The San Francisco call., 1905-05-14

water bus would bring me- 30 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, win be
prepared to do that
But if he is never found, eh? An
swer me that"
In that case no doubt his family
Nothing Of the sort. sir" screamed
the little man Don't look to me for a
penny-not a penny You understand
that, Mr. Detective! 1 am all the
family that this young man has got
and I tell you that 1 am not respon-
sible If he has any expectations it is
due to the fact that have never vast
ed money. and / do not propose to
begin to Go so now. AS to those
papers with which you are making SO
free 1 may tell you that in case there
should be anything of any value among
them you viii be held strictly to ac-
count for what you do with them"
Very good, sir said Sherlock
Holmes. May 1 ask in the mean
while whether you have yourself any
theory to account for this young mans
disappearance2
NO. sir 1 have not. He is big enough
and old enough to lock after himself
and if he is so foolish as to lose him
self I entirely refuse to accept the re-
sponsibility Of hunting for him"
Il quite understand your position, "
said Holmes with mischieYous
twinkle in his eyes. Perhaps you don't
quite understand mine. Godfrey Staup-
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 entirely possible that
a 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 neckcloth.
Heavens, sir, what an idea! l never
thought Of such villainyi What inhu-
man rogues there are in the world!
But Godfrey is a fine lad-a stanch
lad. Nothing would induce him to give
MS ClQ Uncle away II nave ltlS pldlC
moved over to the bank this evening
In the meantime spare no pains, Mr..
Detectivel beg you TO leave no stone
unturned to bring him safely back. AS
to money, WELL so far as a 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
truncated telegram and with a copy Of
this in his hand Holmes set forth to
find a second link for his chain. We
had shaken off Lord Mount-James and
Overton had gone TO consult with the
other members Of his team over the
misfortune which had befallen them.
There was a telegraph Office at a
short distance from the hotel. We
halted outside it.
It's worth trying, Watson" said
Holmes. ''Of course, with a warrant
foils, but We have not reached that
stage yet. don't suppose they re-
member faces in so busy a place Let
US venture it,"
I am sorry to trouble you," said he
in his blandest manner to the young
woman behind the grating; there is
some small mistake about a tele-
gram I sent yesterday I have had no
answer, and I very much fear that 1
must have omitted to put my name at
the end. Could you tell me if this was
sop
The woman turned over a sheaf of
counterfoils.
What o'clock was it?" she asked.
"A little after g.
Whom was it to?'
Holmes put his finger on his lips and
glanced at me. THE last words in it
We're for Gods sake" he whispered,
confldentially. L am very anxious at
getting no answer"
The young woman separated one Of
the forms.
This is 1t. There is no name" said
she. smoothing it out upon the counter.
Then that, of course, accounts for
my getting no answer" said Holmes
Dear me, how very stupid of me, to
be sure! Good morning, miss, and
many thanks for having relieved my
mind" He chuckled and rubbed his
hands when we found ourselves in the
street once more.
"WelI2'' I asked.
I'VE progress, my dear Watson, We
progress. ! had seven different schemes
for getting a glimpse of that telegram,
but could hardly hope to succeed the
very first time"
And what have you gained?"
"A starting point for our investiga-