Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-12-26

SANS VI 0S AAAoA1o WA1CA AdO lLIcdSSAGO
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 we'll
aware that the fiend was not dead,
but sleeping, and have known that
the sleep was light one and the wax.
ing near when In periods Of tdlenesa
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 Its sender, and
the card Of Mr.. Cyril Oyerton, 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 comely face
which was haggard with anxiety.
"Mr. Sherlock HolmesT
My companion bowed.
1--WE been down to Scotland Yard,
Mr.. Holmes. saw Inspector Stanley
Hopkins. He advised me to come to
you. BE 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"
tits awful. Mr.. Holmes. Simply
| awful! wonder my hair isn't gray.
Godfrey Staunton-you'ye 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 hree-quarter
line. Whether it's passing or tackling
or dribbling there's no one to touch
him, and, then, he's got the head and
can hold US all together. What am
to do? That's what I 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 fine 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 flers,
could romp round him. Stevenson Ia
fast enough, but he couldn't drop 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 unless
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 Shaping Of 9
brawny hand upon the speakers knee
When our visitor was silent Holmes
stretched out his hand and took down
letter IS" Of his commonplace book
For once he dug in vain into that mine
of varied information.
'"There is Arthur 81. Staunton, the
rising young forger," said he, land
there was Henry Staunton, whom
helped to hang, but Godfrey stauntor
Is new name to me-"
It was our visitors turn to look sur
prised.
why, Mr.. Holmes, I thought yor
knew things" said he. IT suppose
then, IL you have never heard Of God
frey Staunton, you don't know Cyri
Overton either?"
Holmes shook his head good humor
eddy.
"Great scottv cried the athlete
why, was first reserve for Eng
land against Wales, and I've skipperet
the varsity all this year. But that's
nothing! didn't think there was {
soul in England who didn't know God
frey Staunton, the crack se-quarter
Cambridge, Blackheath and Eve in
ternationals. Good Lord, Mr.. Holmes
where have you livedT
Holmes laughed at the young GIANT
naive establishment.
"You live in different world from
me, Mr.. Overton-a sweeter and health
Ter one. My ramifications stretch ou
into many sections of society, but never
I am happy to say, into amateur sport
which Is the best and soundest thing II
England. However, your unexpected
visit this morning shows me that ever
In that world Of fresh air and fair pla.
there may be woli for ne to do. 8,
now, my good sir. I beg on to sit dow,
and tell me, slowly and uiet,y, exactl.
what 1t Is that has occurred and ht,p
you desire that should help you"
/ Young Overton's face assumed th,
bothered look Of man who is NOR,
accustomed to using his muscles tina,
his wits, but by degrees, with man,
repetltions and obscurities which
may omit from his narrative. he lait
his strange story before US.
TITS this way, Mr.. Holmes. AS
have said, am the skipper of the Rug
ger team of Cambridge varsity, ant
Godfrey Staunton is my best man. To
J morrow we -pla1 Oxford. Yesterday NJ