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

in that world of fresh air and fair play
| there may be work for me to do. So
now. my good sir. 1 beg you 70 sit down
and tell me. slowly and quietly. exactly
what 1t is that has occurred and how
you desire that 1 should help YOU"
Young Overton's face assumed the
bothered look OF a man who is more
accustomed 20 using his muscles than
his wits. but by degrees. with many
repeutions and obscurities which I
, may omit from his narrative. he laid
his strange story before Us.
ITS this way. Mr. Holmes. As I
have said, I am the skipper Of the Rug
ger team OF Cambridge varsity. ana
Godfrey Staunton is my best man. To
morrow we play oxford. Yesterday we
all came up. ana we settled at Bent
/ ley's private hotel At 10 o'clock I went
I round and saw that all the fellows had
gone 70 rOost, for I believe In strict
Z training aud plenty OF sleep 10 keep a
team fit ] had a WORT or two with
Godfrey before he turned in. He seem
ed 70 me 10 be pale and bothered.
asked him what was the matter. He
headache. I bade him good night and
, LETT him. Half an hour later. the p0r-
ter tells me. a rough looking man with
beard called with a note for Godfrey.
he had not gone to bed, and the note
was taken 10 his room. Godfrey read
IL ana fell back I'm q chair as II he had
. been pole aXed. The porter was so
scared that he was going 10 fetch me.
but Godfrey stopped him. had n drink
OF water and pulled himself together.
Then he went downstairs. said n few
words 10 the man who was waiting in
the hall. and the two OF them went or
together. The last that the porter saw
OF them they were almost running
down the street In the direction OF the
Strand. This morning Godfrcy's room
was empty. bis bed had never been
slept I'm, and his things were an iust as
had seen them the night before. He
had gone of az 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 20 his marrow. and
he wouldn't have stopped hls training
and let in his skipper II II were not FOR
some cause that was too strong FOR
him. No: 1 feel as II he were gone for
good, and We should never see him
again"
Sherlock Holmes listened with the
deepest attention 10 this singular mar
rativc.
what did YOU dof" he asked.
Il wired to Cambridge 20 learn n
anything had been heard OF him there.
! have had an answer. 80 one has
seen him."
could he have got back 20 Cam
BRIDGE"
Yes; there is a late train-quarter
past IL"
But SO FAR as you can ascertain, be
did not take irt"
"No; Dee las NOT been seen"
"What did YOU DO uext:"
81 wired 20 Lord Nouut-James."
'Why 10 Lord Mount-James 2"
Godfrey is an orphan. and Lord
Mount-James is his nearest relative
his uncle. believe"
Indeed. This throws new light upon
the matter. Lord Momt-James is one
Of the richest men n England"
$50 I've heard Godfrey say"
And your friend was closely re-
latcdt"
Yes; he was his heir. and the old
boy is nearly eighty-cram full OF govt
too They say Ae C1ald chalA his bii-
lard cue with his knuck.es lie never
allowed Godfrey a shilling IN his life
for he is au absolute mi>e-. but il will
all come 10 him right enough"
Have you heard from Lord Mount
James :"
"NO."
what motive could your friend have
In going 10 Lord Mount-JameSf
We'll something was worrying him
the night before. and If IL was 10 do
with money IL is possible that he would
make Tor his nearest relative, who had
so much OF It, though from all / have
heard he would not have much chance
Of getting il. 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 10 his relative.
Lord MountJames, you have then To
explain the visit Of this rough looking
fellow at 50 late an hour and the az
tation that was caused by his coming"
Cyril Overton pressed his hands 10
his head. 4 can make nothing Of it,
said he
We'll, well, I have a clear day, and
l shall be happy 10 look into the mat
ter" said Holmes. II should strongly
recommend YOU 10 make your prepare
tons for your match without reference
TO this young gentleman. IL must. as
you say, have been an overpowering
necessity which tore him away In such
fashion, and the same necessity is
likely 70 hold him away. Let us step
round together 20 the hotel and see IL
the porter can throw any fresh light
upon the matter"
Sherlock Holmes was a past master
In the art Of putting humble witness
at his ease. and very soon. In the pri-
vacy OF Godfrey Staunton's abandoned
room, he had extracted all that the por-
ter had TO tell The visitor OF the night