The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07

ola you not tell me OF this, HOpktns?"
The mark which he was examining
began upon the brasswork on tho right
hand side of the keyhole and extended
about four inches, where ii had
scratched the varnish from the surface.
L noticed it. Mr.. Holmes, but you'll
always find scratches round key
hole
This is recent, quite recent. See
how the brass shines where It Is cut.
An old scratch would be the same color
as the surface. Look at 1t through my
earth on each side Of furrow. Is Mrs.
Marker there?''
A sad faced, elderly woman came into
the room.
Did you dust this bureau yesterday
morning."
Yes, sir
Did you notice this scratdh?"
"No, sir, I did not"
.I am sure you did not, for a duster
would have swept away these shreds
of varnish. Who has the key OF this
bureau?"
The professor keeps 1t on his watch
chain.'
rs it a simple key?"
mo- sir, it is a Chubb's key"
Very good. Mrs. Marker, you can
go. Now we are making little prog
ress. Our lady enters the room, ad-
vances to the bureau, and either opens
it or tries to do 80. While she Is thus
engaged, young Willoughby Smith en-
ters the room. In her hurry to with
draw the key she makes this scratch
upon the door. He seizes her, and she,
snatching up the nearest object, which
happens to be this knife, strikes at him
in order to make him let go his hold.
The blow Is fatal one. He falls and
she escapes, either with or without the
object for which she has come. Is SUI
san, the maid, there? Could any one
have got away through that door after
the time that you heard the cry, Su-
SAM"
NO sir, it is impossible Before
got down the stairs I'd have seen any
one in the passage. Besides, the door
never opened, or would have heard
it"
That settles his exit. Then no doubt
the lady went out the way she came l
understand that this other passage
leads only to the professors room.
There is no exit that way?"
mo, SIR"
1--WE shall go down it'and make the
acquaintance of the professor. Halloa,
Hopkinsi this is very important, very
important indeed. The professors cor
ridor is also lined with cocoanut mat
ting
well, sir, what of that?"
Don't you see any bearing upon the
case? Well, well, / don't insist upon 1t.
No doubt I am wrong. And yet It
seems to me to be suggestive. Come
with me and introduce me-"
We passed down the passage, which
was of the same length as that which
led to the garden. AT the end was a
short flight of steps ending in a door.
Our guide knocked, and then ushered
us into the professors bedroom.
1t was a very large chamber, lined
with innumerable volumes, which had
overf1owed from the shelves and lay in
piles in the corners, or were stacked
all round at the base of the cases. The
bed was in the center of the room, and
in it, propped UP with pillows. was the
owner of the house. I have seldom
seen more remarkable looking person.
1t was a gaunt, aquiline face which
was turned toward us, with piercing
dark eyes. which lurked In deep hol-
His hair and beard were white, save
that the latter was curiously stained
with yellow around his mouth. "A ci-
garette glowed amid the tangle OF white
hair, and the air Of the room was fetid
with stale tobacco smoke. As he held
out his hand to Holmes, perceived
that it was also stained with yellow
nicotine.
IA smoker, Mr. Holmes?" said he,
speaking in we'll chosen English, with
q curious little mincing accent. Pray
take a cigarette. And you, sir? can
recommend them, for / have them es-
pecially prepared by Ionides of Alex
andria. He sends me a thousand at
a time, and grieve to say that have
to arrange for fresh supply every
fortnight. Bad, sir, very bad, but an
old man has few pleasures. Tobacco
and my work-that Is all that is left
to me-
Holmes had lit cigarette, and was
shooting little darting glances all over
the room.
Tobacco and my work, but now only
tobacco the old man exclaimed.
Alas! what q fatal interruption!
Who could have foreseen such a terri
BILE catastrophe? So estimable a
a few months training he was an ad-
mirable assistant. What do you think
of the matter. Mr.. Holmes?"
II have not yet made up my mind" :"
"I shall indeed be indebted to you
IL you can throw a light where all is
so dark to us. To poor bookworm
and invalid like myself such a blow
faculty Of thought. But you are a
fairs 1t Is part of the everyday rou-
tine Of your life. You can preserve
your balance in every emergency. We
are fortunate. indeed, in having you
at our side"
Holmes was pacing up and down one
side of the room while the old pro-
fessor was talking. observed that he
was smoking with extraordinary rap
idity. 1t was evident that he shared
our hosts liking for the fresh Alex
andrian cigarettes.
Yes, sir, it is a. crushing blow"
said the old man. THAT is my mag
mum opus-the pile of papers on the
side table yonder. 1t is my analysis
of the documents found in the Coptic
monastery OF Syria and Egypt, a
work which will cut deep at the very
foundation. of revealed religion. With
my enfeebled health I do not know
whether l shall ever be able to COM
plete it, now that my assistant has
been taken from me. Dear me! Mr..
Holmes, why, you are even a quicker
smoker than 1 am myself"
Holmes smiled.
II am connoisseur;" said he, TAX
ing another cigarette from the box
his fourth-and lighting 1t from the
stub of that which he had finished IT
80 Ia 1o~. kI~~v