Newspaper Page Text
' THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 13, 1912. .,
1 TWElETMl OF MOUMOES BY L C BOYLE" t
I "The Adventure of the Missing
I Three-Quarter" iV
IT A tE were fnirly accustomed to rocoivo weird
ff telegrams at Baker street, lint I have a
f V particular recollection of ono which reached
us on a gloomy February morning, some
seen or eight .years ago. and gave !Mr. Sherlock
Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour. It was ad
dressed to him, and ran thus:
"Please- await me. Terrible misfortune. Night
wing three-quarter missing, indispensable tomorrow.
"Strand postmark, and dispatched tcn-thirty-six,"
said Holmes, reading it over and over. "Mr. Over
ton was evidently considerably excited when ho sent
it, and somewhat incoherent in consequence. Well,
well, he will be here, I dare say, by the time I havo
looked through the Times, and then wo shall know
all about it. Even tho most insignificant problem
would be welcome in these stagnant days."
Things had indeod been very slow with us, and 1
had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I
knew by experience that my companion's brain was
so abnormally active that it was dnngorous to leave
it. without, material upon which to work. For j'oars
T had gradually weaned him from that drug mania
which had threatened once to check his remarkable
career. Now I knew that under ordinary conditions
ho no louger craved for this artificial stimulus,
but T was well aware that the fiend was not dead
but sleeping, and I have known that: the sleep was
a light one and the waking near when in periods of
idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes's
ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and in
scrutable oyos. Therefore I blessed this Mr. Overton,
whoever ho might be, since he had come with his
cuigmatic message to break that dangerous calm
which brought more peri to my friend than nil the
storms of his tempestuous life.
As wo had expected, the telegram was soon fol
lowed by its sender, and tho card of Lr. Cjiril Over
ton, Trinity college Cambridge, announced tho ar
rival of an enormous young man, sixteen stone of
solid bone and muscle, who spanned tho doorway
with his broad shoulders, and looked from ono of us
to the other with a comcl.y face which was haggard
IM with anxiety.
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes?"
m Mj- companion bowed.
9 "I've been down to Scotland Yard, Mr. Holmes. 1
I saw Inspector Stanley Hopkins. He advised mo to
k como to you. Ho said tho case, so far as he could
8 see, was more in your line than in that of the regular
N "Pray sit. down and tell me what is the matter.'
M "It's awful, Mr. Holmes simplv, awful! 1 won-
h cr my hair isn't, graj. Godfrey Staunton you've
0 hoard -yof him, of course? He's simply tho hinge that.
the whole team turns ou. I'd rather spare two from
H the pack, and have Godfrey for my three-quarter
S line. Whether it's passing, or tackling, or dribbling,
K there's no one lo touch him. and then, he's got the
n head, and can hold us all together. What am I to
do? That's what T. ask. you, Mr. Holmes. There's
1 Moorhouse, first reserve,, but he is trained as a half,
H and he always edges right, in on to tho. scrum in-
B stead of keeping out on tho tonchline. He's a fine
I place-kick, it's true, but then he lias no judgment,
and he can't sprint for nuts. "Why, Morton or .Tohn-
1 son, the Oxford fliers, could romp round him. Slcven-
3 sou is fast enough, but he couldn't, drop from the
w twenty-five line, and a three-quarter who can't cither
U punt or drop isn't worth a place for pace alone. No,
lUr. Holmes, we arc done unless you can help mo to
S fiud Godfrey Staunton."
I! My friend had listened with amused surprise to
H this long speech, which was poured forth with cx-
traordinary vigor and earnestness, every point being
I driven home by the slapping of a brawny hand upon
1 the speaker's knee. When our visitor was silent. Holmes
stretched out his hand and took down letter, "S"
, of his- commonplace book. For once he dug in vain
h into that mine of varied information.
"Thero is Arthur Staunton, the rising young
1 forger," said he, "and thero was Henry Staunton,
jjj whom I helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunton is a
I new name to me."
I It was our visitor's turn to look surprised.
"Why, Mr. Holmes, I thought you knew things,"
5 said he. "I suppose, then, if you have never hoard
I of Godfrey Staunton, you don't know Cyril Overton
ft Holmes shook his head good humorodlv.
1 "Great Scot!" cried the athlete. "Why, I was
1 first, reserve for England against. Wales, and I've
1 skippered the varsity this year. But Hint's nothing!
I 1 didn't, think there was a soul in England who
i didn't know Godfroy Staunton, the crack three-
i quarter, Cambridge. " Blackhcath, and five Intcrua-
jj liouals. Good Lord, Mr. Holmes, where have you
Holmes laughed at the young giant's naive
i astonishment.
