No. 11 The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the adventure of_the Missing three- quarter

by Arthur Conan Doyle

we were fairly accustomed to receive weird telegrams at baker street, but I_have a particular recollection of one which reached us on agloomy February morning some seven or eight years_ago and gave Mr Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour . it_was addressed to him, and ran thus:--

" please await me . terrible misfortune . right wing three- quarter missing; indispensable to morrow .-- Overton ."

" strand post- mark and dispatched ten-thirty-six," said Holmes, reading it over and over ." Mr Overton was evidently considerably excited when he sent it, and somewhat incoherent in consequence . well, well, he_will_be here, I dare say, by_the_time I_have looked through_the Times, and then we_shall know all about_it . even the most insignificant problem would_be welcome in_these stagnant days ."

things had indeed been very slow with_us, and I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I_knew by experience that my companion's brain was so abnormally active that_it_was dangerous to leave it without material upon_which to work . for years I had gradually weaned him from_that drug mania which had threatened once to_check his remarkable career . now I_knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for_this artificial stimulus, but i_was well aware that_the fiend was not dead, but sleeping; and I_have known that_the sleep was a light one and_the waking near when in periods of idleness I_have_seen the drawn look upon Holmes's ascetic face, and_the brooding of_his deep- set and inscrutable eyes . therefore I blessed this Mr Overton, whoever he_might_be, since he had come with_his enigmatic message to break that dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than all the storms of_his tempestuous life .

as_we had expected, the telegram was soon followed by its sender, and_the card of Mr Cyril Overton, of trinity college, Cambridge, announced the arrival of an enormous young man, sixteen stone of solid bone and muscle, who spanned the doorway with_his broad shoulders and looked from one of us to_the other with a comely face which_was haggard with anxiety .

" Mr Sherlock Holmes ? "

my companion bowed .

"I've been down to Scotland yard, Mr Holmes . I_saw inspector Stanley Hopkins . he advised me to_come to_you . he_said the case, so_far as he could_see, was more in your line than in_that of_the regular police ."

" pray sit down and tell me what_is the matter ."

" it's awful, Mr Holmes, simply awful ! I wonder my hair isn't grey . Godfrey Staunton -- you've heard of him, of_course ? he's simply the hinge that_the whole team turns on .I'd rather spare two from_the pack and_have Godfrey for_my three- quarter line . whether it's passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there's no one to touch him; and then, he's got the head and can hold us all together . what am I to_do ? that's what I ask_you, Mr Holmes . there's Moorhouse, first reserve, but he_is trained as a half, and he always edges right in on to_the scrum instead of keeping out on_the touch- line . he's a fine place- kick, it's true, but, then, he has no judgement, and he_can't sprint for nuts . why, Morton or Johnson, the Oxford fliers, could romp round him .Stevenson is fast enough, but he couldn't drop from_the twenty-five line, and a three- quarter who_can't either punt or drop isn't worth a place for pace alone . no, Mr Holmes, we_are done unless you_can help me to_find Godfrey Staunton ."

my friend had listened with amused surprise to_this long speech, which_was poured forth with extraordinary vigour and earnestness, every point being driven home by_the slapping of a brawny hand upon_the speaker's knee . when our visitor was silent Holmes stretched out his hand and took down letter "S" of_his commonplace book . for once he dug in vain into that mine of varied information .

" there_is Arthur H . Staunton, the rising young forger," said he, " and there_was Henry Staunton, whom I helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunton is a new name to_me ."

it_was our visitor's turn to look surprised .

" why, Mr Holmes, i_thought you_knew things," said he ."I suppose, then, if_you_have never heard of Godfrey Staunton you don't know Cyril Overton either ? "

Holmes shook his head good-humouredly .

" great Scot ! " cried the athlete ." why, i_was first reserve for England against Wales, and I've skippered the 'Varsity all this year . but that's nothing ! I didn't think there_was a soul in England who didn't know Godfrey Staunton, the crack three- quarter, Cambridge, Blackheath, and five Internationals . good lord ! Mr Holmes, where have_you lived ? "

Holmes laughed at_the young giant's naive astonishment .

