Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-11-17

Smith had been in bis bedroom, which
he uses as 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 a wild, hoarse scream,
SO strange and unnatural that it might
have come either from a man or q
woman. At the same instant there
was heavy thud which shook the
old house, and then all was silence.
The maid stood petriaed 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. 1t
was pierced by very small but very
deep wound, which had divided the
carotid artery. The instrument with
which the injury had been inflicted 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. 1t was part Of the fittings
of the professors own desk.
cat first the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead, but on pour
ing some water from the carafe over
his forehead he opened his eyes for an
instant. The professor he murmur-
edit 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.
"In the meantime the housekeeper
had also arrived upon the scene, but
she was just too late to catch the young
mans dying words. Leaving Susan
with the body, she hurried to the pro-
fessor's room. He was sitting up in
bed horribly agitated, for he had heard
enough to convince him that something
terrible had occurred. Mrs. Marker is
prepared to swear that the professor
was still In his night clothes. and, In
deed, 1t was impossible for him to
dress without the help Of Mortimer,
whose orders were to come at II
o'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 Willough-
by 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. A little later the chief con-
stable sent for me. Nothing was NOV
ed before got there, and strict orders
were given that no one should walk up
on the paths leading to the house. It
was splendid chance Of putting your
theories into practice, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes. There was really nothing
wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holiness" said
my companion, with somewhat bitter
smile. "Well, let us hear about It.
What sort Of job did you make Of
it?"
81 must ask you first, Mr. Holmes, to
glance at this rough plan, which will
give you general idea Of the position
Of the professors study and the vari.
GUS points of the case. 1t will help
you In following my investigation"
He unfolded the rough chart, which
here reproduce, and he laid It across
Holmes knee. I rose and, standing be-
hind Holmes, studied it over his shout
der.
at is very rough, Of course, and 1t on
~ deals with the points which seem to
me to be essential. All the rest you
will see later for yourself. Now, nrst
of all, presuming that the assassin en-.
tered the house, how did he or she
come in2 Undoubtedly by the garden
path and the back door, from which
there is direct access to the study. Any
other way would have been exceeding
ly complicated. The escape must have
also been made along that line. for of
the two other exits from the room one
was blocked by Susan as she ran
downstairs and the other leads straight
to the professors bedroom. therefore
directed my attention at once to the
garden path, which was saturated with
recent rain and would certainly show
any footmarks.
my examination showed me that /
was dealing with a cautious and ex.
pert criminal. No footmarks were to
be found on the path. There could be
no question, however, that some one
had passed along the grass border
which lines the path and that he had
done SO In order to avoid leaving q
track. could not find anything in the