"You live in a different world to me, Mr. Overton
a sweeter and healthier one. My ramifications
m I stretch out into many sections of society, but never,
Hi A 1 am happy to say, into amateur sport, which is
J the best and soundest thing in England. Ifow-
I ever, your expected visit this morning shows me that
H I cvcn t,iat worM f fresh air and fair play,
k 1 Ihere may be work for mo to do. So nov;, my good
Ml i sir, r beg you to sit down and to tell me, slowly and
g fl quietly, oxactly what it is that has occurred, and how
jj f you desire that I should help you."
HN Young Overton's face assumed the bothered look
9 id f the man who is more accustomed to using his
Hly muscles than his wits, but by degrees, with many
Hi repetitions and obscurities which I may omit from
jl hi3 narrative, he laid his strange story before us.
II "Tt's this way, Mr. Holmes. As 'l have' said, 1
I ain the skippor of the Rugger team of Cambridge
I arsity and Godfrey Staunton is my best man. To-
1 morrow we play Oxford. Yesterday we all came
Hi "I',, nd we settled at Bcntlcy's private hotel. At JO
Hi ? c;,ock 1 ,w!nt rouml "nd that all the fellows
HI had gone to must, for 1 bolicvo in strict trainin" and
mm plenty or sleep to keep a team fit. T had a "word
I or tw with Godfrey before he turned in. He seemed
mil t0 me to be pale and bothered. T asked him what
mtj was the matter, ire said he was all riht iusr. a
II touch of headache, I bade him good-night and left
I him. Half an hour later, the porter tells mo that a
HI rough-looking .y( hcfml
H for Godfrey. He. had not gone to bod, and tho note
Hi vnK, takcn to .UIS room- Goflfrey read it, and foil
Hi T ln a cnair aB if he 1,a(1 bee11 pole-axed The
HI 7? S0Jeare he was goin'g to fetch me.
HI it Godfrey stopped him, had a drink of watc-. and
I pulled himself together. Then ho went downstairs
HI fi'Ud a few words to the man who wa5 waiting in
H i iii 'l1.3 thc t,wo of them went off together. The
m last that the porter saw of them they were almost
H cll"11113 thc 5trcct in tho direction of (he
H Tm? mornZ Godfrey's room was Pinnty.
m his bed Jiad never been slept in. and his "things
H )Yr0r.:l 1 'll,Hfc as 1 seen them the night before
mU He had gone off at a moment's notice with this
mn stranger, and no word has come from him since f
don't believe ho will cvor oomo back. Fie was a
sportsman, was Godfrey, down to hia marrow, and ho
wouldn't havo stopped his training and let ir. his
skippor if it. were not for somo cause that .was too
strong for him. No; I feel as if ho w-ero gouo for
good, and we should never see him again."
Sherlock Holmes listened with the deopesfc atten
tion to this singular narrative.
"What did yon do?" ho asked.
"T. wired to Cambridgo to learn if anything had
been heard of him there. J havo had an answer. No
one has seen him."
"Could he havo got back to Cambridge?"
"Yes. there is a lato train quaTtcr past cloven."
"But, so far as you can ascertain, ho did not tako
it."
"No, ho has not been seen."
"What did you do next!"
"T. wired to Lord Mount-James."
"Why to Lord Mount-James?"
"Godfrey is an orphan, and Lord Mount-James is
his nearest relative his uncle, I believe."
"Indeed. This throws now light upon tho matter.
Lord Mount-James is one of tho richest men in Eng
land." "So T'vo heard Godfrey sa'."
"And your friend was closely related?"
"Yes, he was his heir, and tho old boy is noarly
eighty cram full of gout, too. They sny ho could
chalk his billiard cuo with his knuckles. He never
allowed Godfrey a shilling in hia life, for ho is an
absolute miser, but it will all come to him right
onongh."
"Havo 3'ou heard from Lord Mount-James? "
"No."
"What motive could your friond havo in going to
Lord Mount-James."
"Well, something was worrying him tho nicht be
fore, and if it wns to do with money it is possible
that ho would, mnko for his nearest relative who had
so much of it, though from all I have heard ho would
not havo much chance of gotting it. Godfrey wns
not fond of the old man. He would not go if he
could holp it." . .
""Well, wo can soon determine- that. Jf your tnena
was going to his relative, Lord Mount-.lames, you
have then to explain the visit of this Tough-looking
follow at so late an hour, and tho agitation that was
caused by his coming."
