The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-09


: three students who use this stair, and
are in the habit of passing your door?'
Eyes, there are"
"And they are all in for this exam
ination?"
yes"
Have you any reason to suspect
any one of them more than the 9TH
ers?"
Soames hesitated.
1T is a very delicate question:" said
he. zone hardly likes to throw sus-
picion where there are no proofs"
Let US hear the suspicious will
look after the proofs"
II will tell you, then, in few words
the character of the three men who
inhabt these rooms The lower of the
three is Gilchrist, 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 a 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 Woodworking and in
dustrious He will do we'll.
THE second floor Is inhabited by
Daulat Ras, the Indian. He is quiet,
Indians are. He is well up in his
work, though his Greek is his weak
subject. He is steady and method
ical.
THE top floor belongs to Miles Me-
Laren. He is a brilliant fellow when
he chooses to work-one of the bright
est intellects of the university; but he
Is wayward dissipated and unprlnci-
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 exam
nation"
Then 1t Is he whom you suspect?'
II dare not go so far as that. But,
of the three, he is perhaps the least
unlikely
Exactly. Now, Mr.. soames, let us
have look at your servant, Bannis-
ter"
He was a little. white-faced, clean
shaver, grizzly haired fellow of fifty
He was still suffering from this sud-
den distui bance of the quiet routine of
his life. His plump face was witch
Ing with his nervousness, and his fin
gers could not keep still.
1--WE 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 1t not very extraordinary that
you should do this on the very day
when there were these papers inside?"
ut 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 four. That
is Mr.. Soames' tea time"
How long did you stay?"
when | saw that he was absent. l
withdrew at once"
did you look at these papers on the
tablet"
mo, sir-certainly not
How came you to leave the key In
the door,"
Il had the tea tray in my hand. l
thought | would come back for the
key. Then forgot
Has the outer door a spring lock?"
mo, sir"
Then 1t was open all the timer"
Yes, sir"
anyone in the room could get out?"
Yes, sir"
When Mr.. Soames returned and
called for you, you were very much
disturbed?"
Yes, sir. Such thing has never
happened during the many years that
have been here. l nearly tainted,
SIR
so I understand. Where were you
when you began to feel bad?"
Where was T.. 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; II didn't matter
to me where / sat"
Il really don't think he knew much
about 1t, Mr.. Holmes. He was look
Ing very bad-quite CHASTITY"
You stayed here when your master
left?"
Only for a minute or so. Then I
locked the door and went to my
room"
Whom do you suspect
'Oh. would not venture to say. sir.
l don't beieve there is any gentleman
In this university who is capable Of