Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-12-26

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had gone off at moments notice with
this stranger, and no word has come
from him since. ] don't believe he will
ever come back. he was sportsman,
was Godfrey, down to his marrow, and
he wouldn't have stopped his training
and let in his skipper If 1t were not for
some cause that was too strong for
him. No; feel as If he were gone for
good, and we should never see him
again"
Sherlock Holmes listened with the
deepest attention to this singular mar
rattve.
''What did you dor" he asked.
II wired to Cambridge to learn II
anything had been heard Of him there.
have had an answer. No one has
seen him."
"Could he have got back to Cam
bridget"
YES; there is late train-quarter
past H."
"But, SO far as you can ascertain, he
did not take it?'
"No; he has not been seem"
"What did you do next7"
II wired to Lord Mount-James."
'Why to Lord Mount-James7''
Godfrey is an orphan, and Lord
Mount-James is his nearest relative
his uncle, believe"
Indeed. This throws new light upon
the matter. Lord Mount-James is one
Of the richest men In England"
$50 I've heard Godfrey say"
"And your friend was closely re-
lated?"
Eyes; he was his heir, and the old
boy is nearly eighty-cram full Of govt
too They say he could chalk his bill
lard cue with his knuckles. He never
allowed Godfrey shilling in his life,
for he is an absolute miser, but it will
all come to him right enough"
"Haye you heard from Lord Mount
James2'
mo"
"What motive could your friend have
in going to Lord Mount-JamesT
swell, something was worrying him
the night before. and If it was to do
with money it is possible that he would
make for his nearest relative, who had
30 much Of it, though from all have
heard be would not have much chance
Of getting 1t. Godfrey was not fond Of
the old man. he would not go II he
could help it"
well, we can soon determine that.
II your friend was going to his relative,
Lord Mount-James, you have then to
explain the visit Of this rough looking
fellow at so late an hour and the agi-
tation that was caused by his coming"
Cyril Overton pressed his hands to
his head. II can make nothing Of it."
said he.
well, well, have clear day, and
I shall be happy to look into the mat
ter" said Holmes. II should strongly
recommend you to make your prepare
lions for your match without reference
to this young gentleman. 1t must, as
you say, have been an overpowering
necessity which tore him away in such
a fashion, and the same necessity Is
likely to hold him away. Let us step
round together to the hotel and see IL
the porter can throw any fresh ligI 1T
upon the matter"
| Sherlock Holmes was past mast er
Tn the art Of putting humble witne ss
at his ease, and very soon, in the pri-
vacy Of Godfrey Staunton's abandon ed
room, he had extracted all that the por-
ter had to tell. The visitor of the rasl1t
before was not gentleman, neither
was he workingman. he was simply
what the porter described as '1medi-
UNI looking chap" a man of fifty,
beard grizzled, pale face, quietly dress
ed. He seemed himself to be agitated.
The porter had observed his hand
trembling when he had held out the
note. Godfrey staunton had. crammed
the note into his pocket. Staunton had
not shaken hands with the man in the
hall. They had exchanged few SEN
fences, Of which the porter had only
distinguished the one word ''time."
Then they had hurried off in the man
ner described. It was just halfpast 10
by the hall clock.
Vet me see," said Holmes, seating
himself on staunton's bed. dYou are
the day porter. are you not7''
Eyes. sir. 60 or duty nj 1a-~
1.-The night porter saw nothing, sup
poser"
mo, sir. One theater party came in
late; no one else"
Were you on duty all day yester-
day2'
eyes, sir"
ibid you take any messages to Mr..
Sta,mton2"
"ees, sir; one telegram"
Al, that's interesting. What o'clock
was this?"
"About G."
"Where was Mr.. staunton when he
received it,"
"Here in his ROOM"
Were you present when hesopened
1T"
Eyes, sir; I waited to see IL there was
an answer"
'.Well, was there?"
"Yes, sir; he wrote an answer" I
4 "Did you take it?"
mo; he took 1t himself"
"But he wrote 1t in your presence"
Eyes, sir. was standing by the
door and he with his back turned at
that table. When he had written 1t
he said, All right, porter. will take
this myself"
"What did he write it WITH"
"a pen, ssir."
i 'was the telegraphic form one Of
these on the table?'
.sYass siyi it,wAa TIE tSr ora,"