"Cyril Overton pressed his hands to his head. "I.
can make nothing of it." said he.
"Well, well, 1 havo a clear day, and X shall be
happy to look into tho matter," said Holmes. "I
should Btrongly recommend you to mako your prepa
rations for your match without reference to this
young gentleman. It must, as you say, have been
an overpowering necessity which tore him nway in
such a fashion, and thc 'same necessity is likely to
. hold him away. Let us step round toecthor to the
hotel, and seo'if thc porter can throw any fresh light
upon the matter."
Sherlock Holmes was a paet-mastcr in tho art. of
putting a humble witness at his ease, and vory soon,
in tho privacy of Godfroy Staunton's abandoned
room, he had extracted all that the porter had to tell.
The visitor of thc night before was not a gentleman,
neither was he a workingman. He was simply what
the porter described as a "medium-looking chap," a
man of fift'. beard grizzled, palo face, quietly
dressed. He seemed himself to bo agitated. The
porter had observod his hand trombling when ho had
held out tho note. Godfroy Staunton had orammed
the note into his pocket. Staunton had not nhaken
hands with the man in the hall. They had exchanged
a few sentences, of which the porter had only dis
tinguished the one word "time." Then they had
hurried off in tho manner described. It was just
half-past ten by the hall clock.
"Lot me see,'' said Holmes, seating himself on
Staunton 's bed. Yon are thc da' porter, are you
not?"
"Ycsj sir, I go off duty at eleven."
"The night porter saw nothing, I suppose?"
"No, sir, ono theater party came in late. No ono
else. "
"Were vou oil duty all day vestcrdav?"
"Yes, sir." ' '
"Did you take any mcssnges to Mr. Staunton?"
"Yes, sir. one telegram."
"Ah! that's interesting. What o'clock was this?"
"About six."
"Where was Mr. Staunton when he received it?"
"More in his room."
"Were yon present when ho opened it?"
"Yes. sir, I waited to seo if there was an answer."
"Well, was there?"
"Yes, sir, he wrote an answer."
"Did you take it?"
"No, he took it himself."
"But he wrote it in 3'our presence?"
'Yes. sir. "I was standing by the door, and he
with his back turned at that table. When he had
written it, he said: 'All right, porter, T will take
this myself."
"What did he write it with?"
"A pen, sir."
t tho tc,cphic form one of these on the
table
"Yes, sir, it was the (op one."
Holmes i rose. Taking the forms, he carried them
over to the window and carefully examined that
which was uppermost.
"H is a pity he did not write in pencil," said he.
throwing them down again with a shrug of disap
pointment. "As you have no doubt fromicntlv ob-
SCw AVn,,.S0,n', ""Pession sHy goes through
a tact winch has dissolved many a happy ma mac
However, I can find no trace here, r rejoice, noV"
ever, to perceive that he wrote with a broad-pointed
quill pen, and r can hardly doubt that we will find
some impression upon this bloltinj: pad. Mi V
surely this is the very thing!" ' 3 '
Cyril Overton was much excited. "Hold it to tho
glass." lie criod.
"That is unnecessary," said Holmes, "Tho paper
is thin, -and tho reverse- will give tho message. Hero
it is." He turned it over, and "we read:
"So that is tho tail end of tho telegram which
Godfrey Staunton dispatched within a few hours of
his disappearance There are at least six words of
the message which have escaped us; but vwhat re
mains 'Stand by us for God's sake! '-proves that
this young man saw a formidable danger which
approached him. and from which someone else could
protect him. 'Us,' mark you! Another person was
invoked. Who should it be but the palo-faced,
bearded man, who seemed himself in so nervous a
stnto? What, then, is the connection botween God
froy Staunton and tho bearded man? And what is
the third, source from which each of them sought holp
against pressing danger? Our inquirv has already
narrowed down to that."
"We havo only to find to whom that telegram is
addressed," suggosted.
"Exactly, my dear Watson. Your reflection, though
profound, had already crossed my mind. .But. I daro
say it may have como to your notice that, if j-ou
walk into a postoffice and demand to see the counter
foil of anothor man's mossago, thero may bo somo
disinclination on tho part of the olllcials to obligo
you. Thero is so much red tape in these matters.
However, I havo no doubt that with a little delicacy
and fincs&o tho end may be attained. Meanwhile, I
should like in your presence, Mr. Overton, to go
through theso papers which have been left upon thc
table."
Thero wore a number of lottcrs, hills and note
books, which Holmes turned over and examined with
quick, nervous fingers and darting, penetrating oyes.
