Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-01

! grounds OF 1ONtey ga mace. IL t4iS
same time the gate of the garden is Il
hundred yards from the main Lon
don to Chatham road. 1t opens with
latch, ana there is nothing TO pre-
vent any one from walking in.
Now l viii give You the evidence
of Susan TarltOn. who is the only per
son who can say anything positive
| about the matter. It was in the fore
noon, between II and u. She was en-
gagged at the moment in hanging some
| curtains in the upstairs front bed
room. Professor Coram was still in
| bed, for when the weather is bad he
seldom rises before midday. The house
keeper was busted with some work in
the back of the house. Willoughby
| Smith had been in his bedroom, which
he uses as . sitting room, but the maid
heard him at that moment pass along
| the passage and descend to the study
Immediately bsiow her. She did not
! see him, but she says that she could
not be mistaken in his quick, firm
| tread. She did not hear the study
| door close, but minute or so later
there was Il dreadful cry in the room
| below. 1t was Il wild, hoarSe scream.
|
! have come either from Il man or =
| woman. At the same instant there
was Il heavy thud which shook the
! Did house, and then all was silence.
| The maid stood petrified for Il moment,
and then. recovering her courage, she
ran downstairs. The study door was
shut, and she opened il. Inside young
Mr. Willoughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor. At first she could see
no injury, but as she tried TO raise
him she saw that blood was pouring
from the underside of his neck. 1t
was pierced by Il very small but very
deep wound, which had divided the
carotid artery. The instrument with
which the injury had been inflicted lay
upon the carpet beside him. 1t was
one of those small sealing WAX knives
10 be found on old fashioned writing
tables, with an ivory handle and a
stiff blade. 1t was part of the fittings
of the professors own desk.
AT first the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead, but on pour
ing some water from the carafe over
his forehead he opened his eyes for an
instant. The professor he murmur
edit was She The maid is prepared
to swear that those were the exact
words. lie tried desperately to say
something else, and he held his right
hand up in the air. Then he fell back
dead.
In the meantime the housekecper
had also arrived upon the scene, but
she was just too late to catch tha young
mans dying words. Leaving Susan
with the body, she hurried to the pro
fcS@)rs room. He was sitting W in
bed horribly agitated. for he had heard
enough to convince him that something
terrible had occurred. Mrs. Marker is
prepared 10 swear that the professor
was still in his night clothes. ANA, in
deed, it was impossible for him to
dress without the help Of Mortimer.
whose orders were 10 come at l.
O'Clock. The professor declares that be
heard the distant cry, but that he
knows nothing more. He can give 10
explanation OF the young mans last
words, The profeSsOr-it was She but
imaCineS that they were the outcome
Of delirum. He believes that Willough-
by Smith had not an enemy i'll the
world and can give 10 reason for the
crime His first action was 10 send
Mortimer, the gardener, for the local
police. = little later the chief con
stable sent for me. Nothing was NOV
Cd before ] got there. and strict orders
were given that no one should walk up
on the paths leading to the house 1t
was Il splendid chance of putting your
theories into practice, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes. There was really nothing
wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holmes" said
my companion. with somewhat bitter
smile. We'll, let W. hear about it.
What sort Of a job did You make Of
it?"
Il must ask YOU first Mr.. Holmes, to |
glance at this rough plan. which will !
give YOU a general idea of the position |
of the professors study and the vari- |
Gus points Of the case. 1t will help |
you in following my investigation.
He unfolde1 the rough chart, which |
1 here reproduce, and lie laid it across |
Holmes knee. rose and, standing be- |
bind Holmes, studied ii over his shout /
der
1t is very rough, CT course. and it on /
ly deals with the points which seem 10 1
me to be essential. All the rest you |
will see later for yourself. Now, first (
OF all, presuming that the assassin en- |
tered the house. how did lie or she /
come in: Undoubtedly by the garden /
path and the back door, from which 1
there is direct access TO the study. Any
other way would have been exceeding
ly complicated. The escape must have
also been made along that line, for Of /
the two other exits from the room one
downstairs and the other leads straight
10 the professors bedroom. therefore
directed my attention at once to the
garden path, which was saturated with
recent rain and would certainly show
any footmarks.
My examination showed me that l