The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
81 a
OMAR
DOYLE

lying there also. Evidently the rascal
had copied the paper in great hurry,
had broken his pencil and had been {.
compelled to put a fresh point on it,
Excellent" said Holmes. who was
recovering his good humor as his at
tention became more engrossed by the
case. Fortune has been your friend"
This was not all. / have a new ,
writing table with a fine surface OF
red leather. l am prepared to swear,
and so is Bannister, that il was smooth
and unstained. Now found clean
cut in it about three inches long-not
a mere scratch, but positive cut.
Not only this but on the table I found
a small ball of black dough or clay,
with specks of something which looks
like sawdust in Ii. / am convinced
that these marks were left by the man
who rified the papers. There were no
footmarks and no other evidence as to
his identity. Il was at my wits ends,
when suddenly the happy thought &C.
CURED TO- me that you were In the
town, and / came straight round to put
the matter into your hands. Do help
me, Mr.. Holmes. You see my dilem-
ma. Either / must find the man or
else the examination must be post
poned until fresh papers are prepared,
and since this cannot be done without
explanation, there will ensue a hideous
scandal, which viii throw cloud not
only on the college, but on the uni
versity. Above all things, desire to
settle the matter quietly and dis
creetly''
II shall be happy to look into it and
to give you such advice as can,"
said Holmes, rising and putting on
his overcoat. THE case is not entire
ly devoid of interest. Had any one
visited you in your room after the
papers came to your"
Yes, young Daulat Ras, an Indian
student, who lives on the same stair,
came in to ask me some particulars
about the examination"
For which ne was entered?"
Yes"
ble?''
ITO the best of my belief. they were
rolled up."
But might be recognized as proofs2"i
Possibly"
mo one else in your room?'
No" =
Did any one know that these proofs
would be there?"
NO one save the printer"
Did this man Bannister know"
No, certainly not. No one knew
Where is Bannister now?"
He was very ILL., poor fellow. 1 LEFT
him collapsed in the chair. / was in
such a hurry to come to YOU.
You left your door open?"
Il locked up the papers first"
Then it amounts to this, Mr..
Soames, that, unless the Indian stu
dent recognized the roll as being proofs,
the man who tampered with them came
upon them accidentally without know
ing that they were there"
so 1t seems to me-"
Holmes gave an enigmatic smile
Well" said he, '1et us go round.
Not one of your cases, Watson-men-
tai, not physical All right: come if
you want TO. Now, Mr.. Soames-at
your disposali"
The sitting-room Of our client opened
by long, low, latticed window on to
the ancient Iichen-tinted court of the
old college. A Gothic arched door led
TO 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 approached it
and, standing on tip-toe with his neck
craned, he looked into the room.
He must have entered through the
door. There is no opening except the
one pane, said our. learned guide
Dear met said Holmes, and he
smiled in singular way as he glanced
at our companion. well, 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. One could hardly hope for
any upon so dry day. Your servant
seems TO have quite recovered. You
left him in chair. you say. Which
chair?" {
by the window there"
Il see. Near this little table. You
can come in now. / have finished with
the carpet Let US take the little table
first. OF course, what has happened is
very clear. The man entered and took
the papers, sheet by sheet, from the
central table. He carried them over to
the window table, because from there
he could see If you came across the
courtyard, and so could effect an es-
cape
"As matter of fact, he could not"
said Soames, for. entered by the side
door,
''Ah, that's good. Well, anyhow. that
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 con-
traction? A quarter, of an hour, not
less. Then he tossed IT down and seized
the pext. He was in the midst of that
when your return caused him to make
a very hurried retreat-very 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?''
mo, can't say / was"
We'll, he wrote SO furiousiy that he
broke his pencil and had, as you OBJ
serve. to- sharpen 1t again. This is of
interest, Watson. The pencil was not
an ordinary one. 1t was above the
usual size, with soft lead, the outer