"Nothing here," ho said, at last. ''By tho way, I.
supposo your friend was a healthy young fellow
nothiug amiss with him?"
"Sound as a boll."
"Havo you over known him ill?"
"Not. a day. He has been laid up with a hack,
and once ho slipped his knee cap, but that was noth
ing." 'Perhaps ho wns not so strong as you suppose I
should think ho may have had some secret trouble.
With your aEsent I will put one or two of these pa
pors in in3' pocket, in caso they should bear upon our
futnro inquiry."
''Ouo moment. ono moment!" cried a querulous
voice, and wo looked up to find a quoor little old man,
.lorking and twitching in tho doorwav. Ho wan
dressed in rusty black, with a very broad brimmed
top hat and a loose white necktie the whole offoct
boing that of a very rustic parson or of an under
takers mute. Yet, in spito of his shabbv and even
absurd appearance, his voice had a sharp'cacklo. and
his niatmor a quick intensity which commanded at
tention. "Who are you, sir, and by what right do vou touch
this gontlcman's papers?" he asked.
1 am n private detective, 3nd I am endeavoring
tocxplain his disappearance"
chV" 3 011 arc' aic 'you An(l 5n5tn,ctcd J"0"
"This gentleman, Mr. Staunton's friend, was re
ferred to me by Scotland Yard."
"Who are vou, sir?"
"1 am Cyril Overton."
Then it is you who sent mc a telegram. My
name is Lord Mount-James. I came round as quickly
as the BavMvatcr 'bus would bring me So vou have
instructed a detective?"
''(Yes. sir."
And are you prcpB.red to meet the cost?"
l have no doubt, sir, that my friend Godfrey,
when we find him, will be prepared to do that."
Kill if ho if never found, eh? Answer mo that!"
v At" case' no rlo,,bt his family "
,,,lc sort' 5ir!" screamed tho little
man. Don t ook to me for a penn- not a pounv!
?,,n n!,.nM6r?la,?-1 that Mr Selective! T am all the
imm that this young man has cot. and T toll vnn
Miai j nm not responsible. Tf ho has any expecta-
n'Vr00 f,V faot that 1 ,iave ner wasted
mono and do not propose to begin to do so now.
As to those papers with which you are making so
free, T may toli you that in caso thero should be anv
thing of value among them, you will bo held strictly
to account for what you do with them."
pry good, sir," said Sherlock Holmes. "Mav T
ask, in the meanwhile, whether you havo voursolf
ilSarancnen?r)V' aCC"nt fr ,his yUnfT man' lisaP'
Z l.J?9k afterv,Uni5f.e,Y and lf 1,0 5s -foolish
rLi ,Wtlum5ef' . entirely refuse to accept thc
responsibility of hunting for him."
I quite understand your position," gaid Holmes,
with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes "ParEtiH
Jl t "dCrRtaml Godfrey SUu'SSi
kE0 P,avc ben a Poor man. Tf he has been
kidnaped Jt could not have been for anythinc
which he himself possesses. The fame of ymir wealtf
firili?!! mT"3' ?i0rd M-nat-James, an Z en
tirely possible that a ganjr of thieves have secured
on1" BPhCto" '"v ,0 R"in from him oCinfo?mad
t reasuPe " ' U8e 7Ur ,mbits' an(1 3'our
ns'wSit'rarTecKfe33"' "tH6 U
8urh7IvilS'SirvS?L-nS idcn! T UGVer t,,out of
ti c world! 3iL S'lr ,nh.lIn,a" mics there nro in
vm i .o(lfre.v is a fine lad a staunch lad
lo mo r CV" " tCUUCr P0S you cHHlVayook
and with a copy of this in his hand Holmes set forth
.pit with the oLhor .naSbcr, of ' fi, ;tMg?JTi?
rawfortone which had bcfallon tbim.
AVt.j l short
s Wrth tr.'ln Watson," snid Holmes "nf
"l am sorry to trouble you." said he in In uua
fear that I must have o nitted to mit ml 3'?,ry V'li,h
end Could you tell me if this wast afc thc
foils y0UDff Wman tUrnei1 ovcr 3 of counter-
'Tmn,clflck was,jt7" she asked.
A little after six.'-'
"Whom was it to?"
Holmes put his finger to his lips ana danced at nif
pc i t"ifi7c?t1.ih T? 'for Gofl,s.'afe,'H''?ta!vhn :
nSswen" 3' am very anx,ous at getting no
"TVf s?Paratcfl one of j ho forms.
