The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-23
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celVe weird telegramS at Baker Street,
but | have a particular recollection of
one which reached us on gloomy
February morning, some seven or
eight years ago, and gave Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes q puzzled quarter of an
hour. 1t was addressed to him, and
ran thus:-
Please await me- Terrible mis-
fortune. Right wing three-quarter
missing, Indispensable tomorrow
Overton.''
strand postmark and dispatched
ten thirty-six, said Holmes, reading
it over and over. Mr.. Overton was
evidently considerably excited when
he sent it, and somewhat incoherent
in consequence. Well, WE'LL he will
be here, L dare say, by the time l
have looked through the Times, and
then We shall know all about it. Even
the most insignificant problem would
be welcome in these Stagnant days"
Things had indeed been very slow
with us, and l had learned to dread
such periods of inaction, for 1 knew
by experience that my companions
brain was so abnormally active that
it was dangerous to leave it without
material upon which to work. For
years | had gradually weaned him
from that drug-mania which had
threatened once to check his remark
l.
ordinary conditions he no longer
craved for this artificial stimulus, but
/ was we'll aware that the fend was
not dead but sleeping, and | have
known that the sleep was a light one
and the waking near when in periods
of idleness | have seen the drawn
look upon Holmes ascetic face, and
the brooding of his deep-set and in
scrutable eyes Therefore I blessed
this Mr.. Overton, whoever he might
be, since he had come with his enig
matte message to break that danger
Gus 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
arrival of an enormo young man,
sixteen stcae- 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.
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes?'
My companion bowed.
I've been down to Scotland Yard,
Mr.. Holmes. l saw Inspector Stanley
Hopkins. He advised me to come to
you. He said the case, so far as he
could see, was more in your line than
fin that of the regular police"
Pray sit down and tell me what is
the matter"
Its awful, Mr.. Holmes-simply
awful, / wonder my hair isn't grey.
Godfrey Staunton-you've heard of
him, of couSe? He's simply the hinge
that the whole team turns on. I'd
rather spare two from the pack, and
have Godfrey for my three-quarter
line. Whether it's passing, or tack
ling, or dribbling, there's no one to
touch him, and then, he's get the
head. and can hold us all together.
What am 1 to do? That's what I ask
you, Mr.. Holmes. There's Moorhouse,
first reserve but he is trained as a
half, and he always edges right in on
to the serum instead of keeping out
On the touchlnc. He's a fine place
kick, it's true, but then he has no
judgment and he can't sprint for
nuts. Why, Morton or Johnson, the
Oxford fiierS, could romp round him.
Stevenson is fast enough, but he
couldn't drop from the twenty-five
line, and q three-qudrter VINO can't
either punt or drop isn't worth a
place for pace alone. No, Mr.. Holmes.
we are done unless you can help me
to find Godfrey Staunton."
My friend had listened with amused
surprise to this long speech, which
vigour and earnestness, every point
being driven home by the slapping of
a brawny hand upon the speakers
knee. When our visitor was silent
Holmes stretched out his hand and
took down letter 81 of his common-
place book. For once he dug in vain
into that mine of varied information.
There is Arthur H. Staunton, the
rising young forger," said he, land
hon
helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunton
is a new name to me-
1t was our visitors turn to look sur
prised.
why, Mr.. Holmes, 1 thought you
knew things" said he 81 suppose.
then. if you have never heard of
Godfrey Staunton, you don't know
cyril Uverton either2"
Holmes shook his head good hu-
mouredly.
Great Scott cried the athlete
''Why, | was first reserve for Eng
land against Wales and I've skipper
cd the Varsity all this year But
that's nothing. I didn't think there
was soul in England who didn't
know Godfrey Staunton, the crack
e-quarter, Cambridge, BlackIeath,
and five Internationals. Good Lord,
Mr.. Holiness where have you lived? ?"
Holmes laughed at the young giants
naive aStonishment.
''You live in q different world to
me. Mr.. Overton-a sweeter and
healthier one My ramifications stretch
out into many sections of society, but
never, l am happy to say, into anna
teur 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 to do. So now, my good
sir. / beg you to sit down and to tell
me. slowly and quietly, exactly what
it is that has occurred, and how you
desire that ] should help you
Young Overton's face assumed the
bothered look of the man who is more
accustomed to using his muscles than
his wits. but by degrees, with many
repetitionS and Obscurities which
may omit from his narrative, he laid
his strange story before US.
Its this way Mr.. Holmes. AS /