Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-08


back a more favorable report TO you
before evening"
Once more, however, my friend was
| destined to be disappointed. He came
! back at night weary and unsuccessful.
Il have had a blank day, Watson.
| Having got the doctors general direc-
ton, spent the day in visiting all the
| villages upon that side of Cambridge
and comparing notes with pubIicans
| and other local news agencies. I have
| covered some ground ChfStertOn. His
| ton, Waterbe3ch and Darlington have
| each been explored and have each prov
| ed disappointing The daily appear
| ance of a brOugham and pair could
| hardly have been overlooked in such
sleepy hollows. The doctor has scored
| once more. Is there a telegram for
| meT
Yes. l opened it. Here it is: ASK
| for Pompey from Jeremy Dixon, Trim
| ity college / don't understand it,
| 'Oh, it is clear enough. 1t is from
| our friend Overton and is in answer TO
| a question from me. I'll just send
round a note to Mr.. Jeremy Dixon, and
then have no doubt that our luck will
turn. BY the way, is there any news
OF the match?"
Yes, the local evening paper has an
| excellent account in its last edition.
| Oxford won by a goal and two tries.
! The last sentences of the description
| say: The defeat of the Light Blues
| may be entirely attributed to the I'M
| fortunate absence of the crack inter
| national, Godfrey Staunton. whose
want was felt at every instant of the
| game. The lack of combination in the
three-quarter line and their weakness
| both i'll attack and defense more than
ncutralized the efforts of a heavy ana
Woodworking pack"
Then our friend OvertOn's forebod-
ingS have been Justified" said Holmes.
Personally l am in agreement with
DR.. Armstrong, and football does not
come within my horizon. Early to bed
tonight Watson, for l foresee that to-
morrow may be an eventful day"
l was Mortified by my first glimpse
of Holmes next morning. for lie sat 10y
the fire holding his tiny hypodermic
syringe. / associated that instrument
with the single weakness of his ma
ture, ana l feared the worst when l
saw it glittering in his hand. He
laughed at my expression of dismay
and laid il upon the table.
mo. no, my dear fellow, there is 10
cause for alarm. 1t is not upon this
occasion the instrument of evil, but
ii will rather prove TO be the key
which will unlock our mystery. On
this syringe | base all my hopes. |
have just returned from Il small scout !
ing expedition ana everything is favor
able. Eat a good breakfast Watson. |
for l propose to get upon DR.. Arm
strOnS's trail today, and once on ii
VIII not stop for rest or food until
run him TO his burrow."
In that case" said I. I'VE had best |
carry our breakfast with us, for he is |
making an early start. His carriage |
is at the door,
Never mind. Let him go He will |
be clever if he can drive where / can |
not follow him. When you have finish |
ell, come downstairs with me. and l |
Will introduce you to Il detective who |
is very eminent specialist in the |
work that lies before us"
When we descended followed |
Holmes into the stable yard where he |
opened the door of Il loose box and led |
out a squat, lop cared white and tan |
dog, something between a beagle and
a foXhound
let me introduce you to POmpcy." |
said he. "Pompcy is the pride of the
local draghOunds-nO very great fier.
as his build will show, but a stanch
hound on Il scent. Well. Pompcy. you
may not be fast, but 1 expect you Will
he too fast for couple Of middle aged
London gentlemen, so l Will take the
liberty of fastening this leather leash
to your collar Now, boy, come along
and show what you can do" He led
him across TO the doctors door The
dog shifted round for an instant and
then with Il shrill whine of excitement
started off down the street, Juggling at
his leash in his efforts to go faster.
In half an hour we were clear of the
town and hastening down Il country
road
what have you done, Holmesf" I
asked.
"A threadbare and venerable device.
but useful upon occasion. walked
into the doctors yard this morning and
shot my syringe full of aniseed over
the hind wheel. A draghound will fol-
low aniSecd from here to John o.
GrOats, and our friend Armstrong
would have to drive through the Cam
before he would shake Pompey off his
trail. oh, the cunning rascal, This is
how be gave me the slip the other
night"
The dog had suddenly turned out Of
the road into grass grown lane. Half
a mile farther this opened into another
broad road. and the trail turned hard
TO the right in the direction of the
town which we had just quilted. The
road took a sweep 10 the south of the
town and continued in the opposite
direction to that in which we had
started
This detour has been entirely for
our benefit them said Holmes. No
wonder that my INQUIRIES among those