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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1905)
THE OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEI?. April W. Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter ftture of tlie doctor. "He left hiB hoUl lat ulgM-he hns not bfn heard of." "No doubt he will rt'irn." "Tomorrow Is iho 'VHralty fnot ball match." "I have no sympathy with these childish Camrs. The young nian'n fate tntcreata me deeply, elnce I know him and like him. The foot ball matrh dofs not come within my horizon, at all." "I claim your sympathy, then, In my In vestigation of Mr. .Staunton s fute. Do you know where he Is?" "Certainly not." "You have not seen him since yester day?" "No, I have not." "Was Mr. Ptauntun a litnlthy man?" "Absolutely." "Did you ever know him 111?" "Never." Uolmes popped a sheet of paptr before the dnctore eyes. "Then perhaps you will explain this receipted bill for in Kulnenn. paid by Mr. Godfrey Staunton last month to Dr. Tee1l Armstrong of Cambridge. 1 picked It nut from among the papers upon his desk." The doctor flushed with anger. "X do not feel that there is any reason why I should render an explanation to you, Mr. Holmes." Tlolrees nplared the bill In hi notebook. "If you prefer a public explanation, munt rome sooner or later," suld he. "I have al ready told you that I can hitch tip that which others will bo bound to publish, nnd you would really be wiser to take me Into your complete confidence " "I know nothing about It." "Did you hour from Mr. Staunton In Lon don?" "Certainly not." "Desr me, dear me the postofflce sgaln!" Ttolme sighed, wenrily. "A most urgent telegram was dispatched to you from Lon don by rjodfry Staunton at fi:15 yesfprdny eventng-a telegram which Is undoubtedly associated with his disappearance and yet you have not had It. It Is most cnlpahle. I shall certainly go down to the office here and register a complaint." J?r. Leslie Armstrong sprang up from be hind Ms desk, and his dark face was crim son with fury. "I'll trouble you to walk out of my house, sir," said lie. "You ran tell your employer, jotA Mount-James, that T do not wish to have anything to do either with him or with his agents. No, sir not another word!" Tie ranjr the bell furiously. "John, show theso 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," iald he. "I have not eeen a man who, If he turns his talents that way, was more calculated to fill the gap left by the Illustrious Morlarlty. And now. my poor Watson, here we are, stranded and friendless In this Inhospitable town, which we cannot leave without aban doning our case. Thl llttlo Inn Just oppo site Armstrong's house Is singularly adapted to our needs. If you would engago a front room and purchase the necessaries for the night, I (may have 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 and dejected, stained with dust and exhausted with hunger and fatigue. A cold eupper wns ready upon the table, and when his needs were satisfied and his pipe alight he m reedy to take that half comic and wholly philosophic view which was natural to him when his affairs were going awry. The sound of carriage wheels caused him to rise end glance out of the window. A brougham and pair of greys, under the glare of a gas lamp, stood before the doc tor's door. "It's been out three hours," said Holmes; "started at 6:30, and here it Is back again. That gives a radius of ten or twelve miles, and he does It once, or sometimes twice, a day." "No unusual thing for a doctor In prac tice." "But Armstrong Is not really a doctor In practice. He Is a lecturer and a consultant, but ho does not care for general practice, which distracts him from his literary work. Why, then, does he make these long Jour neys, which must be exceedingly Irksome to him. and who Is it that he visits?" "His coachman" "My dear Watson, can you doubt that It was to him that I first applied? I do not know whether it came from his own Innate depravity or from the promptings of his master, but he was rude enough to set a dog at ine. Neither dog nor man liket the look of my stick, however, and the matter fell through. Relations were strained after that, and further inquiries out of the ques tion. All that 1 have learned I got from a friendly native in the yard of our own Inn. It was he who told me of tho doc tor's habits and of his daily Journey. At that Instant, to give point to bis words, the carriage came round to the door." "Could you not follow it?" "Excellent, Watson! You are scintillat ing this evening. The Idea did cross my mind. There Is, as you may have observed, a bicycle shop next to our inn. Into this I rushed, engaged a bicycle, and was able to get started before the carriage was quite out of sight. 