The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-14

problem. Holmes halted and looked
earnestly at the window; then he APP
preached it. and, standing on tiptoe
with his neck craned, he looked into
the room.
He must have entered through the
door There is no opening except the
one pane" said our learned guide.
Dear me- said Holmes, and he
smiled in singular way as he glanc-
ed at our companion. We'll. if there
is nothing to be learned here we had
best 90 inside
The lecturer unlocked the outer door
and ushered us into his room. We
stood at the entrance while Holmes
made an examination of the carpet
Il am afraid there are no signs
here" said he. "One could hardly
hope for any upon so dry day. Your
servant seems to have quite recovered.
You left him in chair, you say.
Which chair
by the window there"
Il see Near this little table. You
can come in now. ] have finished
with the carpet Let us take the lit
tie table first. OF course what has
happened is very clear. The man en-
tered and took the papers, sheet by
sheet. from the central table. lie car
ried them over to the window table
because from there he could see if you
came across the courtyard and so
could effect an escape"
AS a matter of fact he could not"
said Soames, for l entered by the
side door"
"Ah, that's good! Well, anyhow, that
was in his mind. Let me see the three
strips No finger impressions-no.
Well. lie carried over this one first, an
he copied it, How long would it tax,
him TO do that, using every possible
contraction: a quarter of an hour not
less Then he tossed it down and seiz-
ed the next. He was in the midst of that
when your return caused him to make
n very hurried rereat-very hurried,
since he had not time to replace the
papers which would tell you that he
HAD been there. You We're not aware
Of any hurrying feet on the stair as
you entered the outer door,"
NO. can't say was"
well. he wrote so furiously that he
broke his pencil, and had, as you OBJ
serve to sharpen it again. This is of
interest. Watson. The pencil was not
an ordinary one. 1t was above the
usual size, with a soft lead. the
outer color was dark blue. the makers
name was printed in silver lettering.
and the piece remaining is only about
an inch and a half long Look for such
pencil. Mr.. Soames. and you have got
your man. When l add that he pos
sesses a large and very blunt knife you
have an additional aid"
Mr. Soames was somewhat over
whelmed by this flood of information.
81 can follow the other points," said
he, but really, in this matter of the
length
Holmes held out a small chip with
the letters Nm and a space of clear
wood after them.
"You see?"
'No, fear that even now
'Watson. have always done you an
injustice. There are others. What
could this Nm be? 1t is at the end of
word. You are aware that Johann
Faber is the most common makers
name. Is it not clear that there is Just
as much of the pencil left as usually
follows the Johann" He held the
small table sideways to the electric
light. Il was hoping that if the paper
on which he wrote was thin some trace
of it might come through upon this pol
ished surface. No. | see nothing. l
don't think there is anything more to
be learned here. Now for the central
table. This small pellet is. | presume,
the black, doughy mass YOU spoke of.
Roughly pyramidal in shape and hol-
lowed out, l perceive. As you say,
there appear to be grains of sawdust in
it. Dear me, this is very interesting.
And the cut-a positive tear. l see. 1t
began with thin scratch and ended
with jagged hole. | am much in
debted to you for directing my atten-
ton to this case. Mr. Soames. Where
does that door lead to-"
ITO my bedroom"
Have you been in it since your ad.
venture?'
NO, | came straight away for you"
II should like to have a glance
round. What charming, old fashion
ed rooml Perhaps you will kindly
wait a minute until l have examined
the floor. No, ! see nothing. What
about this curtain? You hang your
clothes behind it. If any one were
forced to conceal himself in this room
he must do it there, since the bed is
too low and the wardrobe too shallow.
No one there, l suppose?'
As Holmes drew the curtain / was
aware from some little rigidity and
alertness Of his attitude that he was
prepared for an emergency. As a mat
ter Of fact, the drawn curtain disclos-