The San Francisco call., 1905-05-14

ton" He hailed cab. Kings Cross
station" said he.
I'VE have journey, then?"
''Yes, / think we must run down to
Cambridge together. All the indica-
tions seem to point in that direction. :"
."Tell me-" ] asked, as we ratified up
Grays Inn road, have you any suspi-
cion yet, as to the cause of the disap-
pearance? / don't think that among all
our cases L have known one where the
motives are more obscure. Surely. you
don't really imagine that he may be
kidnapped in order to give information
against his wealthy uncle?'
Il confess, my dear Watson, that
that does not appeal to me as very
probable explanation. 1t struck me,
however. as being the one which was
most likely to interest that exceedingly
unpleasant old person
1T certainly did that; but what are
your alternatives?
Il could mention several. You must
admit that it is curious and suggestive
that this incident should occur on the
eve OF this important match and should
involve the only man whose presence
seems essential to the success OF the
side. 1t may, of. course, be a coin
cidence, bat it is interesting. Amateur
sport is free from betting, but good
deal of outside betting goes on among
the public, and it is possible that it
might be worth some ones while to get
at a player as the ruffians of the turf
get at race horse. There is one ex-
PLANTATION. A second very obvious one
is that this young man really is the
heir Of a great property, however mod
est his means may at present be, and
it is not impossible that a plot to hold
him for ransom might be concocted.''
These theories take no account of
the telegram"
Quite true, Watson. The telegram
still remains the only solid thing. with
which we have to deal, and we must
not permit our attention to wander
away from it. 1t is to gain light upon
the purpose of this telegram that we
are now upon our way to Cambridge.
The path of our investigation is at
present obscure. but 1 shall be very
much surprised if before evening we
nave IlOl ClcdISO II Vi IldQS d COD-
siderable advance along it,
It was already dark when we
reached the old university city
Holmes took a cab at the sta
ton and ordered the man to drive
to the house of DR.. Leslie Armstrong
A few minutes later we had stopped at
a large mansion in the busiest thor
oughfare. We were shown in, and
after a long wait were at last admit
ted into the consulting room, where
we found the doctor seated behind his
table.
It argues the degree in which ] had
lost touch with my profession that the
name of Leslie Armstrong was un-
known to me. Now I am aware that
he is not only one of the heads of the
medical school of the university. but
thinker Of European reputation in
more than one branch of science. Yet
even without knowing his brilliant rec
ord one could not fail to be impressed
by a mere, glance at the man. the
square, massive face, the brooding eyes
under the thatched brows and the
granite molding of the infiexible jaw
A man of deep character, a man with
an alert mind, grim, ascetic,: self-con-
tained, formidable-so l read DR.. Les
lie Armstrong. He held my friends $
card in his hand, and he looked up
with no very pleased expressiona upon
his dour features.
II have heard your name. Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes, and l am aware of your
profession-one Of which 1 by no means
approve"
I'm that, DOCTOR you will find your
self in agreement with every criminal
in the country said my friend,
quietly.
so far as your efforts are directed
toward the suppression of crime, sir,
they must have the support of every
reasonable member of the community,
though 1 cannot doubt that the Off
cial machinery is amply sufficient for
the purpose. Where your calling is
more open to criticism is when you pry
into the secrets of private individuals.
when you rake up family matters
which are better hidden, and when you
incidentally waste the time of men who
are more busy than yourself. At the
present moment, for example, 1 should
be writing a treatise instead of con-
versing with you"
mo doubt, doctor; and yet the con-
versation may prove more important
than the treatise. Incidentally, / may
tell you that we are doing the reverse
of what you very justly blame, and
that we are endeavor.ng to prevent
anything like public exposure of pri-
vate matters which must necessarily
follow when once the case is fairly in
the hands of the official police. You
may look upon me simply as an irreg-
ular pioneer, who goes in front of the
regular forces of the country. 1 have
Seeeeeeeeeeesseess. ssssexSeeeses<esy.