Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-09-11

every emergency. We are fortunate
indeed In having you at our side"
Holmes was pacing up and down one
side OF the room while the old professor
was talking. I observed that he was
smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
II was evident that he shared our hosts
liking for the fresh Alexandrian ciga.
rettcs.
"Ics, sir, II Is n crushing blow" said
the old man. THAT Is my magnum
opus-the pile OF papers on the side Ia
BILE yonder. II Is my analysis Of the
documents found In the Coptic monas-
teries OF Syria and Egypt, work
which will cut deep at the very founda-
ton of revealed religion. With my en-
fcebled health I do not know whether
] shall ever be able to complete II. now
that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me. Mr.. Holmes. why, you
are even quicker smoker than I am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
81 IN connolsseur." said he. TAX
ing another cigarette from the box, his
fourth. and lighting It from the stub
Of that which he had finished 81 will
not trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination, Professor Coram, since
gather that you were in bed at the
time of the crime and could know moth
ing about It. would only ask this:
What do you imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words, The
professor-it was sheT"
The professor shook his head.
"Susan is country girl" said he,
"and you know the incredible stupidity
Of that class. I fancy that the poor
fellow murmured some incoherent, de.
lirious words and that she twisted
them into this meaningless message"
IL see. You have no explanation
yourself Of the tragedy"
Possibly an accident, possibly-I
only breathe It among ourselves-a sui.
eide. Young men have their hidden
troublesome affair OF the heart. per
haps, which we have never known. II
Is more probable supposition than
murder"
But the eyeglass"
"Ah, I am only student. man Of
dreams. cannot explain the practical
things Of life. But still we are aware,
my friend, that love cages may take
strange shapes. BY all means take an.
other cigarette. 1t Is n pleasure to see
any one appreciate them SO. A fan, a
glove. glasses-who knows what ar-
ticle may he carried as n token or
treasured when a man puts an end to
his life? This gentleman speaks Of
footsteps In the grass; but, after all. 1t
point. As to the knife, It might well
be thrown far from the unfortunate
man as he fell. 1t is possible that
speak as child, but TO me 1t seems
that Willoughby Smith has met his
fate by his own hand"
Holmes seemed struck by the theory
thus put forward. and he continued to
walk up and down for some time, lost
in thought and consuming cigarette
after cigarette.
Tell me, Professor Coram," he said
at last, what Is in that cupboard in
the bureau"
Nothing hat would help thief
family papers, letters from my poor
wife, diplomas Of universities which
have done me honor. Here is the key.
You can look for yourself"
Holmes picked up the key and look
ed at 1t for an instant; then he handed
II back.
mo: l hardly think that II would
help me- said he. Il should prefer
to go quietly down to your garden and
turn the whole matter over in my
head. There Is something to be saio
for the theory Of suicide which you
have put forward. We must apologize
for having intruded upon you, PRO
fessor Coram, and l promise that we
won't disturb you until after lunch.
At o'clock we will come again and
report to you anything which may
have happened in the interval"
Holmes was curiously distract and
we walked up and down the garden
path for some time In silence.
Have you Il clew?" asked at last
ut depends upon those cigarettes
that | smoked" said he. ut Is posi-.
bic that | am utterly mistaken. The
cigarettes VIII show me-"
MY dear Holiness" exclaimed.
"how on EARTH
"Well, well, you may see for your
self. II not, there's no harm done.
or course we always have the optican
clew to fall back upon, but / take
short cut when | can get 1t. All, here
is the good Mrs. Marker! Let us en-.
Joy five minutes Of instructive con-
versatlon with her."
l may have remarked before that
Holmes had, when he liked, a peculiar.
ly ingratiating way with women and
that he very readily established terms
Of confidence with them. In half the
time which he had named he had cap
tured the housekeeper's good will and
was chnttinp with her M ~ he had