Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-16

once or sometimes twice a day"
NO unusual thing for a doctor In
practice"
But Armstrong is not really a doc
tor IN practice. He Is a lecturer aud
a conSuitant. but he does not care FOR
general practice. which distracts him
from his literary work Why. then.
does he make these long journeys.
which must be exceedingly irksome to
him. and who is IL that DE visitsgr
E "Eis coachman"-
MY dear Watson. can you doubt
that il was 70 him that first applied7
l do not know whether IL came from
his own innate depravity or from the
promptiugs OF mis- master. but he was
rude enough 10 set a dog az me- Nei-
ther dog nor imam liked the look Of my
stick. however. and the matter fell
through All that I have learned
got from friendly native i'm the
yard Of our own inn. Il was be who
told me OF the doctors habits and OF
his daily journey At that instant TO
give point 90 his words. the carriage
came round 10 the door
Gould YOU not follow itc"
Excellent. Watson, You are scin-.
tillating this evening The idea did
cross my mind. There is. as YOU may
have observed. bicycle shop next 90
our inn. Into this ! rushed. engaged a
bicycle and was able To- got started be-
fore the carriage was quite out OF
sight. ! rapidly overlook it. and then.
keeping at a discreet distance OF a hun
dred yards or 50. I followed its lights
until we were clear of the town We
had got well out on the country road
when q somewhat Notifying incident
occurred. The carriage stopped. the
doctor aughted. walked swiftly back 10
where l had halted and told me I'm an
excellent sardouic fashion that he fear
cd 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
way Of putting il. I nc once rode past
the carriage. and. keeping 90 the main
road. ] went on for few miles and
then halted in q convenient place 20
see II the carriage passed. There was
no sign Of il. however. and SO 70 be-
came evident that IL had turned down
one OF several side roads which I had
observed. / rode back. but again saw
nothing OF the carriage and now. as
You perceive, 10 has returned after me.
OF course had az the outset no par
ticul0r reason % connect these Jour
neys with the disappearance of Cod
frey St0uutou and was only inclined
10 investigate them on the general
grounds that everything which con-
Germs DR.. Armstrong Is az present OF
interest 20 Us. but now that find ne
keeps SO keen "a lookout upon any one
who may follow him on these eXcur-
sions the affair appears moro lmpor-
taut. ana I shall not Doe satisfied until
have made the matter clear"
eve can follow him tomorrow"
"Can wc2 II Ia not 50 easy as YOU
seem 10 think. You are not familiar
with C0mbridgosh.re. are yout II does
not lend itself % coucealmeut. All this
country that passed over toni ght is as
fiat AS thc palm OF your hand. and the
man we are following is u5 fool. as he
very clearly showed tonight I have
wired % oyerton % let Us know any
fresh London developments at this adj
dress. aud in the meantime we can only
concentrate our attention upon pr.
Armstrong. whose name the uhligius
young lady az the office allowed me %
read upon The countcrftil OF St1uutou's
urgent message. He knows where the
you"g man is-to that i'm swear-and
IL he knows, then it must Poe our own
fault IL we cannot manage to know
also. At present It must bc admitted
that the odd trick is bon Lis possession.
and. as YOU are aware. Watson. IL Is
not my habit 90 leave the game lu that
condition"
And yer the next day brought us no
nearer Co tine solution OF the MYSTERY
a note was handed m after breakfast
which Holmes passed across % me
with q smile. IL ran rs follows:
SRI can assure Won thar you are vast
ine your time Ga dogEirg ms movements.
window at the hGrk OF my hrouerau and
u You desire GA twenty milo ride which viii
lead YOU - The spot from which YOU
started you have only 90 follow me-
Meanwhile can Inform YOU chat no spv-
iuE upon me can iu amy way HELM NTr
Godfrey StaHntou. ana ] ana convinced
that the best service YOU can do 90 that
gentleman Isl % RETURN ar once to London
and 60 report 20 your employer that YOU
are unable Co trace him. Your time IN
Camhri-Ee win certainly bc wasted
Yours faithfully
LESLIE ARMSTRONG.
IN outSpoken, honest antagonist
the doctor" said Holmes well. well.
he eXcites nay curiosity. and I must
really know before leave him."
His carriage is NJ his door now"
said l. There ne Is stepping into IL. I
saw him glance UP az our window as
be did So. suppose / try my luck upon
the bicyclet"
NO. no, my dear Watson. With all
respect for your natural acumen, ! do
not think that you are quite match
FOR the worthy doctor l think that
possibly l can attain our end by some
independent explorations Of my own.
l am afraid that I must leave YOU 10
your own devices. as the appearance
Of two inQuiring strangers upon a
sleepy countryside might excite more
gossip than I care for. hope 70 bring
back more favorable report 10 you