" is iFimirssH? &v;rnjd n?
mc to be sure! Good morning, miss, and many ' hank
lor hav ng relieved my m nd." He chuckled anrl
rubbed his hands when 'we found ourselves ii tho st?cc?
once more uect.
"Well?" 7 asked.
"We progress, my dear Watson, we progress. I had
seven different schemes for gotting a glimpso of that
firsufine" 1 ,,ard,- ll0i'c 0 succeed the ve.rv
"And what have you gained?'
'A starting-point for our investigation." He hailed
a cab. -King's Cross Station," said he
"e have a .lourney, then?"
!!VS' liiH1!"1'-- m-lst run flown to Cambridge to
nether. All the indications seem to mc to point in that
direction.
"Tell me," 1 asked, as we rattled up Gray's Inn
road, "have you any suspicion yet as to the cause of
the disappearance? 1 don't think that among all our
cuties I have known one where tho motives are more ob
Bcure Surely you don 't really .imagine that he may be
kidnapped in order to give, information against ' his
wenlthy uncle?" h
" I confess, my dear Watson, that that, doos not ap
peal to mo as a very probable explanation. Tt struck
me, however, as being tho one which was most, likolv
to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old person." "
"It certainly did that; but what are vour alterna
tives I"
"T could mention several. You must admit that it
is curious and suggestive that this incident should occur
on tho eve ol this important match, aud should involve
thc only man whose presence seems essential to tho suc
cess of tho side It may, of courso, he a coincidence,
hut it is interesting. Amateur sport is freo from bet
ting, but a good deal of outside betting goes on among
tho public, and it is possible that it might be worth
someone'? while to got at a player as thc ruffians of
tho turf get at a race horse. There is one explanation.
A nocond very obvious one is that thin young man really
is the heir of a great property, however modest Ins
i
means may at prosont be, and it is not impossible that
a plot to hold him for ransom might "bo concocted."
"Theso thoorion tako no account of the lolegrnm."
"Quito true, Watson, Tho telegram still remains the
only solid thing with which wo havo to deal, and wo
must not permit our attention to wnndor away from it.
ft is to gain light upon the purpose of this telegram
that wo aro now upon our way to Cambridge The path
of our investigation is at present obscure, but I shall
bo very much surprised if before ovoning wo have not
cleared it up, or made a considerable advance along
it.''
It was alroadv dark when wo reached the old Uni
versity City. Holmes took a cab at the station, and
ordered tho man lo drive to thc house of Dr. Leslie
Armstrong. x fow minutes later, we had stopped at a
largo mansion in the busiest thoroughfare. Wo were
shown in, and after a long wait wore at last admitted
into tho consulting room, where wo found the doctor
soatod bohind his table
It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with
my protession that tho name of Leslie Armstrong was
unknown to me Now 1 am aware that he is not onl'
one of tho heads of tho medical school of the univer
sity, but a thinker of Kuropcnu reputation in more
than one branch of science Yet oven without know
ing his brilliant record one could not fail to bo im
pressed by a mere glance at the man, the square, mas
sive face, tho brooding oyos under tho thatched brows,
and the granito moulding of tho inflcxiblo jaw. A
man of doop character, a man with an alert mind,
grim, ascetic, self-contained, formidable so E read
Dr. Leslie Armstrong. He held my friend's card in
his hand, and he looked up with no very p!oascd ex
pression upon his dour features.
"I have heard your name Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
and I am aware of 3rour profession ono of which I
by no means approve"
"Tn that, doctor, you will find yourself in agree
ment with over' criminal in the country," said my
triend, quietly.
"So lar as your efforts aro directed towards the
suppression of crime, 6ir. they must have tho support
of every reasonable member of tho community, though
I cannot doubt that thc oilicial machinery "is amply
sufficient for the purpose. Whoro your calling is
more open to criticism is when you pry into tho se
crets of private individuals, when you rake up family
matters which arc better hidden, and when you inci
dentally wasto thc time of men who are more busy
than yourself. At the present moment, for example
I should be writing a treatise instead of convorsing
with yon."
"No doubt, doctor; and vet tho conversation may
prove more important than the troatiso. Incidentally,
1 may tell you that we are doing the revcrso of what
you very justly blame, and that we arc endeavoring
to prevent anything liko public exposure of private
matters which must necessarily follow whon once tho
case is fnirly in the hands of 'the official police. You
may look upon mc simplv as an irregulnr pioneer, who
goes in front of tho regular forces of tho country. I
have come to ask vou about Mr. Godfrey Staunton."
