Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-02

mo difficulty in the world" Soames
answered. This set of rooms is quite
the oldest In the college. aud Il IS not
unusual for visitors TO 40 over them.
Come along and 1 will personally con-
duct you"
''No names. pleaseg' said Holmes as
we knocked at Gilchrist's door. \ tail.
haxen haired. slim young fellow opened
IL and made US welcome when he I'M
derstood our errand. There were some
really curious pieces OF medieval do
nestle architecture within. Holmes
was so charmed with one OF them that
he insisted on drawing IL IN his note
book. broke his pencil. had 10 borrow
one from our host and finally borrowed
knife 70 sharpen his own. The same
curious accident happened to him in
the rooms Of the Indiana silent little
hook nosed fellow. who eyed us askance
and was obviously glad when Holmes
architectural studies had come TO an
end. could not see that in either case
Holmes had come upon the clew Cor
which he was searching Only at the
third did our visit prove abortive. The
outer door would not open TO our
knock aud nothing more substantial
than a torrent of bad language came
from behind it. L don't care who you
are. You can go TO blazesr' roared the
angry voice. ''Tomorrow's the exam,
and I won't be drawn by any one"
a rude fellow said our guide.
flushing with anger as we withdrew
down the stair. "of course he did not
realize that ii was I who was knock
ing, but none the less his conduct was
very uncourteous and. indeed. under
the circumstances rather suspicious"
Holmes response was curious one.
''Can you tell me his exact heightg'
he asked.
Really. Mr.. Holmes. 7 cannot I'M
dertake to say. He is taller than the
Indian. not so tall as Gilchrist I sup
pose FIVE foot six would be about it,"
THAT is very important" said
Holmes. And now. Mr.. Soames, I
wish you good night"
our guide cried aloud in his aston
ishment and dismay. Good gracious.
Mr.. Holmes. you are surely not go
ing 90 leave me In this abrupt fashion!
You don't seem 90 realize the position.
Tomorrow is the examination. / must
take some definite action tonight I
cannot allow the examination 10 be
held IL one OF the papers has been tam
pered with. The situation must be
faced"
You must leave e as II IS / shall
drop round early tomorrow morning
and chat the matter over. II Is posi-
bic that may be in position then
20 indicate some course OF action
Meanwhile. you change nothing-ncth-
ing at all"
Every good. Dir. Holmes"
you can be perfectly easy in your
mind. We shall certainly find some
way out OF your difficulties. I will
take the black clay with me; also the
pencil cuttings GOodby."
When we were ont in the darkness
OF the quadrangle we again looked up
at the windows. The Indian stiu pac-
Ell his room. The others were In
visible.
"Well. Watson. what do YOU think
Of IT," Holmes asked as we came olt
into the main street. quite a little
parior game-sorr OF three card trick,
is 1t not? There are your three men.
II must be one OF them. You take
your choice. Which IS yours 2"
The foul mouthed fellow at the top.
He is the one with the worst record
And yet that Indian was a sly fellow
also. Why should he be pacing his
room ali the timeg'
There is nothing in that Many men
do IL when they are trying 10 learn
anything by heart"
'He looked az us IN a queer way"
$50 would you If a dock OF strangers.
came IA on You when you were pre-
pairing FOR an examination next day
and every moment was OF value. No,
see nothing in that Pencils, too, and
knives-aH was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me"
"Whos"
'Why, Bann!ster, the servant. What's
his game in the matterf"
He impressed ne as being a perfect
~ honest man"
so he did me. That's the puzzllng
part. Why should a perfectly honest
MAXWELL. well. here's a large station
er's. We shah begin our researches
here"
There were only four statloners OF
any consequence in the town, and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips
and bid high for a duplicate. All were
agreed that one could he ordered bur
that IL was not q usual size OF pencil
and that IL was seldom kept In stock.
My friend did not appear TO be depress-
ed by his failure. but shrugged his
shoulders In half humorous resigna-
ton
No good, my dear Watson. This. the
best and only final clew, has run 10
nothing. But, indeed, I have little
doubt that we can build Up a sufficient
case without it. BY Jove, my dear fell
low, it Is nearly Q, and the landlady
babbled Of green peas ar 100 What |
with your eternal tobacco, Watson. and
your irregularity at meals. I expect /
that you VIII get notice to quit and
that l shall share your downfall-not, |
however, before we have solved the
problem Of the nervous tutor. the care
less servant and the three enterprislng !
students"
Holmes made no further allusion 10 |
the matter that day. though he sat lost |
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