Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08

were these paparS inside?"
ut was most unfortunate. sir. But !
have occasionally done the same thing at
other times"
when did you enter the room?"
cit was about half-past four That is Mr.
Soames tea time
How long did you stay?"
when 1 saw that he was absent, with
drew at once
did you look at these papers on the
table?'
NO sir-certain1y not"
How came you to leave the key in the
door,
Il had the tea-tray in my hand. I
thought 1 would come back for the Key.
Then l forgot
HAS the outer door spring lock?"
No, sir"
Then it was open all the timer
Amy one in the room could get out?'
Yes, SIR
when Mr.. Soames returned and called
for you you were very much dfSturbed!
Yes, sir Such a thing has never hap
pened during the many years that nave
been here. l nearly tainted, sir
so understand Where were you when
you began to feel bad?'
where was 1, sir? Why, here. near the
door"
THAT is singular, because you sat down
in that chair over yonder near the corner o,,
Why did you pass these other chairs!
81 don't know, sir, it didn't matter TO me
where l sat-
II really don't think he knew much about
it. Mr.. Holmes. He was looking very bad
quite CHASTITY
You stayed here when your master leftP
only for minute or So Then locked
the door and went to my ROOM
Whom do you suspect"
ooh, I would not venture TO say, sir.
don't believe there is any gentleman in this
university who Is capable of profiting by
such an action. No sir, I'll not believe it,.
THANK you that will do said Holmes.
ooh, one more word You have not men,
toned to any of the three gentlemen whom
you attend that anything is amiss?'
mo sir-not a word,
You haven't seen any of them?"
mo, SIR
very good Now, Mr.. soames, we viii
take walk in the quadrangle, If you
Three yellow squares of light shone above
us in the gathering gloom.
Your three birds are all in their nests,'
said Holmes, looking up. ''Halloa! What's
that2 One of them seems restless enough"
1t the Indian, whose dark silhouette
appeared suddenly upon his blind. He was
pacing swiftly up and down his room.
81 should like to have a peep at each of
them" said Holiness rs it possfble?''
mo difficulty in the world" Soames an
swered.: This set of rooms is quite the
Oldest in the college, and it is not unusual
for visitors to go over them. Come along,
and l will personally conduct you"
mo names, please!' said Holmes, as we
knocked at Gilchrist's door A tall, faxen-
ndTeU, SllIU young letOW opened 1t. ana
made US welcome when we understood our
errand. There were some really curious
pieces of medieval domestic architecture
within. Holmes was so charmed with one
of them that he insisted on drawing it in
his note book, broke his pencil, had to
borrow one from our host, and finally bor-
rowed a knife to sharpen his own. The
same curious accident happened to him
in the rooms of the Indiana silent, little,
hook-noSed fellow, who eyed US askance,
and was obviously glad when Holmes arch
itectural studies had come to an end. q
could not that in either case Holmes
had come upon the clue for which he was
searching. Only at the third did our visit
prove abortive. The outer door would not
open to our knock and nothing more sub
Stantial than a torrent of bad language
came from behind it, 81 don't care who
you are. You can go to blazes" roared
the angry voice 'Tomorrow's the exam
and l won't be drawn by any one
"a rude fellow" said our guide, flushing
with anger as we withdrew down the stair.
"Of course, he did not realize that it was
1 who was knocking, but none the less his
conduct was very uncOurteous, and indeed,
under the circumstances rather suspicious"
Holmes response was a curious one
can you tell me his exact height?" he
asked.
Really Mr.. Holmes I cannot under
take to say. He is taller than the Indian,
not so tall as Gilchrist. / suppose five foot
six would be about it,
THAT is very important" said Holmes
And now, Mr.. Soames, l wish you good
night"
Our guide cried aloud in HIS astonish-
ment and dismay. Good gracious Mr.
Holmes, you are surely not going to leave
me in this abrupt fashion, You don't seem
to realize the position. Tomorrow is the
examination. l must take some definite
action tonight. l cannot allow the ex-
animation to be held if one of the papers
has been tempered with. The situation
must be faced"
you must leave it as it is. I shall drop
round early tomorrow morning, and chat
the matter over. 1t is possible that I may
be in position then to indicate some course
of action. Meanwhile, you change nothing
nothing at ALL
VERY good, Mr.. Holmes
You can be perfectly easy in your mind
we shall certainly find some way out of
your difficulties. l will take the black clay
with me, also the pencil cuttings Good
bye"
When we were out in the darkness of
the quadrangle, we again looked up at the
windows. The Indian still paced his room
The others were invisible
Wen. Watson, what do you think of it?"
Holmes asked, as we came out into the
main street. quite a little parlor game
sort of three-card trick, is it not? There
are your three men. 1t must be one of
them. You take your choice Which is
yours?'
1.-THE foul-mouthed fellow at the top. He
Is the one with the worst record. And yet
that Indian was a sly fellow also. Why
should he be pacing his room all the
There is nothing in that. Many men do
1t when they are trying to learn anything
by heart
He looked at us In a queer way"
$50 would you, If flock of strangers
came in you when You were preparing
for an examinat ton next day, and every
moment was of value. No. 1 see moth
ing in that Pencils, too and knives-all
were satisfactory. But that fellow does
puzzle me-"
"Who?"
"Why, Bannister, the servant. What's
his game in the matter? Il
He impressed me as being a perfect
ly honest man."
$50 he did me. That's the puzzling
part Why should a perfectly honest man
well, WELL here's a large stationer's We
shall begin our researches here
There were only four stationers of any
consequence in the town. and at each
Holmes produced his pencil chips, and bid
high for a duplicate. Ali were agreed that
one could be ordered, but that 1t was not
a usual size of pencil, and that 1t was sell
dom kept In stock My friend did not ap-
pear to be depressed by his failure. but
shrugged his shoulders In half-humorous
resignation.
mo good, my dear Watson. This, the
best and only final clue. has run to nothing.
But indeed, have little doubt that we can
1xx.-A