"What about, him?"
"You know him. do you not?"
"He is an intimate friend of mine."
Iypii arc aware that he has disappeared?"
Ah, indeed!" There was no change of expre.'sion
in thc rugged features of the doctor.
"Ho left his hotel last night he has not been
heard of."
ao doubt ho will return."
''Tomorrow is the varsity football match."
I have no sympathy with these childish games.
The young man's late interests me dooply, since T
know him and like him. The football niatch doefl
not romc within my horizon nt all."
" I claim your sympathy, then, in my investigation
of Mr. Staunton's fate Do you know where ho is?"
"Certainly not."
"You have not seen him since yostcrdav?"
"No. T have not."
"Was Mr, Staunton a healthy man?"
"Absolutely."
"Did yon over know him ill?"
"Never."
Holmes popped a sheet of paper before the doctor's
eyes. "Then perhaps you will explain this receipted
bill for 13 guineas, paid bv Mr. Godfrey Staunton last
month to Dr. Leslie Armstrong of Cambridge. I
picked it out from among the papers upon his desk."
Thc doctor flushed with anger.
"I do not feel that there is anv reason why 1 should
render an explanation to you, Mr. Holmes. ,J
Holmes replaced the bill in his note book. "Tf vou
prefer a public explanation, it must come sooner or
later," said he "I" have already told you that T can
hush up that which others will bo bound to publish,
and you would really be wiser to take mo into your
complete confidence."
"I know nothing about it."
"Did you hear from Mr. Staunton in London?"
"Certainly not."
"Dear me. dear me the postoffice again!" Holmes
sighed, wearily. "A most urgent telegram was dis
patched to vou from London by Godfrev Staunton at
6:15 yesterday evening a telegram which is undoubt
edly associated with his disappearance and yet. you
have not had it. It is most culpable I shall ccrtainlv
go down to the office here and register a complaint'
Dr. Leslie Armstrong sprang up from behind his
desk, and his dark faco was crimson with fury.
"T'll trouble you to walk out of my house, sir,"
said he "Yon can tell your employer. Lord Mount
Jamps. that 1 do not wish to have anything to do
either with him or with his agents. No, sir not an
other word!" He rang the bell furioualv, "John,
show these gentlemen out." A pompous butler ush
ered us severely to the door, and wo found ourselves
in the street. Holmes burst out laughing.
"Dr. Loslie Armstrong is certainly a man of encrgv
and character," said he "I have not seen a man
who. if he turns his talents that way, was more cal
culated to fill the gap left bv the illustrious Moriarity.
And now, my poor Watson, here wo arc, stranded and
friendless in this inhospitable town, which we cannot
leave without abandoning or case This little inn
just opposite Armstrong's house is singularly adapted
to our needs. If you would engage a front "room and
purchase the necessaries for the night, T may have
time to make a few inquiries."
Those few inquiries proved, however, to be a more
lengthy proceeding thau Holmes had imagined, for he
did not return to the inn until nearly 9 o'clock. He
was pale and dejected, slaiucd with dust, and ex
hausted with hunger and fatigue A cold supper was
ready upon the table and when his needs wore sntis
.fied and his pipe alight he was ready to take that
"Half comic and whollv philosophic view which was
natural fo him when his affairs wore going awry. The
sound of carriage wheels caused him to rise and
glance out of the window. A brougham and pair of
greys, under thc glare of a gas lamp, stood before thc
doctor's door.
"Tt's been out three hours." said Holmes: "started
at 6 :.iO and here it is back again. That gives a ra
dius of ten or twelve miles, and he docs it once, or
sometimes twice, a day."
"No unusual thing for a doctor in practice"
"But Armstrong is not really a doctor in practice
He it? a lecturer and a consultant, but he does not.
earo for general practice, which distracts him from
Htornr3' work. Why, then, does he make these long
journevs, which must be exceedingly irksome to him,
and who is it, that he visits?"
"His coachman "
"My dear Watson, can vou doubt that it was to
. him that I first applied? T do uot know whether it
came from his own innate depravity or from 'the
promptings of his master, but he was rude enough to
set a dog at me Neither dog nor mnn liked the look
of mv stick, however, and tho matter fell through.
Relations were strained after that, and further in
quiries out of the question. All that T have learned
1 got from a friendly native in the yard of our own.
inn. Tt was he who told mo of the doctor's habits
and of his daily journey. At that instant, to give .
point to his words, the carriage camo round to the
door."
"Could you not follow it?"