" you live in a different world to_me, Mr Overton, asweeter and healthier one . my ramifications stretch out into many sections of society, but never, I_am happy to_say, into amateur sport, which_is the best and soundest thing in England . however, your unexpected visit this_morning shows me that even in_that world of fresh air and fair play there_may_be work for_me to_do; so now, my good sir, I beg you to sit down and to_tell me slowly and quietly exactly what it is_that has occurred, and how you_desire that i_should help_you ."

young Overton's face assumed the bothered look of_the man who_is more accustomed to using his muscles than his wits; but by degrees, with many repetitions and obscurities which I_may omit from_his narrative, he laid his strange story before_us .

" it's this_way, Mr Holmes . as I_have said, I_am the skipper of_the Rugger team of Cambridge 'Varsity, and Godfrey Staunton is my best man . to- morrow we play Oxford . yesterday we all came up and we settled at Bentley's private hotel . at ten o'clock I went round and saw that all the fellows had gone to roost, for I believe in strict training and plenty of sleep to_keep a team fit .I had a word or two with Godfrey before he turned in . he_seemed to_me to_be pale and bothered .I asked him what_was the matter . he_said he_was all right -- just a touch of headache .I bade him good- night and left him . half an hour later the porter tells me that a rough- looking man with a beard called with a note for Godfrey . he had_not gone to bed and_the note was taken to_his room . Godfrey read it and fell back in a chair as_if he had_been pole-axed . the porter was so scared that he_was going to fetch me, but Godfrey stopped him, had a drink of water, and pulled himself together . then he went downstairs, said a few words to_the man who was waiting in_the hall, and_the two of_them went off together . the last that_the porter saw of_them, they were almost running down the street in_the direction of_the strand . this_morning Godfrey's room was empty, his bed had never been slept in, and_his things were all just as I had seen them the night before . he had gone off at a moment's notice with_this stranger, and no word has_come from_him since .I don't believe he_will ever come back . he_was a sportsman, was Godfrey, down to_his marrow, and he wouldn't have stopped his training and let in_his skipper if_it were_not for some cause that was too strong for him . no; I_feel as_if he were gone for good and we_should never see him again ."

Sherlock Holmes listened with_the deepest attention to_this singular narrative .

" what did you_do ? " he asked .

"I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had_been heard of him there . I_have_had an answer . no one has seen him ."

" could he have got back to Cambridge ? "

" yes, there_is a late train -- quarter- past eleven ."

" but so_far as_you_can ascertain he_did_not take it ? "

" no, he has_not_been seen ."

" what did you_do next ? "

"I wired to lord mount-James ."

" why to lord mount-James ? "

" Godfrey is an orphan, and lord mount-James is his nearest relative -- his uncle, I believe ."

" indeed . this throws new light upon_the matter . lord mount-James is one_of_the richest men in England ."

" so I've heard Godfrey say ."

" and your friend was closely related ? "

" yes, he_was his heir, and_the old boy is nearly eighty -- cram full of gout, too . they say he_could chalk his billiard- cue with_his knuckles . he never allowed Godfrey ashilling in_his life, for he_is an absolute miser, but it_will all come to him right enough ."

" have_you heard from lord mount-James ? "

" no ."

" what motive could your friend have in going to lord mount-James ? "

" well, something was worrying him the night before, and if_it_was to_do with money it_is possible that he_would make for_his nearest relative who had so_much of it, though from all I_have heard he_would_not have much chance of getting it . Godfrey was not fond of_the old man . he_would_not go if he_could help it ."

" well, we_can soon determine that . if your friend was going to_his relative, lord mount-James, you_have then to explain the visit of_this rough- looking fellow at so late an hour, and_the agitation that was caused by his coming ."

Cyril Overton pressed his hands to_his head ." I_can make nothing of it," said he .

" well, well, I_have a clear day, and I_shall_be happy to look into_the matter," said Holmes ." i_should strongly recommend you to_make your preparations for your match without reference to_this young gentleman . it must, as_you say, have_been an overpowering necessity which tore him away in_such a fashion, and_the same necessity is likely to hold him away . let_us step round together to_this hotel, and_see if_the porter can throw any fresh light upon_the matter ."

Sherlock Holmes was a past- master in_the art of putting a humble witness at his ease, and very_soon, in_the privacy of Godfrey Staunton's abandoned room, he had extracted all that_the porter had to_tell . the visitor of_the night before was not a gentleman, neither was he aworking man . he_was simply what the porter described as a" medium- looking chap"; a man of fifty, beard grizzled, pale face, quietly dressed . he_seemed himself to_be agitated . the porter had observed his hand trembling when he had held out the note . Godfrey Staunton had crammed the note into his pocket . Staunton had_not shaken hands with_the man in_the hall . they had exchanged a few sentences, of_which the porter had only distinguished the one word " time ." then they had hurried off in_the manner described . it_was just half- past ten by_the hall clock .

