Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-08

Holmes laughed ar the young giant
naive establishment.
You live in a different world from
me, Mr.. Overton-a sweeter and health
Ter one. Ny ramihcations stretch out
into many sections OF society, but never,
am happy to say, into amateur sport.
which is the best and soundest thing in
England. However. your unexpected
visit this morning shows me that even
In that world Of fresh air and fair play
there may be work for me 10 do. So
now, my good sir. beg you TO sit down
and tell me. slowly and quietly, exactly
what it is that has occurred and how
you desire that l should help you"
Young Overton's face assumed the
bothered look OF a man who is more
accustomed TO using his muscles than
his wits, but by degrees, with many
repetitions and obscurltIes which I
may omit from his narrative, he laid
his strange story before US.
Its this way, Mr.. Holmes. AS l
have said, / am the skipper OF the Rug
ger team Of Cambridge varsity, and
Godfrey Staunton is my best man. To
morrow we play oxford. Yesterday we
all came up. and We settled at Bent
ley's private hotel. AT 10 O'Clock went
round and saw that all the fellows had
gone to roost, for | believe in strict
training and plenty OF sleep to keep
team hit. / had a word or two with
Godfrey before he turned in. He seem
ed to me TO be pale and bothered.
asked him what was the matter. He
said he was all right-just touch Of
headache. bade him good night and
left him. Half an hour later. the por-
ter tells me, rough looking man with
beard called with q note for Godfrey.
He had not gone to bed, and the note
was taken to his room. Godfrey read
Ii and fell back in chair as IL he had
been pole aXed. The porter was SO
scared that he was going to fetch me,
but Godfrey stopped him, had drink
of water and pulled himself together.
Then he went downstairs. said a few
words to the man who was waiting in
the hall, and the two of them went off
together The last that the porter saw
Of them they were almost running
down the street in the direction of the
Strand. This morning Godfrey's room
was empty, his bed had never been
slept in, and his things were all just as
I had seen them the night before. He
had gone of at a moments notice with
this stranger, and no word has come
from him since. l don't believe he will
ever come back. He was a sportsman,
was Godfrey. down to his marrow. and
he wouldn't have stopped his training
and let IN his skipper If it were not for
some cause that was too strong for
him. No: feel as II he were gone for
good, and we should never see him
again"
Sherlock Holmes listened with the
deepest attention to this singular mar
rative.
What did you do?" he asked.
81 wired to Cambridge TO learn if
anything had been heard OF him there.
! have had an answer. No one has
seen him"
Gould he have got back to Cam
bridge?"
Yes; there is a late train-quarter
past IL"
But, so far as you can ascertain, he
did not take it,"
mo: he has not been seen"
what did you do next?"
81 wired TO Lord Mount-James"
"Why TO Lord MOunt-James
Godfrey is an orphan, and Lord
Mount-James Is his nearest relative
his uncle, l 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:'
Yes; 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 il will
all come to him right enough"
Have you heard from Lord Mount
James,"
mo"
What motive could your friend have
| in going TO Lord Mount James,"
Well something was worrying him
| the night before and if il was TO do
with money il is possible that he would
make for his nearest relative, who had
so much of ii, though from all / have
heard he would not have much chance
OF getting IT, Godfrey was not fond OF
the old man. He would not go if 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 go late an hour and the agi-
tation that was caused by his coming"
| Cyril Overton pressed his hands to
his head. Il can make nothing of IT. :"
| said he.
well, well, / have a clear day. and
l shall be happy To look into the mat
ter" said Holmes. Il should strongly
recommend you TO make your prepare
lions for your match without reference
to this young gentleman. Ii must, as
you say, have been an overpowering
necessity which tore him away in such
e. Il =