The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-24
x,.-TAE ADVENTURE OF THE
MISSING THREE-QuARTER.
Continued.

quito true. Watson. The telegram SUN
remains the only solid thing with which
we have to deal. and we must not permit
our attention to Wander away from IL.
1t Is to gain light upon the purpose OF this
telegram hat we are nov upon our way to
Cambridge. The path OF our investigation
Is at present obscure, but I shall be very
much surprised II before evening we have
not cleared 1t up. or made a considerable
advance along It,"
1t was already dark when we reached
the old university city. holmes took a
cab at the station, and ordered the man to
drive to the house OF DR.. Leslie Arm
strong. A few minutes later We had
stopped at a large mansion in the busiest
thoroughfare. We were shown in, and aft
er a long wait were at last admitted into
the consulting room, where we found the
doctor seated behind his table.
1t argues the degrees in which I had lost
touch with my profession that the name
of Leslie Armstrong was known to me.
Now / am aware that he is not only one Of
the heads of the medical schoo! of the uni
versity. but q thinker o.. European repu-
tation in more thar. one branch Of
science. Yet even without knowing
his brilliant record one could not
fail to be impressed by a mere
glance at the man. the square, massive
face. the brooding eyes under the matched
brows. and the granite moulding OF the
infexible jaw. A man of deep character.
a man with an alert mind. grim, ascetic,
self-contained. formidable-so 1 read DR..
Leslie Armstrong. He held my friends
card in his hand, and he looked up with
no very pleased expression upon his dour
features.
Il have heard your name. Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes, and l am aware Of your profess
sion-one of which I by no means APP
prove
IN that. doctor, you Will find yourself
In agreement with every criminal in the
country said my friend, quietly.
$50 far as o efforts are directed to-
wards the suppression Of crime, sir, they
must nave the support Of every reasonable
member Of the community. though l cam
not doubt that the official 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
conversing with you"
mo doubt, doctor; and yet the CONVEX
sation may prove more important than the
treatise. Incidentally, l may tell you that
we are doing the reverse Of what you very
justly blame, and that we are endeavor-
ing to prevent anything X public expo
sure of private matters which must neces-
sarily follow When once the case is fairly
in the hands of the Official police. You
may look upon me simply IS an irregular
pioneer, who goes in front of the regular
forces of the country I have come to ask
you about Mr.. Godfrey Stanton"
What about him?"
You know him, do you not?"
HE is an intimate friend Of mine"
You are aware that he has disap-
eeared?"
"Ah. indeed"' There was no change of
expression in the rugged feature of the
doctor.
Fl left his hotel last night-he has not
been heard Of"
N doubt he will return"
Tomorrow is the varsity football
match"
IT have no symathy with these childish
games. The young mans fate interests
me deeply, since I know him and like him..
Tho football match does not come within
my horizon at ALL"
II claim your sympathy, then, in my in
vestigation of Mr.. Staunton's fate. Do
you know where he is?"
Certainly not"
You nave not seen him since yester-
day."
NO, I have not
WAS Mr.. Staunton q healthy man?'
"Absolutely.'
Ibid you ever know him ill?"
"Never."
Holmes popped a sheet of paper before
the doctors eyes. Then perhaps you will
explain this receipted bill for thirteen
guineas, paid by Mr.. Godfrey Staunton
last month to DR.. Leslie Armstrong OF
Cambridge. 1 picked it out from among
the papers upon his desk"
The doctor flushed with anger.
Il do not feel that there is any reason
why l should render ar explanation to
you. Mr.. Holmes"
Holmes replaced the bill in his note
book. IF you prefer a public explana-
he. II have already told you that I can
hush up that which others will be bound
to publish, and you would really be wiser
to take me into your complete confidence
Il know nothing about it."
Did you hear from MT. Staunton in
London?"
Certainly not"
Dear me, dear me-the postoffce
again!" Holmes sighed, YEARLY. "a most
urgent telegram was dispatched to you
from London by Godfrey Staunton at 6:15
yesterday evening" telegram which Is
undoubtedly associated with his disap-
pearance-and yet o have not had Il.
1t is most culpable. l shall certainly &c
down to the Office here and register a
complaint"
DR.. Leslie Armstrong sprang up from
behind his desk. and his dark face was
crimson with fury.
"Ill trouble you to walk out Of my
house, SIR said he. You can tell your
employer, Lord Mount-James. that 1 dc
not wish to have anything to do either
with him or with his agents. No. sir
not another word!" He rang the bell fur
iously. John. show these gentlemen out
A pompous butler ushered us severely to
the door, and we found ourselves in the
street. Holmes burst out laughing.
"Dr. Leslie Armstrong is certainly a
man of energy and character" said he.
II have not seen a man who, if he turns
his talents that way, was more calculated
to fill the gap left by the illustrious Mort
arity. And now my poor Watson. here
we are, stranded and f%riendless in this in
.hospitable town, which we cannot leave
Jwithout abandoning our case. This little
inn just opposite Armstrong; house is
! %singularly adapted to our needs. If you
would engage a front room and purchase
the necessaries for the night, 1 may nave
time to make a few inquiries"
These few inquiries proved, however, to
be a more lengthy proceeding than Holmes
had imagined, for he did not return to the
inn until nearly 9 o'clock. He was pale
n detected, stained with dust, and ex-
haustcd with hunger and fatigue. A cold
supper was ready upon the table, and
u,Eap btc noodle uGpo Scticf.1 md bic nine