1 rapidly overtook It, and then, keeping at a discreet distance of a hundred yards or ao I followed its lights until we were cleur of the town. We hud got well out on the country road, when a somewhat mortifying incident occurred. The carriage stopped, the doctor alighted, walked swiftly back to where I had also halted, and told mo in an excellent sardonic fashion that he feared the road was nar row, and that he hoped his carriage did not Impede the passage of my bicycle. Nothing could have been more admirable than bis way of putting It. I ftt once rode past the carriage, and, keeping to the main road, I went on for a few miles, and then halted In a convenient place to sea If the carriage passed. There was no sign of it, however, and so It became evident that It had turned down one of the several side roads which I had observed. I roda back, but again saw nothing of the car riage, and now, as you perceive. It has re turned after me. Of course, I had at the outset no particular reason to connect these Journeys with the disappearance of Godfrey Stuunton, and wns only Inclined to investigate them on the general grounds that everything which concerns Dr. Arm strong is at present of Intercut to us, but, now that 1 find he keeps so keen u look out upon anyone who muy follow him on these excursions, the affair appears more Important, and I shall not bo satistled until 1 have made the matter clear." "We can follow him tomorrow." "Can we? It is not so easy as you seem to think. You are not fumlliar with Cam bridgeshire scenery, are you? It docs not lend Itself to concealment. All this coun try Unit I paused over tonight Is as flat and clean as tho palm of your band, and the man we ure following Is no tool, as ho very clearly showed tonight. I have wired to Overton to let us know any fresh Lon don developments at this address, ajid in the meantime we can only concentrate our attention upon Dr. A'rmstrong, whose name the obliging young lady ut tho office al lowed me to read upon the counterfoil of Staunton's urgent message. He knows where tho young man Is to thut I'll swear, and if he knows, then it must be our own fault If we cannot manage to know also. At present It must be admitted that the odd trick is in his possession, and, as you are aware, Watson, It is not my habit to leave the game in that condition." And yet the next day brought us no nearer to the solution of the mystery. A note was handed in after breakfast, which Holmes passed across to me with a smile. "Sir," it ra:-., "I can ssure you that you ure wasting your time In dogging my move ments. I have, us you discovered last night, a window at the back of my brougham, and if you desire a twenty-mile ride which will lead you to the spot from which you started, you have only to fol low me. Meanwhile, I can Inform you that no spying upon me can In any way help ' Mr. Godfrey Staunton, and I am convinced that the beat service you can do to that gentleman Is to return at once to London and to report to your employer that you are unablo to trace him. Your time in Cambridge will certail be wasted. Yours faithfully, LESLIE ARMSTRONG." "An outspoken, honest antagonist Is the dpctor," said Holmes. "Weil, well, he ex cites my curiosity, and I must really know before I leave him." "His carriage Is at his door now," said I. "There he Is stepping into it. I aaw him glance up at our window as he did so. Suppose I try my luck upon the bicycle?" "No, no, my dear Watson! With all re spect for your natural acumen, I do not .think that you are quite a match for the worthy doctor. I think that possibly I can attain our end by some Independent explorations of my orn. I em afraid that I must leave you to your own devices, as the appearance of two Inquiring strangers upon a sleepy countryside might excite more gossip than I care for. No doubt you will find some sights to amuse, you in this venerable city, and I hope to bring back a more favorable report to you be for evening." Once more, however, my friend was des tined to be disappointed. He came back at night weary and unsuccessful. "I have had a blank day, Watson. Having got the doctor's general direction, I spent the day In visiting all the villages upon that side of Cambridge, and comparing notes with publicans and other news agen cies. I have covered some ground. Chest erton, lllston. Watcrbeiich and Onklngton bae each been explored, and have each proved disappointing. The dally uppear anc of a brougham and pair could hardly have been overlooked In such Sleepy Hol lows. The doctor has scored once more. Is there a telegram for me?" "Yes, I opened It. Here It Is: 'Ask for Pompey from Jeremy Dixon. Trinity col lege.' I don't understand it." "Uh, It is clear enough. Jt Is from our friend Overton, and Is In answer to a ques tion from me. I'll Just send round a note to Mr. Jeremy Dixon, and then I have no doubt that our luck will turn. Ry the way, Is there any news of the match?" "Yes, the local evening paper has an ex cellent account in its last edition. Oxford won by a goal and two tries. The Inst sentences of the description say: 'The de feat of the Light Blues may be entirely at tributed to the unfortunate absence of the crack International, 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 In attack and defense more than neutral ised the efforts of a heavy and hard-working pack.' " "Then our friend Overton's forebodings have been Justified," sakl Holmes. 