so that's a long step
on our journey."

"It sounds to me like the beginning of the end," said Holmes. "I'm sure
I congratulate you both with all my heart."

"Well, I started from the fact that Mr. Douglas had seemed disturbed
since the day before, when he had been at Tunbridge Wells. It was at
Tunbridge Wells then that he had become conscious of some danger. It
was clear, therefore, that if a man had come over with a bicycle it was
from Tunbridge Wells that he might be expected to have come. We took
the bicycle over with us and showed it at the hotels. It was identified
at once by the manager of the Eagle Commercial as belonging to a man
named Hargrave, who had taken a room there two days before. This
bicycle and a small valise were his whole belongings. He had registered
his name as coming from London, but had given no address. The valise
was London made, and the contents were British; but the man himself was
undoubtedly an American."

"Well, well," said Holmes gleefully, "you have indeed done some solid
work while I have been sitting spinning theories with my friend! It's a
lesson in being practical, Mr. Mac."

"Ay, it's just that, Mr. Holmes," said the inspector with satisfaction.

"But this may all fit in with your theories," I remarked.

"That may or may not be. But let us hear the end, Mr. Mac. Was there
nothing to identify this man?"

"So little that it was evident that he had carefully guarded himself
against identification. There were no papers or letters, and no marking
upon the clothes. A cycle map of the county lay on his bedroom table.
He had left the hotel after breakfast yesterday morning on his bicycle,
and no more was heard of him until our inquiries."

"That's what puzzles me, Mr. Holmes," said White Mason. "If the fellow
did not want the hue and cry raised over him, one would imagine that he
would have returned and remained at the hotel as an inoffensive
tourist. As it is, he must know that he will be reported to the police
by the hotel manager and that his disappearance will be connected with
the murder."

"So one would imagine. Still, he has been justified of his wisdom up to
date, at any rate, since he has not been taken. But his
description--what of that?"

MacDonald referred to his notebook. "Here we have it so far as they
could give it. They don't seem to have taken any very particular stock
of him; but still the porter, the clerk, and the chambermaid are all
agreed that this about