Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-11-09

hollows under %overhuns and tuft.
ed brows. His hair and beard were
white save the latter was curiously
stained with yellow around his mouth.
A cigarette glowed amid the tansle of
White hair. and the air of the room
was fetid with stale tobacco smoke.
As he held nj his hand to Holmes
perceived that it was also stained with
yellow nicotine.
"A smoker. Mr.. Holiness" said he.
speaking in well chosen English. with
a curious little mincing accent. Pray
take a cigarette. And You. sir: can
recommend them. for l have them espe-
clally prepared by Ionides of .Alexan-
drla. He sends me n thousand nj n
time. and l grieve to say that have to
arrange for a fresh supply every fort
nlght. Bad. sir. very bad. but an old
man has few pleasures. Tobacco and
my work-that is all that is left to me-"
Holmes had lit a cigarette and was
shooting little darling glances all over
the oom.
Tobacco and my work. but now on
- S'NNS". LAC oId Ilall tSClalIOSI,
Ala a fatal interruption, Who
could have IoreSeen such a terrible ca
lastrophe: So estimable q young man.
| assure You that after a few months
training be was an admirable assist
ant. What do you think of the matter.
Mr.. Holiness"
Il have not yet made up my mind"
at Sho11 ;rSool ~ :.
you can throw a light where all is so
dark to Us. To a poor bookworm and
invalid like myself such a blow is para
lying. l seem to have lost the faculty
OF thought. But you are a man Of ac-
non-you are a man Of affairs. It is
part Of the everyday routine of your
lie. You can preserve your balance in
every emergency. We are fortunate
indeed in having you at our side"
Holmes was pacing up and down one
side of b room while the old professor
was talking. l observed that he was
smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
1t was evident that be shared our hosts
liking for the fresh Alexandrian ciga-
rettes.
Yes, sir, it is a crushing blow" said
the old man. THAT is my
opus-the pile of papers on the side ia
Bile yonder. 1t is my analysis Of the
documents found in the Coptic monas-
teries of Syria and Egypt, a work
which will cut deep at the very founda-
ton of revealed religion. With my en-
feebled health 1 do not know whether
l shall ever be able to complete it, now
that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me. Mr.. Holmes. why, YOU
are even a quicker smoker than I am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
II am a connoisseur.' said he, TAX
ing another cigarette from the box, his
fourth, and lighting it from the stub
OF that which he had finished. Il will
not trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination. Professor Coram. since I
gather that you We're in bed at the
time of the crime and could know moth
ing about it. I would only ask this:
What do You imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words. The
p~rofessor-it was she:'"
The professor shook his head.
susan is a country girl" said be.
land you know the incredible stupidity
OF that class. l 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 ira
Possibly an accident. possibly
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, It
IS a more probable supposition than
murder"
But the e~yeglass:"
All. an only q student, a man Of
dreams. l 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 q pleasure to see
any one appreciate them so. A fan. a
glove. glHSSes-who knows what ar
ticle may be carried as a token or
treasured when a man puts an end to
d. life: This gentleman speaks of
footsteps il the graSs: but. after all. il
is easy to be mistaken on such a
point. As TO the knife, it might we'll
be thrown far from the unfortunate
man as he fell. 1t is possible that l
speak as q child, but TO me it seems
that Willoughby Smith has met his
fate by his own hand"
Holmes seemed struck by the heory
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 that would help a thief
family papers, letters from my poor
wife. diplomas Of universities which
have done me honor. Here is the kew.
You al look>for Yourself
Holmes picked up the key and look.
ed at it for an instant: then he handed
it back.
NO; l hardly think that it would
help me- said he II Shnuld urafar