The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-17

papers with which you arc rsakins so
free, ! mar tell you that IN case there
should be anything of any value among
them, you will be held strictly to account
for what you do with them"
Very good. sir said Sherlock Holiness
May l ask. in the meanwhile, whether
you nave yourself any theory to account.
tor this young mans disappearance"
NO, sir. I have not. He is big enough
and old enough to look after himself. and.
If he is SO foolish as TO lose himself. L
entirely refuse to accept the responsibility
of hunting for him.
II quite understand your position" said
Holmes. with a mischievous twinkle in his
eyes. Perhaps you don't quite UNDER
stand mine. Godfrey taunton appears to
have heen a poor man. II he has been
kidnapped, 1t could not have been for any
thing which he himself possesses. The
fame of your wealth has gone abroad.
Lord Mount-James. and it is entirely pos
slble that a gang Of thieves have secured.
your nephew in order to gain from him
some as to your house, your
habits and your treasure"
The face OF our unpleasant little visitor
turned as white as his neckcloth.
Heavens, Sir. what an idea! ! never
thought of such villainy! What inhuman
rogues there are in the world! But Cod
frey is a fine lad-a staunch lad. Nothing
would induce him to give his old uncle
away. I'll have the plate moved over
to the bank this evening. In the mean
time spare no pains, Mr.. Detective! / beg
you to leave no stone unturned to bring
him safely back. AS to money. we'll. SO
far as a flyer, or even a tenner goes you
can always look to me-"
Even in his chastened frame Of mind,
| the noble miSar cOu16 give IS no Informal
ton which could help us, for he knew
little of the private life of his nephew.
Our only clue lay in the truncated tele-
gram, and with a copy of this in hts,
hand Holmes set forth to find a second
link for his chain. We had shaken OF
Lord Mount-James, and Overton had gone
to consult with the other members of his
team over the misfortune which had be-
fallen them.
There was a telegraph office at a short
distance from the hotel. We halted out
side it.
It's worth trying, Watson" said
Holmes. 'Of course, with a warrant we
could demand to see the counterfoils, but
we have not reached that stage yet. I
don't suppose they remember faces in SO
busy a place. Let us venture it,"
81 am sorry to trouble you,' said he, in
i his blandest manner, to the young woman
, behind the grating; there is some
small mistake about a telegram I
sent yesterday. I nave had no
answer. and l very much fear that I must
have omitted to put my name at he end
Could you tell me if this was 500"
The young woman turned over a sheaf
Of counterfoils.
What o'clock was it?" she asked.
"A little after six"
Whom was it to?'
Holmes put his finger to his lips am
glanced at me. THE last words in 1t
were for Gods sake,'" he whispered. con-
fidentially; II am very anxious at getting
nc answer"
The young woman separated one of the.
forms.
This is it. There is no name" said
She, smoothing it out upon the counter.
Then that, of course, accounts for my
getting no answer said Holmes. Dear
me, how very stupid of me, to be sure.
Good morning, miss, and many thanks for
having relieved my mind" He chuckled
and rubbed his hands when we found our
selves in the street once more.
"Well?' l asked.
w progress, my dear Watson. we.
progress. l had seven different schemes
for getting 4 glimpse of that telegram. but
l could hardly hops to succeed The very
first time"
And what have you gulned?'
- Starting point for our Investigation"
He hailed a cab. Kings Cross Station
sad he.
w have O journey, them"
Yes, think we must run down to Cam
bridge together. All the Indications seem
TO- me to point in that direction"
Tel me-" asked, as we ratified up
Gray's Inn road, have you any suspi-
cion yet as to the cause of the disappear
ance? ! don't th:nk that among all our
cases l have known enc where the mo-
tiNes are more obscure. Surely you don't
really imagine that he may he kidnapped
in <.ler TO give Information against his
wealthy unale"
II confess. my dear Watson, that that
does rot appeal TO me as a very probable
cXrlana tion. 1t struck me, however, as
heirg The one which was most likely to
%intcrcs. that exceedingly unpleasant old
person." f.
~ certainly did that; but what are
your altcr.atiVes2'
~ could mention several. You muss
admit that 1T is curious and suggestive
that this incident should occur on the eve
of this important match, and should in
volvc the only man whose presence SCENE
csscntiai to the success OF the side. II
may. of course. be a coincidence. but II
is interesting. Amateur sport is free from
betting, bat a good deal of outside betting
goes on among the public, ;;ru st IS pos
siblc that ii might be worth someone's
while tic get ct a player as the ruffians OF
the turf get at Il race-horse. There IL
one cNpianatiall. A second very obvious
ono is tina this young man really is the
heir of a great property, however modest
his means may at present be, and it is moi
impossible that a plot to hold him Yor ran
som might be concocted."
These theories take no account of the
telegram"
M,