The San Francisco call., 1905-05-14

that, and further inquiries out OF the
question. All that / have learned got
from a friendly native in the yard of
our own inn. 1t was he who told me
of the doctors habits and of his daily
journey At that instant, to give point
to his words, the carriage came round
to the door"
"Couid you not follow it?''
Excellent, Watson! You are scin-
tillating this evening. The idea did
cross my mind. There is, as you may
have observed, a bicycle shop next to
our inn. into this ], rushed, engaged
bicycle. and was able to get started be-
fore the carriage was quite out OF
sight. l rapidly overlook it, and then,
keeping at discreet distance of
hundred yards or so l followed its
lights until we were clear of the town.
We had got we'll out on the country
road, when a somewhat mortifying in
cident occurred. The carriage stopped,
the doctor alighted, walked swiftly
back to where l had also halted and
told me in an excellent sardonic fash
ion thta he feared the road was mar
row, and that he hoped his carriage
did not impede the passage of my bicy-
Gle. Nothing could have been more ad-
mlrable than his way of putting it. l
at once rode past the carriage, and,
keeping to the main road, l went on
for a few miles, and then halted in a
convenient place to see If the carriage
passed. There was no sign of it. how
ever, and so it became evident that it
had turned down one of several side
roads which / had observed I rode
back, but again saw nothing of the
carriage, and now, as you perceive, it
has returned after me. OF course, /
had at the outset no particular reason
to connect these Journeys With the dis
appearance of Godfrey Staunton, and
was only inclined to investigate them
on the general grounds that everything
which concerns DR.. Armstrong is at
present of interest to us, but. now that
l find he keeps SO keen a lookout upon
any one who may follow him on these
excursions. the affair appears more i'm
portant, and 1 shall not be satisfied
until | have made the matter clear"
We can follow, him tomorrow
Can we? 1t is not so easy as you
seem to think. You are not familiar
with Cambridgeshire scenery, are you?
1t does not lend itself to concealment
All this country that / passed over
Tonight is as fiat and clean as the
palm of your hand, and the man we
are following is no fool, as he very
clearly showed tonight / have wired
to 'Oyerton to let us know any fresh
London developments at his address,
and in the meantime we can only con-
centrate our attention upon DR.. Arm
strong, whose name the obliging young
lady at the office allowed me to read
upon the counterfoil of Staunton's ur-
gent message. He knows where the
young man is-to that I'll swear. and
if he knows, then it must be our own
fault if we cannot manage to know
also. At present it must be admitted
that the odd trick is in his possession,
and, as you are aware, Watson, it is
not my habit to leave the game in that
condition"
And yet the next day brought us no
nearer the solution of the mystery. A
note was handed in after breakfast.
which Holmes passed across to me
with smile.
Sir it ran, 'I can assure
you that you are wasting your
time in dogging my movements. 1
have, as you discovered last night,
window at the back of my brougham,
and If you desire twenty-mile ride
which will lead you to the spot from
which you started, you have only to
follow me. Meanwhile, / can inform
you that no spying upon me can in
any way help Mr. Godfrey Staunton,
and am convinced that the best SER
vice you can do to that gentleman is
TO return at orca to London and to
reportt to your employer that you are
unable to trace him. Your time in
OdInOIlQSe VIII Ceildli Dc WdSlSQ.
Yours faithfully,
LESLIE ARMSTRONG"
{ IAN outspoken. honest antagonist is
the DOCTOR" said Holmes. ..Well, we'll,
he excites my curiosity, and / must
really know before leave. him..
His carriage is at his door now"
said /. There he Is stepping into it.
/ saw him glance up at our window as
he did so. Suppose 1 try my luck up
on the bicycle?''
mo, no. my dear Watson. With
all respect for your natural acumen, I
do not think that you are quite a
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 1 must leave
you to your own devices, as the ap-
pearance of two inquiring strangers
upon a sleepy countryside might ex-
cite more gossip than 1 care for. No
doubt you will find some sights to
amuse you in this venerable city, and
1 hope to bring back a more favorable
report to you before evening"
Once more, however, my friend was
destined to be disappointed. He came
back at night weary and unsuccessful.
Il have had blank day, Watson.
Having got the doctors general direc-
ton, / spent the day in visiting all the
villages upon that side of Cambridge,
and comparing notes with publicans
and other local news agencies. I have
covered some ground. Chesterton,
Histon, Waterbeach and Darlington
have each been explored and have
each proved disappointing. The daily
appearance of a brougham and pair
could hardly have been overlooked in
such Sleepy Hollows. The doctor has
scored once more. Is there a tele-
gram for me?"
Yes, I opened 1t. Here it is: Ask
for Pompey from Jeremy Dixon, Trim