The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-18

f&SZSGyh reached us on !. gloomy
February morning, some
seven or eight years ago, and gave Mr..
Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter OF
an hour. Il was addressed to him and
ran thus:
Please await me. Terrible misfortune.
Right wing three-quarter missing indis-
pensable tomorrow. OVERTON.
Strand postmark and dispatched
1896" said Holmes, reading it over
and over. Mr.. Oyerton was evidently
considerably excited when he sent it
and somewhat incoherent in conse-
quence. Well, well, he will be here, |
dare say, by the time l have looked
through the Times, and then we shall
know all about II. Even the most insig-
nifcant problem would be welcome in
these stagnant days"
Things had indeed been very slow
with us, and / had learned to dread
such periods of inaction, for / knew
by experience that my companions
brain was so abnormally active that II
was dangerous to leave II without ,ma-
terlal upon which to work. For years
I had gradually weaned him from
that drug mania which had threatened
once to check his remarkable career.
Now knew that under ordinary con
dltions he no longer craved for this
artificial stimulus, but l was well
aware that the dend was not dead,
but sleeping, and / have known that
the sleep was n light one and the wax
ing near when in periods of idleness
/ have seen the drawn look upon
Holmes ascetic face and the brooding
Of his deep set and inscrutable eyes
Therefore ] blessed this Mr.. Overton,
whoever he might be, since he had
come with his enigmatic message to
break that dangerous calm which
brought more peril to my friend than
all the storms of his tempestuous life.
AS we had expected. the telegram
was soon followed by it's sender, and
the card OF Mr.. Cyril Overton Trinity
college, Cambridge, announced the ar
rival Of an enormous young man, six
teen stone of solid bone and muscle,
who spanned the doorway with his
broad shoulders and looked from one
OF us TO the other with a comely face
which was haggard with anxiety.
''Air. Sherlock Holmes2"
My companion bowed.
1--WE been down TO Scotland Yard,
Mr. Holmes. saw Inspector Stanley
Hopkins. He advised me to come to
you. He said the case, so far as be
could See. was more In your line than
in that Of the regular police"
pray sit down and tell me what is
the matter"
ITS awful. Mr.. Holmes. Simply
awful! l wonder my hair isn't gray.
Godfrey Stauntcn- yon.ge heard OF
him, Of course? He's simply the hinge
that the whole team turns on I'd
rather spare two from the pack and
have Godfrey for my tbree-quarter
line Whether It's passing or tackling
or dribbling there's nc one to touch
him. and, then, he's got the head and
can hold us all together. What am
TO dor That's what l ask you, Mr..
Holmes. There's Moorhouse, first re.
serve. but he is trained as half, and
he always edges right In ON TO the
serum instead Of keeping out on the
touch line. He's a 1ne place kick, it's
true. but then he has no judgment and
he can't sprint for nuts Why, Nor
ton or johnson, the oxford hiers,
could romp round him. Stevenson is
fast enough. but he couldn't drcp from
the twenty-five line, and a three
quarter who can't either punt or drop
isn't worth place for pace alone,
No. Mr. Holmes, we are done ualess
you can help me to find Godfrey
Staunton."
My friend had listened with amused
surprise TO this long speech. which
was poured forth with extraordinary
vigor and earnestness, every point be
ing driven home by the slapping Of a
brawny hand upon the speakers knee
When our visitor was silent Holmes
stretched out his hand ana took down
letter IS" Of his commonplace book
For once he dug Ia vain into that mine
Of varied information.
'sIhere Is Arthur II. StauntOn. the
rising young forger" said he, and
there was Her stsunton, whom i
helped TO b. rg. boa iodfrey Stauntou
IS new name TO me-"
II was our visitors turn 10 look sur
prised
why. Mr.. Holmes, l thought you
knew tnings," said ne Il suppose
then. II you have never heard Of God
frey staunton. you cont know Cyril
Oyerton eitherf'
Holmes shook bis head good humor
edly.
"Great gcottg cried the athlete
''Why, / was frst reserve for Eng
land against Wales. and I've skippered
the varsity all this year. But that's
nothingl / didn't think there was a
soul IN England who didn't know God
frey Staunton. the crack three.quarter
Cambridge. Blackheath and ave IN
ternafionals Good Lord. Mr.. Holmes
where have you liyedf"
Holmes laughed az the young giants
naive aatonishment.
"You I've Ia a different world from
me. Mr. Overton-a sweeter AMI health
Ter one. MY ramlfcatlons stretch oui
into many sections OF society, but never
I am happy % say. into amatesir sport
which Is the best and soundesf thing IN
England. However. your ansxpecfed
visit this morning shows me that even
N that world Of fresh ala and fair play