Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-08-26

w
and only needed certain corroborative
proofs, which speedily obtained.
What happened was this: This young
| fellow had employed his afternoon at
the athletic grounds, where he had
been practicing the jump. He return
ed carrying his jumping shoes, which
are provided, as you are aware, with
several sharp spikes. As he passed
| your window he saw, by means of his
great height, these proofs upon your
| table and conjectured what they were.
| No harm would have been done had it
not been that as he passed your door he
perceived the key which had been left
| by the carelessness Of your servant.
| A sudden impulse came over him to en-
ter and see if they were indeed the
proofs. 1t was not dangerous ex-
plot, for he could always pretend that
he had simply looked in to ask ques-
ton.
'Well, when he saw that they were
indeed the proofs it was then that he
yielded to temptation. He put his
shoes on the table. What was it you
put on that chair near the Window"
Gloves" said the young man.
Holmes looked triumphantly at Ban
mister. HE put his gloves on the chair,
and he took the proofs, sheet by sheet
to copy them. He thought the tutor
must return by the main gate and that
he would see him. AS we know, he
came back by the side gate. Suddenly
he heard him at the very door. There
was no possible escape. He forgot his
gloves, but he caught up his shoes and
darted into the bedroom. You observe
that the scratch on that table is slight
at one side, but deepens in the direction
Of the bedroom door. That in itself is
enough to shqy us that the shoe had
been drawn in that direction and that
the culprit had taken refuge there. The
earth round the spike had been left on
the table, and q second sample was
loosened and fell in the bedroom.
may add that 1 walked out to the ath-
letic grounds this morning, saw that
tenacious black clay is used in the
jumping pit and carried away a speci-
men of it, together with some of the
fine tan or sawdust which is strewn
over it to prevent the athlete from
slipping Have | told the truth, Mr.
Gilchrist?'
The student had drawn himself erect
ayes, sir; it is true" said he.
"Good heavens! Have you nothing
to add?" cried Soames.
eyes, sir, l have, but the shock of
this disgraceful exposure has bewilder-
ed me- have letter here Mr.. Soames,
which 1 wrote to you early this morn
ing in the middle of a restless night.
It was before 1 knew that my sin had
found me out. Here it is, sir. You will
see that | have said: 4 have determined
not to go in for the examination. l !
have been offered commission in the
Rhodesian police, and I am going out |!
to South Africa at once"
"I am indeed pleased to hear that you |
did not intend to profit by your unfair
advantage" said Soames. "But why
did you change your purpose?'
Gilchrist pointed to Bannister.
'There is the man who set me in the
right path" said he.
"Come now, Bannister," said Holmes.
''It will be clear to you from what I
have said that only you could have let
this young man out, since you were
left in the room and must have locked
the door when you went out. AS to his
escaping by that window, it was in
credible. Can you not clear up the
last point in this mystery and tell us
the reasons for your action?"
cit was simple enough, sir, if you
only had known, but with all your
cleverness it was impossible that you
could know. Time was, sir, when I
was butler to old Sir Jabez Gilchrist,
this young gentleman's father. When
he was ruined came to the college as
servant but I never forgot my old en-
ployer because he was down in the
world. I watched his son all could
for the sake of old days. Well, sir,
when came into this room yesterday,
when the alarm was given, the very
first thing I saw was Mr.. Gilchrist's
tan gloves a-lying in that chair.
knew those gloves well, and l under
stood their message. If Mr.. Soames
saw them the game was up. Topped
down into that chair, and nothing
would bulge me until Mr.. Soames
went for you. Then out came my poor
young master, whom had handled on
my knee, and confessed it all to me.
Wasn't it natural, sir, that 1 should
save him, and wasn't it natural also
that 81 ould try to speak to him as his
dead father would have done and make
him understand that he could not profit
by such deed? Could you blame me,
STRIP
mo, indeed" said Holmes heartily,
springing to his feet. "Well, Soames,
[ think we have cleared your little
problem up, and our breakfast awaits
rs at home. Come, Watson. AS to
you, sir, 1 trust that bright future
awaits you in Rhodesia For once you
nave fallen low. Let us see in the flu
;ure how high you can rise"