" let me see," said Holmes, seating himself on Staunton's bed ." you_are the day porter, are_you not ? "

" yes, sir; I go off duty at eleven ."

" the night porter saw nothing, I suppose ? "

" no, sir; one theatre party came in late . no one else ."

" were you on duty all day yesterday ? "

" yes, sir ."

" did you take any messages to Mr Staunton ? "

" yes, sir; one telegram ."

"Ah ! that's interesting . what o'clock was_this ? "

" about six ."

" where was Mr Staunton when he received it ? "

" here in_his room ."

" were you present when he opened it ? "

" yes, sir; I waited to_see if there_was an answer ."

" well, was there ? "

" yes, sir . he wrote an answer ."

" did you take it ? "

" no; he_took it himself ."

" but he wrote it in your presence ? "

" yes, sir . i_was standing by_the door, and he with_his back turned at_that table . when he had written it he_said, ` all right, porter, i_will take this myself .'"

" what did he write it with ? "

"A pen, sir ."

" was_the telegraphic form one_of_these on_the table ? "

" yes, sir; it was_the top one ."

Holmes rose .Taking the forms he carried them over to_the window and carefully examined that which_was uppermost .

" it_is a pity he_did_not write in pencil," said he, throwing them down again with a shrug of disappointment ." as_you_have no_doubt frequently observed, Watson, the impression usually goes through -- a fact which_has dissolved many a happy marriage . however, I_can find no trace here .I rejoice, however, to perceive that he wrote with a broad- pointed quill pen, and I_can hardly doubt that we will_find some impression upon_this blotting- pad .Ah, yes, surely this_is_the very thing ! "

he tore off a strip of_the blotting- paper and turned towards us the a hieroglyphic .

Cyril Overton was much excited ." hold it to_the glass ! " he cried .

" that_is unnecessary," said Holmes ." the paper is thin, and_the reverse will give the message . here it_is ." he turned it over and we read it .

" so that_is_the tail end of_the telegram which Godfrey Staunton dispatched within a few hours of_his disappearance . there_are at_least six words of_the message which_have escaped us; but what remains -- ` stand by_us for god's sake ! ' -- proves that_this young man saw a formidable danger which approached him, and from_which someone else could protect him .` us,' mark you ! another person was involved . who_should it be but the pale- faced, bearded man, who seemed himself in so nervous a state ? what, then, is_the connection between Godfrey Staunton and_the bearded man ? and what_is the third source from_which each of_them sought for help against pressing danger ? our inquiry has already narrowed down to_that ."

" we_have only to_find to_whom that telegram is addressed," I suggested .

" exactly, my dear Watson . your reflection, though profound, had already crossed my mind . but I dare say it may_have come to your notice that if_you walk into a post- office and demand to_see the counterfoil of another man's message there_may_be some disinclination on_the_part of_the officials to oblige you . there_is so_much red tape in_these matters ! however, I_have no_doubt that with a little delicacy and finesse the end may_be attained . meanwhile, i_should like in your presence, Mr Overton, to_go through these papers which_have been left upon_the table ."

there were a number of letters, bills, and note-books, which Holmes turned over and examined with quick, nervous fingers and darting, penetrating eyes ." nothing here," he_said, at last ." by_the_way, I suppose your friend was a healthy young fellow -- nothing amiss with_him ? "

" sound as a bell ."

" have_you ever known him ill ? "

" not a day . he has_been laid up with ahack, and once he slipped his knee-cap, but that was nothing ."

" perhaps he_was not so strong as_you suppose . i_should think he_may_have had some secret trouble . with your assent i_will put one_or_two of_these papers in my pocket, in_case they should bear upon our future inquiry ."

" one moment ! one moment ! " cried a querulous voice, and we looked up to_find a queer little old man, jerking and twitching in_the doorway . he_was dressed in rusty black, with a very broad brimmed top- hat and a loose white necktie -- the whole effect being that of a very rustic parson or of an undertaker's mute . yet, in_spite of_his shabby and even absurd appearance, his voice had a

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