Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-24

We'll" said he, let US 60 round.
Not one OF your cases, Watson-men-
tai, not physical. All right; come IL
you want to- Now. Mr.. SOames, at
| your disposal"
The sitting room of our client opened
| by a long. low, latticed window on to
the ancient lichen tinted court OF the
old college A Gothic arched door led
| to a worn stone staircase. On the
| ground floor was the tutors room
Above were three students, one on
each story. 1t was already twilight
when we reached the scene of our
/ problem. Holmes halted and looked
earnestly at the window; then he ap-
preached 1t, and. standing on tiptOe
with his neck craned, he looked into
the room.
He must have entered through the
door. There is 10 opening except the
one pane" said our learned guide.
Dear mer said Holmes, and he
smiled in a singular way as he glanc-
ed at our companion. We'll, il there
is nothing to be learned here we had
best go 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. lone could hardly
hope for any upon SO dry a day. Your
servant seems to have quite recovered.
You left him in a chair, you say.
Which chairT'
by the window there
Il see. Near this little table. You
can come in now. l 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. He 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 / entered by the
side door,
was in his mind. Let me see the three
strips. No finger impressions-noi
Well, he carried over this one first. and
he copied il. How long would 1t take
him to do that, using every possible |
less. Then he tossed 10 down and seiZ- |
ed the next. He was in the midst of that
when your return caused him to make |
very hurried retreat-yery hurried, |
since he had not time to replace the |
papers which would tell you that he |
had been there. You were not aware |
OF any hurrying feet on the stair as
you entered the outer door,"
'No, I can't say was.
"Well. he wrote so furiously that he |
broke his pencil, and had, as you OBJ |
serve, to sharpen 1t again. This is OF I
interest, Watson. The pencil was not |
an ordinary one. 1t was above the |
usual size, with q 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 |
a pencil, Mr.. SOameS, and you have got |
your man. When l add that he pos
scsses a large and very blunt knife you |
have an additional aid"
Mr.. Soames was somewhat over
whelmed by this food 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 space OF clear
wood after them.
You see?"
mo, 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 a
word. You are aware that Johann |
Faber Is the most common makers
name. Is IL 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 II the paper
on which he wrote was thin some trace
OF IL might come through upon this pol
ished surface. No, l see nothing.
don't think there ie anything more to
be learned here. Now for the central /
table. This small pellet is presume.
the black, doughty mass you spoke of.
Roughly pyramidal in shape and hol
lowed out, l perceive. As you say.
there appear 70 be grains OF sawdust I'm
II. Dear me, this Is very interesting.
And the cut-a positive tear. I see. II
began with a thin scratch and ended
with Jagged hole. l 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 II since your adj
ventureZ''
NO. i came straight away for you"
Il should like to have a glance
round. What n charming, old fashion
ed room! Perhaps you will kindly
wait a minute until / have examined
the floor. No. l see nothing What
about this 'curtain7 You hang your
clothes behind it IL any one were
forced TO conceal himself In this room
he must do IL there, since the bed Is
too low and the wardrobe too shallow.
No one there. 1 supposeI"
As Holmes drew the curtain I was
aware from some little rigidify and