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

gGSZ&tA 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 70 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 il over
aud over. Mr.. Overton was evidently
considerably excited when Ee sent il
and somewhat incohevent in conse-
Quence. Well well, be Will be here. l
dare say. 10y the time ! have looked
through the Times. and then we shall
know AZ about H. Even the most insig-
nihcant problem would be welcome I'm
these staguant days"
Things had indeed been very slow
with Us, and 1 had learned 20 dread
such periods Of maction. for ! knew
10y experience that my companions
brain was SO abnormally active that It
was dangerous 10 leave it without ma
terial upon which 20 work. For years
I had gradually weaued him from
that drug mania which had threatened
once 20 check his remarkable career.
Now I knew that under ordinary CON
ditions he no longer craved for this
artificial stimulus. but 1 was well
aware that the dend was not dead.
hut sleeping and l have known that
the sleep was light one and the walk
ing near when In periods OF idleness
/ have seen the drawn look upon
Holmes ascetic face and the brooding
OF his deep set and mscrutable eyes.
Therefore / blessed this Mr.. Overton.
whoever he might Ice. since lac had
come with his cu.gmatic message TO
break that dangerous calm which
brought more peril % my friend than
all the storms of his tempestu0us lie.
As we had expected. the telegram
was soon followed hy It's sender aud
the card OF Mr.. cyril Overton. Trinity
college. Cambridge. announced the ar
rival Of an enormous youug man. six
teen stone OF solid bone anal muscle.
who spauucd The doorway with his
broad shoulders and looked from one
OF Us 20 the other with comeiy face
which was ha-garl V.L auS.ety.
''Alr. Sherlock Holiness"
My companion bowed
Eve been down to Scotland Yard.
Mr. Holmes. I saw Inspector Stanley
Hopkins. He advised me 10 come to
You. He said tile case. So Jar as ne
could see, was more iu yolr line than
in that of the regular police"
Pray sit down and tell me what is
the matter"
Its awful AR Holmes. Simply
awful. l wonder my hair isn't gray.
Godfrey Staunton-you've heard OF
him, OF coursef He's simply the hinge
that the whole team turns on. III
rather spare two from the pack and
have Godfrey for my three-quarter
line. Whether its passing or tackilng
or dribbling there's no one 10 touch
him, and. then. he's got the head and
can hold us all together. What am 1
20 do! That's what / ask you. AIr.
Holmes. There's Moorhouse, first re-
serve, but he is trained as a half and
he always edges right IN on TO the
serum instead Of keeping out on the
touch line. He's a line place kick. its
true, but then he has no Judgment, and
lie can't sprint for nuts. Why. Nor
ton or Johnson, the oxford fiiers,
could romp round him. Stevenson is
fast enough, but he couldn't drop from
the twenty-five line, and u three
quarter who 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 10 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 and took down
letter 50 OF his commonplace book.
For once he dug in vain into that mine
OF varied information.
There is Arthur II Staunton. the
rising young forger." said he. land
there was Henry Staunton, whom I
helped to hang. but Godfrey Stanton
is a new name to me-"
1t was our visitors turn TO look sur
prised.
why, Mr.. Holmes. l thought you
knew things" said he Il suppose.
then, If you have never heard Of Cod
frey Staunton, you don't know Cyril
Overton either?"
Holmes shook his head good humor-
eddy.
Great Scottr' cried the athlete.
why. was first reserve for Eng
land agaiHst Wales. and I've skippered
the varsity all this year But that's
nothing! I didn't think there was q
soul in England who didn't know God
frey Staunton, the crack three-quarter.
Cambridge. Blackheath and FIVE in
ternationals. Good Lord, Mr.. Holmes,
where have you lived?"
Holmes laughed at the young giants
naive establishment
''You live In q different world from
me, AR. Overton--a sweeter and health
Ter one My ramihcations stretch out
into many sections OF society. bat never,