'Tcr sonally I am In agreement with Dr. Arm strong, and foot ball does not come within my horizon. Early to bed tonight. Wat son, for I foresee that tomorrow may be an eventful day." I was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next morning, for ho sat by the fire holding his tiny hypodermic syringe. I associated that Instrument with the sln glo weakness of his nature, and I feared tho worst when I saw It glittering In his hand. He laughed at my expression of dis may and laid It upon the table. "No, no, my dear fellow, there Is no cause for alarm. It is not upon this occa sion the Instrument of evil, but It will rather prove to be the key which will un lock our mystery. On this syringe I base all my hopes. 1 have Just returned from a small scouting expedition, and everything is favorable. Eat a good breakfast, Wat son, for I propose to get upon Dr. Arm strong's trail today, and once on It I will not stop for rest of food until I run hlra to his burrow." "In that case," said I, "we had best carry our breakfast with us, for he Is making an early start. Ills carriage Is at the door." "Never mind. Let him go. He will be clever if he can drive where I cannot fol low him. When you have finished, como downstairs with me. and I will Introduce you to a detectivo who is a very eminent specialist in the work that lies before us." When we descended I followed Holmes into tho stable yard, where he opened the door of a loose box and led out a squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog, something between a beagle and a foxhound. "Let me introduce you to Pompey," said he. "Pompey is the pride of tho local drag hounds no very great flyer, as his build will show, but a staunch hound on a' scent. Well. Pompey, you may not be fast, but I expect you will be too f:u?t for a couplo of mlddleaged London gentlemen, so I 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 doctor's door. Tho dog sniffed round for an instant and then with a shrill whine of excitement started off down the street, tugging at his leash in his efforts to go faster. In halt an hour, wo were clear out of town and hastening down a country road. "What have you done. Holmes?" I asked. "A threadbare and venerable device, but useful upon occasion. I walked Into tho doctor's yard this morning, and shot my syringe full of aniseed over the hind wheel. X draghound will follow aniseed from here to John o" Groat's, and our friend, Arm strong, would have to drive through the Cam before he would shake Tompey off his trail. O the cunning rascal! This Is how he gave mo the slip the other night." The dog had suddenly turned out of the main road Into a 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 quitted. The road took a sweep to the south of the town, and continued In the opposite direction to that lu which we started. "This detour has been entirely for our benefit, then?" suld Holmes. "No wonder that my inquiries among those vilUges led to nothing. The doctor has certainly played the game for all It Is worth, and one would like to know the reason for such elaborate deception. This should be the village of Trumptngton to the right of us. And, by Jove! here Is the brougham coming round the corner. Quick, Watson quick or we are done!" He sprang through a gate into a field, dragging the reluctant Pompey after him. 3"ne Day Yon begin TaWtig tjzomuision Ton uegrn "lawng the anortest Koaa to Meaitn. Go to Your Druggist Get a Bottle Begin Today. THE WORLD WIDE REMEDY most eff retire In Good Results for AN EMI Is that Unexcelled Preparation UnJrvcr sally Known as Doctors erery- vrhu use and oreicrlbe it for j . - , Anemia Ca.ttk.rrh, Bronchitis, Coughs. 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Armstrong within, bin shoulders bowed, hie bend sunk on bis hiiinls. the very Inuige of distress. I could tell, by my companion's grave face, that he alio had seen. "I fear there Is some dark ending to our o.urst," suld be. "It cannot bp long before we know it. Come, Pompey! Ah, It Is the cottage In the field:'' There could be no doubt that we had reuclud the cud of our Journey, l'ompey tan about and whined eagerly outside, th, g.tto, where the marks of tho brougham's wli-el were still to be seen. A footpath led across to the lonely cottage. Holmes tied the dog to the hedge, mid we hastened on ward. My friend knocked at the little rustic door, and knocked again without response. And yet the rottage was not deserted, for a low sound came to our ears a kind of drone of misery and despair, which was in describably melancholy. Holmes paused Ir resolute, and then he glanced back nt the road which he had Just traversed. A brougham was coming down It, and there could bo no mistaking those grey hoiTes. "Hy Jove, tho doctor Is coming buck!" cried Holmes. "That settles It. Wo are bound to see what it means before he conies" He opened the door, and we ptepped Into the hall. Tho droning sound swelled louder upon our cars until it becamo one long, deep wall of distress. It came from up stairs. Holmes darted up, and I followed him. He pushed open a half-closed door, and we both stood appalled at tho eight be fore us. A woman, young and beautiful, was lying dead upon the bed. Her culm, pale face, with dim, wlde-openod blue eyes, looked up ward from amid a great tangle of