Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-03

grams nj fihkPT street,
but I have a particular
IcHTZE2SU recollection of one which
SSElEXXl reached us on gloomy
February morning. some
seven or eight years ago and gave Mr..
Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter Of
an hour. 1t 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. Overton was evidently
considerably excited when he sent 1t
and somewhat incoherent in conse.
puencA Well, we'll. he will be here. I
dare say, by the time have looked
through the Times, and then we shall
inow all about 1t. Even the most insig-
bificant problem would be welcome In
these stagnant days"
Things had indeed been very slow
with US, and I had learned to dread
Such periods Of naction, for I knew
BY experience that my companions
brain was so abnormally active that 1t
was dangerous to leave 1t without ma-
terial upon which to work. For years
l had gradually weared him from
that drug mania which had threatened
once to check his remarkable career
Now l knew that under ordinary con-
ditions he no longer Craved for this
artificial stimulus. but I was well
aware that the fend was not dead,
but sleeping, and ] have known that
the sleep was Il light one and the wax
ing near when in periods Of idlencss
/ have seen the drawn look upon
Holmes ascetic face and the brooding
Of his deep set and inscrutable eyes.
Therefore l 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 its sender, and
the card of Mr.. Cyril Overton, Trinity
college. Cambridge. announced tho ar.
y
teen stone Of solid bone and muscle
who spannpd the doorway with his
broad shoulders and locked from one
Of us to the other with comely face
which was haggard with anxiety.
mfr. Sherlock Holmes?"
My companion bowed.
1--WE been down to Scotland Yard
Mr. Holmes. ! saw Inspector Stanley
Hopkins. He advised me to come tC
you. He said the case. so far as he
could see, was more in your line than
in that of the regular police"
pray sit down and tell me what is
the matter"
It's awful, Mr.. Holmes. Simply
awful. wonder my hair isn't gray
Godfrey Staunton-youve heard OF
him, of course? He's simply the hinge
that the whole team turns on. III
rather spare two from the pack and
have Godfrey for my ,hree.quartel
line. Whether it's passing or tacklinf
or dribbling there's no one to touct
him, and. then, he's got the head ani
can hold US all together. What mn
to dor That's what ask you. Mr.
Holmes. There's Moorhouse, first re
Berve. but he is trained as a half, ant
he always edges right in on to tn
serum instead Of keeping out on th'
touch line. He's fine place kick. III
true, but then he has no judgment, ant
he can't sprint for nuts. Why, Nor
ton or Johnson. the Oxford fliers,
could romp round him. Stevenson j
fast enough, but he couldn't drop from
the twenty-five line, and three
quarter who can't either punt or drol
Isn't worth place for pace alone
No, Mr.. Holmes. we are done unles
vou can help me TO find Godfre,
Etaunton."
My friend had listened with amuse
surprise to this long speech, whlc
was poured forth with eXtraordinar
vigor and earnestness. every point be
ing driven home by the slapping of
brawny hand upon the speakers kne,
When our visitor was silent Holme
stretched out his hand and took dow
letter IS" Of his commonplace bool
For once he dug In vain into that min
Of varied information.
There is Arthur III. Staunton. til
rising young forger," said he. ian
there was Henry Staunton, whom
helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunto
ia a new name to mo"
II was our visi turn to look su
prised.
"Why, Mr.. Ii0.nuS. | thought so
knew things" said he. II suppos
then. n you have never heard of Coz
frey Staunton. you don't know Cyr
OvertOn either?"
Holmes shook his head good hume
sdiy.
"Great Scott" cried the athlet
"Why, I was first reserve for En-
land against Wales. and I've skippers
1he varsity all this year. But that
nothing! I didn't think there was
Soul in England who didn't know Go
frey Staunton. the crack three-quarte
Cambridge. Blackheath and FIVE
Isrnationals. Good Lord. Mr.. Holme
where have YOU lived?"
Holmes laughed ut the young giant
naive astonishment
"You live In n different world fro
me. Mr.. Overton--a sweeter and healt
Ter one. My ramihcations stretch o
into many sections OF society. but nevf
am happy to say. into amateur spol
Hhich ID the best and soupdest thing