Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-20

day the papers were on the table. I
dismissed that. The man who entered
knew that the papers were there. How
did he know?
"Whcn approached your room
examined the window. You amused
me by surprising that was contam.
plating the possibility of some one hav.
ing in broad daylight, under the eyes
Of all these opposite rooms, forced him.
self through It. Such an idea was alb.
.surd. was measuring how tail a
man would need TO be In order to SEQ
as he passed what papers were on tho
central table. am six feet high, and
l could do 1t with an effort. No one
less than that would have a chance.
Already, you see, I had reason to think
that II one of your three students was
q man of unusual height he was the
most worth watching Of the three.
II entered, and took you into my
confidence as to the suggestions Of the
sido table. or the center table could
make nothing until in your description
OF Gilchrist you mentioned that he was
long distance jumper. Then the
whole thing came to me in an instant,
and only needed certain corroborative
proofs, which I speedily obtained.
What happened was this: This younc
fellow had employed his afternoon Mt
the athletic grounds. whore he had
been practlcing the jump. He return
cd carrying his jumping shoes. which
are provided, as yOu are aware with
several sharp spikes. As he passed
your window be saw. by means Of his
great height, these proofs upon your
table and conjectured what they vera.
No harm would have been done had IL
not been that as he passed your door he
perceived the key which had been left
by the carelessness of your servant.
A sudden impulse came over him to en-.
ter and see if they were indeed the
proofs 1t was not dangerous ex-
plot, for he could always pretend that
he had simply looked In to ask q ques.
ton.
We'll, when he saw that they were
indeed the proofs it was then that ht
yielded to temptation. He put his
shoes on the table. What was it you
put on that chair near the Window
Gloves" said the young man.
Holmes looked triumphantly at Ban
mister. He put his gloves on the chair
and he took the proofs, sheet by sheet
to copy them. lie thought the tutoi
must return by the main gate and that
he would see him. AS we know. he
came back by the side gate. Suddenly
he heard him at the very door. There
was no possible escape. He forgot his
gloves. but he caught up his shoes and
darted into the bedroom. You observe
that the scratch on that table is slight
at one side, but deepens In the direction
Of the bedroom door. That in itself IL
enough to show US that the shoe had
been drawn In that direction and that
the culprit had taken refuge there. This
earth round the spike had been left on
the table, and a second sample was
lOOsened and fell In the bedroom.
may add that I walked ont to the ath.
letic grounds this morning. saw that
tenacious black clay Is used in the
jumping pit and carried away speci-
men of it, together with some Of the
fine tan or sawdust which is strewn
over it to prevent the athlete from
slipping Have I told the truth, Mr.
Gilchr:rt?
The student had drawn himself erect.
eyes, sir; it is true" said he.
"Good heavens. Have you nothing
to AIDA" cried Soames
"Yes. sir. I have. but the shock Of
this disgra ceful exposure has bewilder'
ed me. have letter here Mr.. Soames
which I wrote to you early this morn
ing in the middle OF restless night
1t was before ! knew that my sin had
found me out. Here it is. sir. You will
see that | have said: 4 have determined
not to go in for the examination. ]
have been offered a commission in the
Rhoiesian police, and am going ou,
to South Africa at once"
Il am indeed pleased to hear that YOU
did not intend to profit by your unfair
advantage" said Soames. But why
did you change your purpose;'
Gilchrist pointed to Bannister.
There Is the man who set me in the
right patti" said he.
Come now Bannister." said Holmes
ut will be clear 10 you from what !
have said that only you could have lei
this young man out, since you were
left in the room and must have locked
the door when you went out. AS to hit
escaping by that window. 1t was in
credible. Can You not clear up the
last point in this mystery and tell us
the reasons for your action?"
1T was simple enough, sir. If yot
only had known, but with all your
cleverness 1t was impossible that 70,
could know. Time was. sir, when
was butler to old Sir Jabez Gilchrist
this young gcntleman's father. WheI
he was ruined came to the college al
servant, but l never forgot my old EN-
ployer because he was down in thu
world. watched his son all could
for the sake Of old days. Well. sir
when came into this room yesterday
when the alarm was given, the very
first thing l saw was Mr.. Gilchrist's
tan gloves a-lying in that chair.
knew those gloves we'll. and l under
stood their message. II Mr.. Soames
saw them the game was up. Topped
down into that chair and nothing
would bulge me until Mr.. Soames
went for you. Then out came my poor
young master, whom had handled on
my knee. and confessed it all to me.
Wasn't it natural. sir, that should