The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-16

Continued From Page Three.)
Professor hasn't let it take his appe-
tite away
We Ioitered the morning away in
the garden. Stanley Hopkins had
gone down to the village to look into
some rumours of strange woman
who had been seen by some children
on the Chatham Road the previous
morning. AS to my friend, all his u.s.
ual energy seemed to have deserted
him. l had never known him handle
a case in such a half-hearted fash
ion. Even-the news brought back by
Hopkins that he had found the child
rem, and that they had undoubtedly
seen a woman exactly corresponding
with Holmes description, and wear
ing either spectacles or eyeglasses,
failed to rouse any sign of keen inter-
est. He was more attentive when SUI
san who waited upon us at lunch, vol
unteered the information that she be-
Iieved Mr.. Smith had been out for
walk yesterday morning, and that he
had only returned half an hour before
the tragedy occurred. ] could not my
self see the bearing of this incident,
but | clearly perceived that Holmes
was weaving it into the general scheme
which he had formed in his brain.
Suddenly he sprang from his chair and
glanced at his watch. 1.-TWO o'clock,
gentlemen" said he. 1--WE must so up
and have it out with our friend, the
Professor"
The old man had just finished his
lunch, and certainly his empty dish
him. He was, indeed, weird figure
which his housekeeper had credited
him. He was, indeed, a. Wierd figure
as he turned his white name and his
glowing eyes towards us. The eternal
cigarette smouldered in his mouth.
He had been dressed, and was seated
in an armchair by the fire.
well, Mr.. Holmes, have you solved
this mystery YETI" He showed the
large tin of cigarettes which stood on
table beside him towards my COM
panion. Holmes stretched out his
hand at the same moment, and be-
tween them thep tipped the box over
the edge. For a minute or two we
We're all on our knees retrieving stray
cigarettes from impossible places
When we rose again, / observed
Holmes eyes were shining and his
cheeks tinged with colour. Only at
crisis have l seen those battles signals
flying.
Yes" said he, 'I have solved it."
Stanley Hopkins and I stared in
amazement. Something like a sheer
quivered over the gaunt features of the
old Professor.
IuuSeu. III TIE BdTueH
mo, here"
Here! Whcn?"
This instant"
You are surely joking, Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes. You compel me to tell
you that this is too serious a matter
to be treated in such a fashion.
L have forged and tested every link
of my chain. Professor Coram, and |
am sure that it is sound. What your
motives are, or what exact part you
play in this strange business, / am not
yet able to say. In few minutes I
shall probably hear it from your own
lips. Meanwhile I will reconstruct
what is past for your benefit. so that
you may know the information which
/ still require.
"a lady yesterday entered your
study. She came with the intention of
possessing herself of certain docu-
ments which were in your bureau. She
had q key of her own. / have had
an opportunity of examining yours
and l do not find that slight discolour-
alton which the scratch made upon
the varnish would have produced. You
were rot an accessory, therefore, and
she came, so far as can read the evil
dence, without your knowledge to rob
YOU
EFF4I-1 -