golden hair. At tho foot of the bed. half sitting, half kneeling, his face burled In the clothes, whs a young man, whose frame was racked by his sobs. Bo absorbed was ho by his bitter grief, that he never looked up until Holmes' hand was on bis shoulder. "Are you Mr. Godfrey Staunton?" "Yea, yes, 1 um but you are too late. Bhe Is dead." The man was so dazed that he could not be made to understand that we were any thing but doctors who had been sent to his assistance. Holmes was endeavoring to utter a few words of consolation and to ex plain tho nlarm which hud been caused to his friends by his sudden disappearance, when there was a step upon the stair, and there was the heavy, stern, questioning face of Dr. Armstrong at the door. "So, gentlemen," said he. "you have at tained your end, and have certainly jhoson a particularly delicate moment for your in trusion. I would not brawl In the presence of death, but I can assure you that if I were a younger man your monstrous con duct would not pass with impunity." "Excue me, Dr. Armstrong, I think we are a little at cross-purposes," suld my friend, with dignity. "If you could step downstairs with us, we may each be able to glvo some light to the other upon this miserable affair." A minute later the grim doctor and our selves were in the sitting room below. "Well, sir?" said he. "I wish you to understand, In the first place, that I am not employed by Ixjrd Mount-James, and that my eympathlee in this matter are entirely against that noble man. When a man Is lost It la my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter ends so far as I am concerned, and so long as there U nothing criminal, I am much more anxious to hush up private scandals than to give them publicity. If, as I imagine, there is no breach of the law In this matter, you can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my co-operation in keeping tho facts out of the papers." Dr. Armstrong took a quick step forward and wrung Hulmes by the hand. "You are a good fellow," said he. "I has misjudged you. I thank heaven that my compunction at leaving pour Staunton all alone In thla plight caused me to turn my carriage back, and so to make your acquaintance. Knowing as much as you do, the situation is very easily explained. A year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for a time, and became passionately attached to his landlady's daughter, whom lie married. She was as good as she was beautiful,, and as intelligent au Bhe was good. No man need be ashamed of such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir to thla crabbed old nobleman, and it was quite certain that the news of his marriage would have been the 'end of his Inheritance. I knew the lad well, and I loved him for his many excellent qualities. I did all I could to help him to keep things straight. We did our very best to keep the thing from everyone, for, when such a whisper gets about, it is not long before everyone has heard it. Thanks to this lonely cot tage and his own discretion, Godfrey has up to now succeeded. Their secret was known to no one save to me and to one excellent servant, who has at present gone for assistance to Trumplngton. But at last there came a terrible blow In the shape of dangerous illness to his wife. It was consumption of the most virulent kind. The poor boy was half crazed with grief, and yet he had to go to London to play this match, for he could not get out of It with out explanations which would expose his secret. I tried to cheer him up by wire, and he sent me one In reply, imploring me to do all I could. This waa the telegram which you appear in some Inexplicable way to have seen. I did not tell him how urgent the danger was, for I knew that he could do no good here, but I sent the truth to the girl's father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey. The result was that he came straight away in a state bordering on frenzy, and has remained In the same state, kneeling at the end of her bed, until this morning death put an end to her sufferings. That is all, Mr. Holmes, and I am sure that I cun rely upon your discretion and that of your friend." Holmes ifrasped the doctor's hand. "Come, Watson," said he, and wc pussed from that house of grief Into the pale sun light of the winter day. Alraleee Talkers. The Rev. Dr. Cleland B. McAfee, pastor of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian church, at the dinner of the Brooklyn Chapter of the Amerieun Institute of Bank Clerks the other evening, told a story to illustrate how s Unless in their remarks some publio speakers (Including ministers) are. In an audience listening to a speech Dr. McAfee said, were a mother and her young daughter, 5 years old. After the speaker had been talking for about an hour the youngster turned to her mother and asked: "Muvver. do you know what the man is talking about?" "I do not,' my child," was the mother's response. After a few minutes' pause the girl turned to her mother again and Inquired: "Muvver, does the man know what he is talking about?" "I am sure I do not know, my child,'1 repllttd the mottur. 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