Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27


! forgot TO tell you that Mrs Marker,
the housekeeper, had been in there tidy
ing not very long bcfore-about a quar-
ter of an hour, she says"
"Wcll. that gives us a limit. Our Ia
dy enters this room, and what does she
do? She goes over to the writing table.
What for? Not for anything In the
drawers. II there had been anything
worth her taking It would surely have
been locked UP. No. it was for some
thing In that wooden bureau. Hello!
What Is that scratch upon the face Of
It? Just hold n match. Watson. Why
did you not tell me of this. Hopk ins?"
The mark which he was examining
began upon the brnsswork on the right
hand side Of the kcyhoie and extended
for about four inches. where it had
scratched the varnish from the surface.
II noticed 1t, Mr.. Holmes. but you'll
always find scratches round a key
hole"
This Ia recent, Qu1e recent. See how
the brass shines where II Is cut. An
old scratch would be the same color as
the surface. Look mt 1t through my
lens. There's the varnisl. too, like
earth on each side Of furrow. IL Mrs.
Marker thorcY"
a sad faced elderly woman came in.
TO tho room.
'Did you dust this bureau yesterday
morning.
"Ycs. sir"
"Did vol notice this scratch?"
"No. sir; did not"
81 am sure you did not for a buster
would have swept away these shreds
Of varnish. Who has the key Of This
burcau?"
"Thc professor keeps it on his watch
chain"
as il simple koy?'
"No. sir: it is Chubb's key"
every good. Mrs. Marker, you can
60. Now we are making little prog
ress. Our lady enters the room. adj
vances to the bureau and either opens
II or tries to do So. While she IL thus
engaged young Willoughhy Smith on
tors the room. In her hurry to with
draw the key she makes this scratch
upon the door. He seizes her. and she.
snatchlng up the nearest object. which
happens to be this knife. strikes at him
IN order to make him let 20 his hold
The blow is fatal one. He falls, and
she escapes. either with or without the
object for which she has come. Is Su-
san, the maid. there? Could any one
have got away through that door after
the time that you heard the cry, Su-
SAM"
mo, sir: 1t is impossible. Before
got down the stair I'd have seen any
one in the passage. Besides, the door
never opened or l would have heard
IT,"
"rhat settles this exit. Then no
doubt the lady went out the way she
came. I understand that this other
passage leads only to the professor S
room. There is no exit that way?"
| mo. sir"
1--WE shall go down it and make the
acquaintance Of the professor. Hello.
Hopkins, this is very important-very
important indeed! The professors cor
ridor Is also lined with cocoanut mat.
ting"
"Wel1. sir, what Of that?"
| Don't you see any bearing upon the
case? Well. we'll. don't insist upon
it. No doubt I am wrong. And yet it
seems to me to be suggestive. Come
with me and introduce me-"
We passed down the passage which
was Of the same length as that which
led to the garden. At the end was a
short flight of steps ending in door.
Our guide knocked and then ushered
us into the professors bedroom.
1t was n very large chamber lined
with innumerable volumes. which had
overlooked from the shelves and lay In
piles in the corners or were stacked all
round at the base of the cases. The
bed was in the center of the room. and
in it, propped UP with pillows. was the
owner Of the house. l have seldom
seen more remarkable looking person
1t was gaunt, aquiline face which
was turned toward us. with pierc.
ing dark eyes which lurked in deep
hollows under overhung and tuft.
ed brows. His hair and beard were
white save the latter was curiOusly
stained with yellow around his mouth
A cigarette glowed amid the tangle of
white hair, and the air OF the room
was fetid with stale tobacco smoke
Az he held out his hand to Holmes
perceived that it was also stained with
yellow nicotine.
"A smoker. Mr.. HOlmes?" said he
speaking in well chosen English. with
a curious little mincing accent. PRAY
take a cigarette. And you. sir? can
recommend them. for have them esre
cially prepared by Ionides Of Aiexan
dria. He sends me a thousand at a
time. and grieve to say that have tc
arrange for fresh supply every fort
night. Bad. sir, very bad. but an old
man has few pleasures. Tobacco and
my work--that is all that Ia left to me- >
Holmes had lit cigarette and was
shooting little darling glances all over
the room.
'Tobncco and my work. hut now on
~ tobacco" the old man exclaimed
ALAS, what fatal interruption! Who
could have fOreseen such terrible ca
tastrOphe7 So estimable young man
l assure you that after few months
training he was an admirable assist
ant What do You think of the matter
MIR. HOlmes?"
II have not yet made up my mind"