Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15
The Return Of
Sherlock Holmes
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez.
Copyright by A Couanpo Collier weekly,
Copyright by Clue. Co.
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

Just as tangled business as ever ham
died, and yet at first 1t seemed so simple
that one couldn't go wrong. There's TO
motive. Mr.. Holmes. That's what bothers
mel can't put my hand on a motive.
Here's man dead-there's no denying that
but. SO far as I can see, no reason en-
earth why anyone should wish him harm.
Holmes lit his cigar and leaned back IN
his chair.
Let us hear about It," said he
i've got my facts pretty clear said
Stanley Hopkins. "All 1 want now is to
know what they all mean. The story so
far as can make it out, is like this. Sons
years ago this country house. Yoxley Old
Place, was taken by an elderly man. who
gave the name of Professor Coram. He
was an invalid, keeping his bed half tho
time, and the other half hobblng round
the house with stick or being pushed
about the grounds by the gardener In
bath chair. He was well liked by the few
ne1ghbors who called upon hini, and he has
the reputation down there of being n very
learned man. His household used to cen
sist of an elderly housekeeper, Mrs Mar
ker. and of maid. Susan Tarlton These
have both been with him since his arrival,
and they seem to be women of excellent
character. The professor is writing
learned book and he found 1t necessary
; ABOUT year ago, to engage a secretary.
The first two that he tried were not sue
cesses, but the third, Mr.. Willoughby Smith
very young man straight from the unIver-
slty, seems to have been just what his en-
ploSeF Wanted his work consisted in writ
ing all the morning to the professors Gic-
tauon, and he usually spent the evening
IN hunting up references and passa ges
which bore upon the next days work This
WlIoughpy smith has nothing against him,
either as a boy at Uppingham or as a
young man a Cambridge l have sem his
testimonials, and from the first he was a
decent, quiet, hard working fellow, with no
weak spot in him at ALL And Vet this
is the lad who has met his death
TINS morning in the professors study under
circumstances which can point only to
murder"
The wind howled and screamed at the
windows. Holmes and l drew closer to the
hre, While the young inspector slowly and
point by point developed his singular narra-
tive.
If you were to search all England" said
ne, Il don't suppose you could find house
hold more self-contained or freer from out
side influences. Whole weeks would pass
and not one of them go past the garden
gate. The professor was buried in his work
and existed for nothing else Young Smith
knew nobody in the neighborhood and lived
very much as his employer did The two
women had nothing to take them from the
house. Mortimer, the gardener who wheels
the bath chair, is an army pensioner-an
old Crimean man of excellent character
He does not live in the house but in a
three-roomed cottage at the other end of
the garden. Those are the only people that
you would find within the grounds of Yoxlev
Old Place. AT the same time, the gate of
the garden is hundred yards from the
main London to Chatham road. It opens
with a latch, and there is nothing to pre-
vent any one from walking in.
Now l Will give you the evidence of
Susan Tarlton, who Is the only person who
can say anything positive about the matter.
1t was in the forenoon, between IL and -
She was engaged at the moment in hang
ing some curtains In the upstairs front bed
room. Professor Coram was still in bed
for when the weather Is bad he seldom
rises before midday. The housekeeper was
busted with some work in the back of the
house Willoughby Smith had been in his
bed room. which he uses as a sitting room,
but the maid heard him at that moment
pass along the passage and descend to the
study Immediately below her. She did not
see him, but she says that she could not