The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-10-11
"I.et us hear about it," said he.

TO KNOW what they all mean. Inc Slo-
ry, so far as l can make it out is like
this: Some years ago this country
house, Yoxley Old Place, was taken
by an elderly man, who gave the name
of Professor Coram. He was an in
valid, keeping his bed half the time
and the other half hobbling round the
house with stick or being pushed
about the grounds by the gardener in
bath chair He was we'll liked by
the few neighbors who called upon
him, and he has the reputation down
there of being a very learned man.
His household used to consist of an
elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Marker, and
of maid, Susan Tarlton. These have
both been with him since his arrival,
and they seem to be women of excel
lent character. The professor is writ
ing learned book, and he found it
necessary about year ago to engage
a secretary. The first two that he tried
We're not successes, but the third, Mr..
Willoughby Smith, very young man
straight from the university, seems to
have been just what his employer
wanted His work consisted in writ
ing all the morning to the professors
dictation, and he usually spent the
evening in hunting up references and
passages which bore upon the next
days work. This Willoughby Smith
has nothing against him, either as a
boy at Uppingham or as a young man
n (tor, ,1,,.;I crn I hos
monials, and from the first he was a
decent, quiet, Woodworking fellow, with
no weak spot in him at all. And yet
this is the lad who has met his death
this morning in the professors study
under circumstances which can poinl
only to murder"
The wind howled and screamed at
the windows. Holmes and l drew
closer to the fire, while the young in.
spector slowly and point by point de-
veloped his singular narrative.
IF you were to search all England"
said he Il don't suppose you could
find household more self contained or
freer from outside influences. Whole
weeks would pass and not one Of them
go past the garden gate The pro-
fesscr was buried in his work and ex-
listed for nothing else. Young Smith
knew nobody in the neighborhood and
lived very much as his employer did.
The two women had nothing to take
them from the house. Mortimer, the
gardener, who wheels the bath chair,
Is an army pensioner an old Crimean
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 PEG:
pie that you would find within the
grounds of Yoxley Old Place. At the
same time the gate of the garden is a
hundred yards from the main Lon
don to Chatham road. 1t opens with
latch, and there is nothing to pre-
vent any one from walking in.
"Now 1 will give you the evidence
of Susan Tarlton, who is the only per-
son who can say anything positive
about the matter. 1t was in the fore
noon, between II and u. She was en-
gagged at the moment in hanging some
curtains in the upstairs front bed
room. Professor :Coram was still in
bed, for when the weather is bad he
seldom rises before midday. The house
keeper was busted with some work in
the back of the house Willoughby
Smith had been in his bedroom, which
he uses as q 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 minute or so later
there was dreadful cry in the room
below 1t was wild, hoarse scream
SO strange and unnatural that it might
have come either from man or a
woman. At the same instant there
was a heavy thud which shook the
old house. and then all was silence
The maid stood petritied for moment
and then, recovering her courage, she
ran downstairs. The study door was
shut, and she opened it. Inside young
Mr.. 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 underside of his neck. II
was pierced by very small but very
deep wound, which had divided the
carotid artery The instrument witt
which the injury had been inflicted lay
upon the carpet beside him. 1t was
one of those small sealing wax knives
to be found on old fashioned writing
tables with an ivory handle and q
stiff blade. 1t was part Of the fittings
of the professors own desk.
Eat first the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead, but on pour
ing some water from the carafe ovel
his forehead he opened his eyes for an
instant. The professor he murmur.
edit was she' The maid is prepared
to swear that those We're 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.
I'm the meantime the housekeeper
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