The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-10

book, broke his pencil had TO borrow
one from our host and finally borrowed
I a knife to sharpen his own, The same
! curious accident happened to him IN
i the rooms Of the indiana silent little
/ hook nosed fellow, who eyed US askance
and was obviously glad when Holmes
I architectural studies had come to an
1 end. I could not see that in either case
I Holmes had come upon the clew for
which he was searching. Only at the
third did our visit prove abOrtive. The
outer door would not open to our
knock and nothing more substantial
than a torrent OF bad language came
from behind il. Il don't care who you
are. You can go to blazesr' roared the
angry voice. "TomOrFoW's the exam,
and I won't be drawn by any one"
"a rude fell0wg said our guide,
flushing with anger as we Withdrew
down the stair. "Of course he did not
realize That It was I who was knock
I ing. but none the less his conduct was
very uncourteOus and, indeed, under
the circumstances rather suspicious"
Holmes response was a curious one.
"Can you tell me his exact heightY
he asked.
Really, Mr.. Holmes, 7 cannot IN
dertake to say. He is taller than the
Indian, not so tail as Gilchrist. sup
pose i've foot six would be about II"
THAT is very important" said
Holmes. And now, Mr.. soames, I
wish you good night"
Our guide cried aloud in his aston
ishment and dismay. Good gracious,
Mr.. Holmes, you are surely not go
+ ing to leave me in this abrupt fashion!
You don't seem to realize the position.
Tomorrow is the examination. must
4 take some definite action tonight
cannot allow the examination 70 be
held if one Of the papers has been tam
pered with. The situation must be
faced"
.eYou must leave 1t as It is. shall
drop round early tomorrow morning
and chat the matter over. 1t Is posi-
bic that I may be in a position then
to indicate some course Of action.
Meanwhile, you change nothing-noth-
ing at all"
VERY good, Mr. Holmes"
"You can be perfectly easy in your
mind. We shall certainly ind some
way out Of your difficulties. will
take the black clay with me; also the
pencil cuttings. Goodby."
When we were out in the darkness
Of the quadrangle we again looked up
at the windows. The Indian still pac-
ed his room The others were I'm
visible
"Well. watson. what do you think
Of itY' Holmes asked as we came out
into the main street. quite a little
parlor game-sort Of three cgrd trick.
IS ii mott There are your three men.
1t must be one OF them. You take
your choice. Which is yOursY
THE foul mOuthed fellow at the top.
he is the one with the worst record.
And yet that Indian was a sly fellow
also. Why should he be pacing his
room all the timer
There is nothing in that. Many men
do It when they are trying to learn
anything by heart"
HE looked at Us in a queer way"
80 would you II flock OF strangers
came I'm on you when you were pre-
pairing for an examination next day
and every moment was Of value. No,
/ see nothing ia that Pencils, too, and
knives-all was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me-"
"WhOT"
. 'Why, Bannister, the servant. What's
! his game in the matterp
[ "Ie impressed me as being perfect
. ~ honest man.
$50 he did me. That's the puzzling
part. Why should a perfectly honest
= maxwell, well, here's q large station
er's. We shall begin our researches
r here"
There were only four stationers OF
am. consequence in the town, and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips
and bid high for n duplicate All were
e agreed that one could be ordered, but
that it was not a usual size Of pencil
and that it was seldom kept In stock
Ny friend did not appear 10 be depress-
ed by his failure. but shrugged his
= shoulders in half humorous resigna-
j. ton
M HVoAf NY uttlL " atsVL- a MS AAlt
best and only final clew, has run 70
J nothing. But, indeed. have little
l. doubt that we can build up a sufficient
d case without it. BY Joye. my dear Eel
low, it is nearly 9, and the landlady
b babbled Of green peas at 7.3O. What
b with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and
your irregularity at meals, expec
s that you win get notice TO quit and
e that I shall share your d0wnfall-uot
II however, before we have solved The
D. problem OF the nervous tutor, the care
D. less servant and the three enterprisini
students"
IS Holmes made no further allusion q
D, the matter that day. though he sat los
d in thought for a long time after our be
D. lated dinner. At 8 In the morning b
ie came into my room just a. 1 fnlshe,
o. my toilet
g well. Watson" said be, eft Il tim
It we went down to St Luke's. Can so
e. do without hreakfast7