The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-14


 the truncated telegram, and with copy of this in his hand Holmes set forth to find second link for his chain. We had shaken off Lord Mount-James. and Overton had gone to consult with the other members of his team over the misfortune which | had befallen them.
 There was a telegraph office at short distance from the hotel. We halted outside it.
 Its worth trying, Watson" said Holmes "Of course, with a warrant we could demand to see the counter foi1s, but we have not reached that stage yet I don't suppose they re- member faces in so busy place. Let venture it.'
 ''I am sorry to trouble you,'' said he in his blandest manner, to the young woman behind the grating; there is some small mistake about a telegram I sent yesterday. l have had no answer, and I very much fear that I must have omitted to put my name at the end Could you tell me if this was so ?'
 What o'clock was it?" she asked. IA little after six
 Whom was it to?'
 Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at me '"The last words in it were for Gods sake, " he whis- pered. conhdentially; "I am very anX- ious at getting no answer
 of the forms.
 'aThis is it. There is no name.' said she sm oothing it out upon the coun-
 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 ourselves in | the street once more-
 well ?'' T asked
 'rWe progress, my dear Watson, we progress. had seven different schemes for getting a glimpse of that . telegram. but I could hardly hope to | succeed the very first time"
 And what have you gained?"
 "A starting-point for our investiga- tion." He hailed a cab. Kings Cross Station" said he.
 eve have a journey, then?''
 "Yes, think we must run down to Cambridge together. All the in dications seem to me to point Tn that
 saTelI me" asked, as we rathed up Gray's Inn Road, "have you any suspicion yet as to the cause of the :sappearance? I don't think that among all our cases I have known one where the motives are more obscure. Surely you don't really imagine that he may Ike kidnapped in yorder to give information against his wealthy uncle ?"
 q confess, my dear Watson, that that does not appeal to me as very probable explanation. It struck me, however, as being the one which was most likely to interest that ex- ceed:ngly unpleasant old person.
 "It certainly did that. but what are your alternat lives ?''
 ''I could mention several. You must admit that it is curious and lsugeestives that this incident should Ioccur On the eve of this important match, and should involve the only tman whose presence seems essential to the success of the side. It may, tof course; be a coincidence, but it is interesting. Amateur sport is free from betting, but a good deal of out tSide betting goes on among tine pub lie, ard it is possible that it might be worth someone's while to get at a player as the ruffians of the turf get at a race-horse. There is .one scXplaEation. A second very obvious one is that this young man really is the heir of a great property, however tmodest his means at present may 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 teIe- gram still remains the only solid 1thing with which we have to deal, and we must not permit our atten- Etion to wander from it: It is to gain light upon the purpose of this tele- gram that we are now upon our way ito Cambridge. The path of our in vestigation is at present .,osclIre. but I shall be very much surprised if be- :fore evening we have not cIeareI it rup, or made considerable advance along it"
 It was already dark when we reached the old University City. Holmes took a cab at the station, and ordered the man to drive 10 the house of pr. Leslie Armstrong. A few mi ,nutes later we had stopped at a large mansion in the busiest thoroughfare. I've were shown in, and after long wait were at last admitted into the f consultinS-roOm where we found the doctor seated behind his table.
 It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my profession that the raUie of Leslie Armstrons was unknown to ne Now I am aware that he is not only one of the heads of the medical school of the University. but thinker cf Eu- branch or science Yet even with out knowing his -- brIllian; record one could not fail to he impressed by a. mere glance at the man. the eyes under the matched brows. and the granite moulding of the irflexi- ble jaw. X man of deep character 2 hlan with an alert mind. grim ascetic. self-contained, formidable . so I read Dr. Leslie Armstrong. He held my friends card in his hand and. he looked up with no very pleas ed expression upon his dour features
 ''I have heard your name, MT sherlock Holmes. and T am aware of your profession = one of whicl hv no means approve.
 ..In that, doctor. you will find 1oIlrsalf in agreement with ever, criminal in the country said m! friend. quietly
 50 far as your efforts are direct ed toward the suppression of crime sir. they must have the support c every reasonable member of the c pm rnunity. though I cannot doubt tha the official machinery is amply suGE cient for the purpose. Where you calling is more open to criticism 1 when yo,f pry into the secrets Of prl vate individuals, when you rake Ill family matters which are better hid den. and when you 1ncidentaIE waste the time of men who are nor busy than yourself. At the plesen moment for example, I should b writing treatise instead of conVers ing with you ''
 "No doubt, doctor; and yet tn ion lTnnOr