The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-16

isted for nothing else. Young Smith knew nobody In the neighborhood, and lived very much as his employer did. The two women mad nothing to take them from the house. Mortimer. the gardener. who wheels the bath chair, is an army pensioner-an old Crfmean man of excellent character. He does not live in the house, but in a three roomed cottage at the other end of the garden. Those are the only people that you will find within the grounds of Yoxley old Place. At the same time, the gate of the garden is a hun dred yards from the main London to Chatham road. It opens with latch, and there is nothing to prevent any one from walking in.
 Now I will 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 eleven and twelve. She was engaged at the moment in hang ing some curtains in the upstairs front bedroom. Professor Coram was still in bed. for when the weather is bad he seldom rises before midday. The housekeeper was busy with some work fin the back of the house Willoughby Smith had been in his bedroom, which he uses as a sitting room, but the maid heard him at that moment pass along the passage and descend to the study immediately below 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 a minute or so later there was a dreadful cry in the room below. It was wild, hoarse scream, so strange and unnatural that It might have come either from man or woman. At the same instant there was a heavy thud, which shook the old house, and then all was si- lence. The maid stood petrified for moment and then, recovering her courage, she ran downstairs. The study door was shut and she opened it. Inside, young MT. 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 un- dersde of his neck. It was pierced by a very small but very deep wound, which had divided the carotid artery The instrument with which the injury had been inflict ed lay upon the carpet beside him. It was one of those small sealing-wax knives to be found on old-fashioned writing tables. with an ivory handle and a stiff blade. It was part of the fittings of the professors own desk
 At first the maid thought that young Smith was already dead, but on pouring some hot water from the carafe over his forehead he opened his eyes for Pn instant. The pro- lessor he murmured-it was she The maid Is prepared to swear that those were the exact words. He tried desperately to say something else, and he held his right hand up in the air. Then he fell back dead.
 Tn the meantime the housekeeper had also arrived upon the scene, but she was just too late to catch the young mans dyine wor1s. Leaving Susan with the body, she hurried to the professor S room. He was sitting mp in bed horribly agitated, for he had heard enough to convince him that something terrible bod occurred. Mrs Marker Is prepared to swear that the professor was still in his night clothes and indeed it was impossible or him to dress without tLe help of Morti- mer, whose orders were to come at 12 clock The professor declares that he heard the distant cry. but that he knows nothing more. He can give no explanation of the young mans last words, The professor-it was she but imagines that they were the outcome of delirium. He believes that Will 1oughby Smith had not an enemy in the world, and can give no reason for the crime. His first action was to send Mortimer, the gardener for the local police. little later the chief con stable sent for me Nothing was moved before I got there, and strict orders were given that no one should walk upon the paths leading to the house. It was a splendid chance of putting your theories into practice, MT, Sher- lock Holmes. There was really noth- Ing wanting"
 Except MT. Sherlock Holmes" said my companion. with a somewhat bit ter smile. Well, let us hear about it. What sort of a job did you make of it?"
 q must ask you first. MT. Holmes" to glance at this rough plan, which will give you a general idea of the position of the professors study and the various points of the case. It will help you in following my tnvestiga- ton"
 He unfolded the rough chart which I here preproduce. and he laid it across Holmes knAe. I rose. and. standinga behind Holmes, studied 1t over his shoulder.
 'It is very rough. of course. and it only deals with the points which seem to me to f>e essential. All the rest you will see later for yourself. Now, first of all, presuming that the assassin entered the house, how did he or she come in? Undoubtedly by the garden path and the back door. from which there is direct access to the study. Any other way would have been ex- ceedingly complicated. The escape zll 1.l..- Al,,4 line, for of tisle two other exits from the room one was blocked by Susan as she ran downstairs and the other leads straight to the professors bed room. I therefore directed my atten- tion at once to the garden path, which was saturated with recent rain, and would certainly show any foot-marks.
 My examination showed me that I was dealing with cautious and ex- pert criminal. No footmarks were to be found on the path. There could be no question, however. that someone had passed along the grass border which lines the path, and that he had done so iR order to avoid leaving a track, could not find anything In the nature of a distinct impression, but the grass was troddcn down and someone had undoubtedly passed. It could only have been the murderer. since neither the gardener nor anyone else had been there that morning and the rain had only begun during the night"
 'One moment.' ;aid Holmes. Where does this path le; d to?'
 ''Fo the road"
 How long Is it?"
 "A hundred yards or so."
 At the point where the path passes through the gate. you could surely pick up the tracks?'
 Unfortunately the path was tiled at that point"
 Well. on the road itself?'
 'No. 1t was all trodden into mire."