Morris tribune., 1905-08-26


of our great university
towns. and it was during this time that
the small but instructive adventure
which | am about to relate befell us.
1t will be obvious that any details
which would help the reader to exact
" identify the college or the criminal
would be injudicious and offensive So
painful a scandal may we'll be allowed
TO die out. With due discretion the in
cident itself may, however, be descrlb-
ed, since it serves to illustrate some Of
those qualities for which my friend
was remarkable | will endeavor in
my statement to avoid such terms as
would serve to limit the events to any
particular place or give a clew as to
the people concerned.
We were residing at the time in fur
nished lodgings close to library where
Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some
iaborious researches in early English
charters which led to re-
suits so striking that they may be the
subject Of one of my future narratives
Here it was that one evening we re-
ceiyed a visit from an acquaintance,
AIr Hilton SoameS, tutor and lecturer
at the College of st. Lukes. Mr.. SoameS
was a tall, spare man, of nervous and
e1citable temperament. | had always
known him to be restless in his man.
ner, but on this particular occasion he
was in such a state of uncomfortable
agitation that it was clear something
very unusual had occurred.
81 trust, Mr. Holmes, that you can
spare me a few hours Of your valuable
time We have had a very painful in
cident at st. Luke's, and really, but
for the happy chance Of your being in
town. l should have been at loss
what to do
ST am very busy just now, and [ de-
sire no distractions" my friend an
swered. Il should much prefer that
you called in the aid of the police"
.'No, no, my dear sir; such a course
'ds utterly impossible. When once the
law is evoked it cannot be stayed
again, and this is just one of those
cases where, for the credit of the col
lege. it is most essential to avoid scan
dial. Your discretion is as we'll known
as your powers, and you are the one
man in the world who can help me.
] beg you, Mr.. Holmes, to do what you
can"
! NV friends temper had not improv-
led since he had been deprived of the
congenial surroundings Of Baker
street. Without his scrapbook, his
chemicals and his homely untidiness
r. ~,c. hlo man He
shrugged bis shoulders in ungracious
aequiescence, while our visitor in hur-
ried words and with much eXcitable
sgesticulation poured forth his story.
!, ST must explain to you, Mr.. Holmes,
that tomorrow is the first day of the
examination for the Fortescue scholar
ship. l am one Of the examiners. My !
subject is Greek, and the first Of the
3papers consists of a large passage Of J
Greek translation which the candidate I
mas not seen. This passage is printed !
lon the examination paper, and it
twould naturally be an immense ad-
vantage if the candidate could prepare
lit in advance. For this reason great
lcare is taken to keep the paper secret.
To-day about o'clock the proofs !
hDf this paper arrived from the printers.
The exercise consists of half chapter
Aof ThNcydides. had to read 1t over
carefully, as the eext must be abso- |
iuteIy correct. AT 4:30 my task was |
not yet completed 1 had, however,
promised to take tea in a friends |
rooms, so I left the proof upon my |
Gesk. / was absent more than an hour.
HYou are aware, Mr.. Holmes, that
our college doors are double-a green
baize one within and a heavy oak one
without? AS l approached my outer
door was amazed to see a key in it.
For an instant I imagined that [ had |
left my own there, but on feeling in my
pocket 1 found that it was all right.
Ghe only duplicate which existed, so
Tar as knew, was that which belonged
10 my servant, Bannister, man who
has looked after my room for ten years
and whose honesty is absolutely above
suspicion. l found that the key was
indeed his, that he had entered my
room to know if wanted tea and that
he had very carelessly left the key i'm
the door when he came out. His visit
to my room must have been within
very few minutes Of my leaving it. Hi
3orgetfulness about the key would havG
mattered little upon any other occa.
sion, but on this one day it has pro
duced the most deplorable conse
auences.
1.-THE moment looked at my table
was aware that some one had rum
mayed among my papers. The proof
was in three long slips. / had left
them all together. Now I found thai
one of them was lying on the floor, one
vas on the side table near the window