The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-14

talking to Bannister in this room we
had the man prisoner if we had only
known it,"
so read it,"
Surely there is another alternative,
Mr.. Holmes. l don't know whether
you observed my bedroom Window
Lattice paned, lead framework,
three separate windows, one swinging
on hinge and large enough TO admit a
man.
Exactly. And it looks out on an
angle Of the courtyard so as to be
partly invisible The man might have
effected his entrance there, left traces
as he passed through the bedroom, and
finally, finding the door open, have es-
capped that way"
Holmes shook his head impatiently.
Let us be PRACTICAL said he. II
understand you to say that there are
three students who use this stair and
are in the habit of passing your door?'
yes there are"
and they are all in for this examina-
tion?"
Yes"
Have you any reason to suspect any
one of them more than the others?'
Soames heSitated
1T is a very delicate question" said
he. "One hardly likes to throw sus-
picion where there are no proofs"
Let US hear the suspicious. l will
look after the proofs"
Il will tell you, then, in a few words
the character of the three men who in
habit these rooms. The lower Of the
three is Gilchrist. a fine scholar and
athlete; plays in the Rugby team and
the cricket team for the college and
got his blue for the hurdles and the
long jump. He is Il fine, manly fellow.
His father was the notorious Sir Jabez
Gilchrist, who ruined himself on the
turf. My scholar has been left very
poor, but he is hardworking and in
dustrious. He Will do we'll.
The second floor is inhabited by
Daulat Ras, the Indian He is a
quiet, inscrutable fellow. as most Of
those Indians are. He is we'll up in
his work, though his Greek is his weak
subject. He is steady and methodical.
THE top floor belongs to Miles Nc
Laren. He is a brilliant fellow when
he chooses to work-one of the bright
est intellects of the university-but he
is hayward, dissipated and unprinci-
pied. He was nearly expelled over a
card scandal in his first year He has
been idling all this term, and he must
look forward with dread to the ex-
animation"
Then it is he whom you suspect?'
II dare not go so far as that. but of
the three he is perhaps the least I'M
likely"
Exactly. Now, Mr.. Soames. let us
have look at your servant, Bannis-
ter"
He was little, white faced. clean
shaven, grizzly haired fellow of fifty.
He was still suffering from this sud-
den disturbance Of the quiet routine of
his life. His plump face was twitching
with his nervousness, and his fingers
could not keep still.
I'VE are investigating this unhappy
business. Bannister," said his master.
Eyes. sir"
II understand" said Holmes, "that
you left your key in the door?"
"Yes, SIR
"Was it not very extraordinary that
you should do this on the very day
when there were these papers inside?"
at was most unfortunate. sir But |
have occasionally done the same thing
at other times"
"When did you enter the room?'
ut was about half past 4. That is
Mr.. Soames' tea time"
How long did you stay?"
when / saw that he was absent
withdrew at once"
Did you look at these papers on the
table,
NO, sir; certainly not"
How came you to leave the key in
the door?"
Il had the tea tray in my hand.
thought | would come back for the
key. Then | forgot"
Has the outer door spring lock?"
(.'No, sir"
'"Then it was open all the time"
Eyes, sir"
"Any one in the room could get out?"
"Yes, sir"
when Mr. Soames returned and
called for you, you were very much dis
turbed?"
Eyes, sir. Such a thing has never
happened during the many years that
have been here. nearly tainted,
Sir"
80 understand. Where were you
when you began to feel badT'
Where was I, sir? Why, here, near
the door"
THAT is singular, because you sat
down in that chair over yonder near
the corner. Why did you pass these
other chairs?"
Il don't know. sir. 1t didn't matter
TO me where l sat"
II really don't think he knew much |
about it. Mr.. Holmes. He was looking
very bad-quite CHASTITY"
You stayed here when your master
left?"
"Only for minute or so; then lock-
ed the door and went to my ROOM"
Whom did you suspectT'
"Oh. l would not venture to say, sir.