The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-28

eyes. Nothing here" he said ut last
BY the way. l suppose your friend
was healthy young feIlow-nothing
amisS with him."
Sound as Il bell"
"Ilave you ever known him ill:"
Not Il day. He has been laid up
with hack, and once he slipped his
kneecdp, but that was nothing"
Perhaps he was not so strong as
you suppose. | should think he may
have mad some secret trouble. With
your assent, will put one or two of
these papers in my pocket, in case
they should bear upon our future in
quiry.'
"One moment-one moment cried a
querulous voice. and we looked up
to find Il queer little old man jerking
and twitching in the doorway. He
was dressed in rusty black, with a
very broad brimmed top hat and Il
loose white necktie-the whole effect
being that of very rustic parson
or of an unGertakers mute. Yet. in
spite of his shabby and even absurd
appearance, his voice had a sharp
crackle and his manner a quick in
tensity which commanded attention.
"Who are you, sir, and by what right
do you touch this gentlemans papers?"
he asked.
Il am private detective, and l am
endeavoring to explain his disappear
ance.'
"Oh, you are, are you? And who
instructed you. eh:"
This gentleman, Mr.. Staunton's
friend, was referred to me by Scot,
land Yard
who are you. sir:'
Il am Cyril Overton.'
Then it is you who sent me a tele.
gram. My name is Lord Mount.
James. l came round as quickly as
the Bayswater bus would bring me.
So you have instructed a detective?'
YES. sir
And are you prepared to meet the
COST
Il have no doubt, sir, that my friend
Godfrey. when we find him, will be
prepared to do that
But If he is never found, Ell? An
Swer me that
In that caseno doubt his family
Nothing of the sort, SIR screamed
the little man. Don't look to me for
u penny-not penny. You under
stand that, Mr.. Detective | am all the
family that this young man has got,
and | tell you that | am not respon-
sible If he has any expectations it is
due to the fact that l have never vast
ed money and | do not propose to be-
gin to do so now. As to those papers
with which you are making so free.
may tell you that in case there should
be anything of any value among them
you will be held strictly to account for
what YOU do with them"
Very good, SIR said Sherlock
Holmes. May ask in the meanwhile
whether You have yourself any theory
to account for this young mans disap-
pearance"
mo, sir, I have not He is big
enough and Old enough to look after
himself, and if he is so fool Nh as to
lose himself | entirely refuse to accept
the responsibility of hunting for him."
Il quite understand your position"
said Holmes with a mischievous twin
kle in his eyes. perhaps you don't
quite understand mine. Godfrey Staun-
ton appears to have been a poor man.
If he has been kidnapped it could not
have been for anything which he him
self possesses. The fame of your
wealth has gone abroad, Lord Mount
James. and it is certainly possible that
n gang of thieves have secured your
nephew in order to gain from him some
information as to your house, your
habits and your treasure"
The face of our unpleasant little Wis
itor turned as white as his necktie
Heavens, sir, what an idea! l never
thought Of such villainy! What inhu-
man rogues there are IN the world!
But Godfrey is fine lad-a stanch lad.
Nothing would induce him to give his
old uncle away. I'll have the plate
moved over TO the bank this evening
In the meantime spare no pains, Mr..
Detective! beg you to leave no stone
unturned to bring him safely back. AS
to money, WELL so far as flyer or even
a tenner goes, you can always look to
me-"
Even in his chastened frame Of mind
the noble miSer could give us no infor-
nation which could help us, for he
knew little of the private life of his
nephew. Our only clew lay in the trun-
Gated telegram, and with a copy of this
in his hand Holmes set forth to find a
second link for his chain. We had shak-
en- off Lord Mount-James, and Overton
had gone to consult with the other
members of his team over the misfor-
tune which had befallen them.
There was telegraph Office at
short distance from the hotel. We halt