The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-14

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Smith had born in bis bedroom. which
he uses as Sitting room. but the maid
heard hiin az that moment pass albn <
the ppssaGe aud descend to the study
Immediately below her She did not
see him, but she says that she could
not be mistaken 10 his quick, firm
tread She u!d not hear the study
door close. but a minute or So later
there was a dreadful cry IN the room
below. IL was a via. L0arse scfeaM.
SO strange and unnatuls. tDat il might
have come either frem n,cr ~ =
woman At the saine instant there
was heavy thud which shook the
old house. and then al was silence
The maid ctood petrihed Cor a moment.
and then, recovering her courage. she
ran downstairs. The study door was
shut. and she opened H. Inside young
4 MIR Willoughhy smith was stretched
upon the floor. At FIRST she could see
no INJURY. but as she tried 10 raise
him she saw that blood was pouring
from the underside OF his neck n
was pierced by very small but very
deep wound. which had divided the
i carotid artery. The instrument with
which the injury had been inflicted lay
upon the carpet beside him II was
one OF those small sealing wax knives
TO be found on old fashioned writing
tables. with an ivory handle and "a
sti1 BLADE Il was p,Tt OF the fittings
OF the professors own desk.
AT hrst the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead. hut on pour
ing some water from The carafe over
uis forehead be opened his eyes FER an
instant Tile profe sor he murmur-
ed-Jt was She The maid is prepared
60 swear that those We're the exact
words lie tried desperately to say
something else, end he hcll his right
hand up IN the air Then he fell back
dead
"ln tne meantime the housekeener
had also arrived unon the scene. but
She was just too late TO catch the young
mans dying words. Leaving Susan
with the body, she hurried 90 the pro
! fessOrs room. He was sitting up Ia
bed horribly ugltated for he had heard
enough TO convince him that something
terrible had occurred. Mrs. Marker Is
prepared to swear that the professor
was still In his night clothes, and. in
deed. IL wns impossible for him 10
dress without the help of Mortimer,
whose orders were to come at 10
o'clock. The professor declares that he
heard the distant cry. but that he
knows nothing Ihore lie can give no
explanation OF the young mans last
words, THE professor--lt wss She but
OF deiirinm He believes that willcueh-
by Smith had not an enemy In the
world, and can give no reason for the
! crime. His first action was to send
Mortlmtr, the gardencg, for the local
police. A little later she chief con
/ stable sent for ME. Nothing was NOV
ed before l got there, anG strict orders
We're given that no one should walk up.
on the paths leading TO the house. IL
was a splendid chance OF putting your
theories into practice Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes. There was really nothing
wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holmes" said
my companion. with a somewhat bitter
smile "Well, let us hear abcu il.
What sort Of sob did you r.si<e Of
itr
II must ask you first. Mr. Holmes, 10
glance at this rough plan, which win
give you general idea Of the position
of The professors study and the yari-
Gus points OF the case. II will help
you In following my investigation"
He unfolded the rough chart, which
l here reproduce. and he laid il across
Holmes knee. rose aud, standing be-
hind Holmes, studied II over his shoul-
der.
1T Is very rOugh ~ -0ursr, aud it on
" deals with the points which seem 10
me 20 be essential. All the rest you
win see later for yourself. Now, nrst
OF all. presuming that the assassin en-
tered the house, how did he or she
come in? Undoubtedly by the garden
path and the back, door, from which
there Ia direct access TO the study Any
other way would have been exceeding
~ complicated The escape must have
also been made aiorx that line, for OF
the two otiier exits from the room one
was blocked by Susan as she ran
downstairs and the other leads straight
10 the professors bedroom. ! therefore
directed my attention at once 10 the
garden path. which was satHrated with
recent rain and would certainly show
any footmarks
MY examination showed me that l
was dealing With a cautious and ex-
pert criminal No foOtmarks we-e 10
be found on the path. There could be
no question, however, that some one
had passed along the grass border
which lines the path and that he had
done 30 In order 70 avoid leaving a
track. could not find anything In the