The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-21
THE RETURN OF e
SHERLOCK HOTTIES.
By A. CONAN DoYLE.)
Continued from page. e.

If was a gaunt, aquiline face which
was turned toward us, with pierre
ing dark eyes which lurked in deep
hollows under overhung 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 tangle of
white hair, and the air of the room
was fetid with stale tobacco smoke.
AS he held out his hand to Holmes 1
perceived that 1t was also stained with
yellow nicotine.
"a smoker, Mr.. Holmes?" said he.
speaking in well chosen English, with
h q curious little mincing accent. pray
4 take a cigarette. And you, sir? I can
recommend them, for have them espe-
cially prepared by Ionides of Alexan-
/ dria. He sends me a thousand at a
time, and grieve to say that have to
h arrange for fresh supply every fort
4 night Bad, sir, very bad, but an old
man has few pleasures. Tobacco and
my work-that is all that is left to me-"
4 Holmes had lit cigarette and was
. shooting little darting glances all over
K the room.
Tobacco and my work, but now on
< " tobacco" the old man exclaimed.
i "Alas. what a fatal interruption! Who
could have foreseen such terrible ca
tastrophe? So estimable young mani
i assure you that after a few months
|training he was an admirable assist
ant, What do you think of the matter,
Mr.. Holmes?"
81 have not yet made up my mind"
81 shall indeed be indebted to you If
you can throw light where all is so
dark TO us. To poor bookworm and
iuvalid like myself such blow is para
lyzing. l seem to have lost the faculty
Df thought. But you are a man of ac-
tion-you are a man of affairs. 1t is
part of the everyday routine of your
Qife. 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 the room while the old professor
WAS talking. 1 observed that he was
Smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
It was evident that he shared our hosts
liking for the fresh AleXandrian ciga-
rettcs.
YES, sir, it is crushing blow" said
The old man. THAT is my magnum
opus-the pile of papers on the side TIA
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-
lion of revealed religion. With my en-
feebed health l do not know whether
Ashall ever be able to complete it, now
hat my assistant has been taken from
ne. Dear me, Mr.. Holmes, why, you
IRE even quicker smoker than l am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
81 am a connoisseur," said he, TAX
ne another cigarette from the box, his
purth. and lighting it from the stub
4 that which he had finished 81 will
npt trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination, Professor Coram, since I
8nther that you were in bed at the
ume Of the crime and could know moth
ne about it. | would only ask this
What do you imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words, The
urofessor-it was she?"
The professor shook his head
Susan is a country girl" said he,
and you know the incredible stupidity
Of that class. l fancy that the poor
1ellow murmured some incoherent, de-
lirious words and that she twisted
fhem into this meaningless message"
81 see You have no explanation
Ipurself Of the tragedy"
Possibly an accident, possibly-I
ply breathe it among ourselves-a sui
" de. Young men have their hidden
Houbles-some affair of the heart, per-
#ps, which we have never known. 1t
a more probable supposition than
murder"
But the eyeglass?"
All, I am only a student. a man of
4feams. cannot explain the practical
tAngS of life. But still we are aware,
~ friend, that love cages may take
eFange shapes. BY all means take an
Qner cigarette. 1t is a pleasure to see
~ one appreciate them So A fan, a
4lpve, glasses-who knows what ar
Nfle may be carried as token or
4fasured when man puts an end to
life? This gentleman speaks Of
A4Otsteps in the grass; but, after all, it
easy to be mistaken on such a
lnt As to the knife, it might well
thrown far from the unfortunate
Pm as he fell. 1t is possible that l
eak as a child, but to me it seems
pt Willoughby Smith has met his
81 te by his own hand"
holmes seemed struck by the theory
Us put forward, and he continued to
"R Tx up and down for some time, lost
~ thought and consuming cigarette
III cigarette.
Eel me, Professor Coram," he said
last what is in that cupboard in
se bureau?
Nothing that would help a thief
lhy papers, letters from my poor
e, diplomas of universities which
e done me honor. Here is the key.
can look for yourself"
tonnes picked up the key and look
at 1t for an instant; then he handed
back.
no; hardly think that it would
me-" said he. 81 should, prefer
30 quietly down to your garden and