"Excellent, Watson! You aro scintillating this
evening. Thc idea did cross my mind. Thero is, as
you may have observod. a bicycle shop next to our
inn. Tnto this T rushed, engaged a bicycle, and was
able to get startod boforo the carriage 'was quite out
of sight. T rapidly overtook it, and then, keeping at
a discreet distauco of 100 yards or so followed its
lights until wo were clear of the town. We. had got
well out ou the conutry road, when a somewhat mor
tifying incident occurred. The carriago stopped, the
doctor alighted, walked swiftly back to where T had
als.0 halted, and told mo in an excellent sardonic, fash
ion thnt he feared the road was narrow, and that he
hoped his carriage did not impede the passage of my
bicycle. Nothing could have been more admirable
than his wny of putting it, 7 nt once rodo past tho
carnage, and, keoping to the main road, T went on for 1
a fow nulos, and thon halted in a convenient place to Y-Wc
sco if tho carriago passed. Thero was no sign of it f-W
however, and so it bocame ovidont that it had turnerl iW '
down one of several side roads which I had observed fiEtr-!
I rode back, but again saw nothing of the carriago v "'
and now, as you perceive, it has returned aftnr nV v9)
Ol: course, I had at the outsot no particular reason to J' F 'hl
connect these jonrnoyn with the disappearance of God- i K"c
froy Staunton, and was only inclined to investigatn J SlVf
them on the general grounds that everything which W"n
concerns Dr. Armstrong is at presont of interest to u ''ilcou
but, now that I hud he keeps so keen a lookout upon -Ire
anyone who may follow him on those excursions, the V E'hsd
aflair appears more important, and I shall not he sat- ifvc
isfiod until T have made the matter clear." f Ktf
"We can follow him tomorrow." f'T
"Can we? It is not so oasy as you seem to think &lno
lou aro not familiar with Cambridgeshire scenery, are t fiuw
yon? It does not load itself to concealment. All thio 'IPthr'
country that J passed over tonight is as fiat and clean 'Efoi
as tho palm of your hand, and the man we aro follow- jRfoi
ing is no fool, as ho vory clearly showed tonight. I W
have wired to Overton to let us know any fresh Lon- IW1 !
don developments at this address, and in thc mean
time wo can only concentrate onr attention upon Dr 'Mc-ci
Armstrong, whoso namo tho obliging young lady at ' & B
the office allowed mc to read upon the counterfoil of 'vlc
Staunton's urgent message He knows where tho ipor
young man is to that L'll swear, and if ho knows -iff"1'
thon it must bo our own fault if we cannot manage ' f1""3
to know also. At present it must be admitted that P'Sli
the odd trick is in his possession, and, as you aro I St?3
aware, Watson, it is not my habit to leave the game T ind
in that condition." i 3 t
And yet tho next day brought us no nearer to the 5'ro
solution of the mystery. A note was handed in after l'to
breakfast, which Holmes passed across to mc with a f '-'neX
smile rclt
"Sir," it ran, "T can assure you that you are wast- Iaov
ing your timo in dogging my movements. J have, as i f ch
you discovered last night, a window at thc back of i j;'af
my brougham, and if you desire a twonty-mile ride g eo
which will load you to the spot from which you start- lr,lcr
ed, you havo only to follow me Meanwhile, 1 can I: fTaT.
inform you that no spying upon mo can in any way i; i""
help Mr. Godfrey Staunton, and T am convinced that , K: w
tho best service you can do to that gentleman is to . Pter.
return at once to London and to report to vyour em- fciruc
ployer that you aro unable to trace him. Your time ! r'
in Cambridge will certainly bo wasted. Yours faith- M3'
fully, LESLIE ARMSTRONG." ;
"An outspoken, honest antagonist is the doctor," ( i0 )
snid Holmes. "Well, well, ho excites my curiositv, ' fhow
and 1 must really know botoro I leave him." " 'com
"His carriage is at his door now," said L "There j snow
ho is stepping into it. I saw him glance up at our f fe1"'
window as he did so. Suppose 1 try my luck upon the ) : fhe
bicycle?" !uW-
"No, no, my dear Watson! With all respect for f;
your natural acumen, I. do not think that jou arc cjro
quite fi match for the worthy doctor. I think that ' Rjar
possibly T can attain our end by some independent ex- r; rkjiu
plorations of my own. T am airaid that T must leavo f Bwc.'
