "

" blind ! " cried the Colonel " that was why the candle, and struck the match "

"Undoubtedly But in examining his belongings fortunate enough to discover the method crime, but even its motives As man world, Colonel, that men carry other people's bills about in their pockets most of us quite enough to settle our own I at once concluded that Straker was leading double life, and keeping second establishment The nature bill showed that lady case, and one who had expensive tastes Liberal with your servants, one can hardly expect can buy twenty-guinea walking dresses for their ladies I questioned Mrs Straker dress without her knowing it, and having satisfied myself had never reached her, note milliner's address, and felt that by calling there with Straker's photograph easily dispose mythical Derbyshire

" on all was plain Straker had led out the horse to hollow where his light invisible Simpson flight had dropped his cravat, and Straker had picked it up--with some idea, perhaps, that he might use it in securing the horse's leg Once hollow, he had got behind the horse and had struck light; but the creature frightened sudden glare, and strange instinct of animals feeling that some mischief was intended, had lashed out, steel shoe had struck Straker full forehead He had already, rain, taken off his overcoat his delicate task, and so, as he fell, his knife gashed his thigh Do I make it clear ? "

"Wonderful ! " cried the Colonel "Wonderful ! You there ! "

"My final shot was, I confess very long one It struck me that so astute man as Straker undertake this delicate tendon-nicking without little practice What could he practice on ? My eyes fell sheep, and I asked question which, rather to my surprise, showed that my surmise was correct

"When I returned to London I called milliner, who had recognised Straker as an excellent customer name of Derbyshire, who had very dashing wife, with strong partiality for expensive dresses woman had plunged him over head and ears in debt, and so led him miserable plot "

" explained all but ," cried the Colonel "Where horse ? "

"Ah, it bolted, and was cared for by one of your neighbours an amnesty direction, Clapham Junction, if not mistaken, and in Victoria in ten minutes care to smoke cigar rooms, Colonel, happy details which might interest you "