The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-17

q IaUca. ana there is nothing to pre-
vent any one from walking in.
'Now I win 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 -. 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. WiIloughby
smith had been in his, 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 Gid not hear the study
door close, but a minute or SO later
there was d dreadful cry in the room
below. 1t was a wild, hoerse scream,
so strange and unnatural that it might
have come either from a man or q
woman. AT the same instant there
was a heavy thud which shook the
old house, and then all was silence
The maid stood perihed for a moment
and then. recovering her courage, she
ran downstairs. The study door was
shut aud she opened It. Inside young
Alr. Will0ughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor. At first she could see
no injury, bat as she tried to raise
him she saw that blood was pouring
from The underside u his neck. 1t
was pierced by a 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. 1T was
one of those small sealing wax knives
10 be found on old fashioned writing
4 tables, with an ivory handle and a
stin 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
I ing some water from the carafe over
his forehead be opened his eyes for an
/ instant THE professor he murmur-
edit was She The maid is prepared
. 70 swear that those were the exact
words. BE 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 housekeepeT
, had also arrived upon the scene, but
+ she was just too late to catc3 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 be had heard
enough TO convince him that something
terrible had occurred. Mrs. Marker Is
+ prepared to swear that the professor
was stin in his night clothes. and. in
deed it was impossible for him e
dress without the help Of Mortimer
whose orders were TO come at J.
o'clock. The professor declares that Do
heard the distant cry. but that b
knows nothing more he can give n,
/ explanation OF the young mans las
words. The pr0fessOr-it was she bu
lmaglnes that they were the oulcomi
Of delirium. He believes that Wiuough
by smith had not an enemy in th'
world. and can give no reason for th,
crime. His FIRST action was to sent
Mortimer, the gardener, for the loca
police A little later the chief con
stable sent for me. Nothing was NOV
ed before I got there, and strict order
were given that no one should walk Up
on the paths leading 10 the house.
was q splendid chance Of putting you
theories into practice. Mr.. Sherlocl
Holmes. There was really nothini
wanting"
Except 1Ir sherlock Holmes " sab
my companion. with a somewhat bite
smile. ~Wel, let Us hear about il