you to your own devices, as the appearance of two t'"
inquiring straugers upon a sleepy countryside might ' j.er
excite more gossip than T care for. No doubt you will ' J
find somo sights to amuse you in this venerable city, j t
and T hopo to bring back a more favorable report to jl fc. -c
you before evening." ! Tcroo
Onco more, however, my friend was destined to he I: Ssot
disappointed. He came back at night weary and un- 1 py;
successful. fa
"I havo had a blank day. Watson. Having got thc sIiJ;
doctor's general direction, f spent tho day in visiting
all the villages upon that side of Cambridge, and com-1 fer
paring notes with publicans and other locnl nows ': b "q
agencies. T. have covered some ground. Chesterton, mta
Histon. "Waterbeach and Oakington have each been 1 1jou
explored, and have each proved disappointing. The f ttfl.c.
daily appearance of a brougham and pair could hardly ' E'1"
have been overlooked in such Sleepy Hollows. The ; l".
doctor has scored once more. Is there a telegram for . f)0mi
mc?" ; Pfel
"Yes, I opened it. Here it is: 'Ask for Pompoy PTh
from Jeromy Dixon, Trinity College' I don't uncicr-1 jftro
stand it." ;f
"Oh, it is clear enough. It is from our friend Over- Vfi. H
ton, and is in answer to a question from me I'll just j
send round a note to Mr. Jeremy Dixon, and then I i & gj,
havo no doubt that our luck will turn. By thc way, i i(f,e
is there any news of the match?" , that
"Yes, tho local evening paper has an excellent ac- tTher
count in its last edition. Oxford won by a goal and j, !a
two tries. The last sentences of the description say: ' K1"3
'Tho defeat of the Light Blues may be entirely :it- lfloci
tributed to the unfortunate absence of thc crack Tn- ; t
ternational, Godfrev Staunton, whoso want was felt ; fiean
at every instant of7 the game The lack of combina-, ra
tion in 'the three-quarter line and their wqakness both; f-
in attack and defense moro than neutralized the ef-, tjjon
forts of a heavv and hard-working pack.' " i gthlng
"Then our friend Overton's forebodiugs have been jf Bu
justified," said Holmes. "Personally 1 am in agree-, a
inout with Dr. Armstrong, and football docs not come ifcome
within mv horizon. Early to bed tonight, Watson, for ; fjo f.
I foresoo that tomorrow may bo an even trul day. ' ' JW9n
I was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next ; f"
morning, for he sat by the tiro holding his tiny hypo-.
dermic sj'ringc. I associated that instrument with the:; ,tr t
single weakness of his nature, and I feared the wor.it 4 ?haV
when I saw it glittering in his hand. He laughed at; "01
mv expression of dismay, and laid it upon thc table. 4 ,? toi
""No, no, mv dear fellow, there, is no cause for, goj
alarm. Tt is not upon this occasion the instrument, j '
of evil, but it will rather prove to be, the kev which ;
will unlock our mystery. On this syringe I base nil ,
mv hopes. 1 havo just returned, from a small scout-. -.0h
ing expedition, and everything is favorable, hat a . gir. ai
good breakfast. Watson, lor I propose to got upon Dr. Japart:
7rmstrong's trail today, and onco on it T will not stop , k -e
for rest or food until T run him to his burrow. "v'
"In that case,'- said I.."we had best carry our
breakfast with us. for he is making an early start. ; r Au
His carriage is at the door. 3 -
"Never mind: Lot him go. He will b e cl 0 cr it
he can drive where I cannot follow him. When jou.ft JT
have finished, come downstairs-with mc, and l. will m
introduce von to a detective who is a very eminent ; .f
specialist in the work that hps before ns. . . 3
When wc descended T followed Holmes into the
Htable vard. where ho opened the door of a loose box ,vauw
and led out a squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog. , lt
something between a beagle and a hoiuid. .
"Let me introduce you to Pompoy," said ho. Pon , I
nov is tho pride of thc local drnghoiinds no ven;. 1 ft
reat Vcr, as his build will show, but a staunch. ,Jg
Sound on a sceut. Well. Pompoy, yon may not
f??t bi? T expect vou will be too last for a conplf
of mid c-agcdPLondon gentlemen, so I will take the
Shorty of fastening this leather leash to your collar .
do'n?,tTyvorWLo. Holmes!" T.nskod. . ,!
thiSbarc awl venomhlo device, but Mjin
:,DE Miosc vi tasos led U ",rll . and onil
ll'trt: tho'corSQuieK. Wtso-nui
EviS
he : "It osmnot be lone hc-for . " kJ'1!?,.. ; &T
.JgJi? 'l'o'e.v"alan'nl,out and vlnne; v.
(Continued on Following Page) j t
mm
