Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-11-02
a latcn, ana rnere is nounlng TO pre-
vent any one from walking in

vent any II from walking in.
"Now I will give you the evidence
Of Susan Tarlton, who is the only per-
son who can say anything positive
about the matter. 1t was in the fore
noon, between II and IL. She was en-
gagged at the moment in hanging 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 house
keeper was busted with some work in
the back Of the house. Willoughby
Smith had been in his bedroom. 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 say that she could
not be mistaken in his quick. firm
tread. She did not hear the study
door close, but Il minute or so later
there was a dreadful cry in the room
below. 1t was q Wild. hoarsc scream.
so strange and unnatural that il might
have come either from q man or 4
'SAS L LIN Shblc llStIl1t lllCIC
was a heavy thud which shook the
old house, and then all was silence.
The maid stood Detrified for Il
and then, recovering her courage. she
ran downstairs. Tile study door was
shut, me she opened it. Inside young
Mr.. Nilloughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor. ut first she could see
M immune 11-t ,- ~, 4.:-1
him she saw that blood was pouring
from the underside Of his neck. If
was pierced by Il very small but VERY
deep wound, WHICH had divided the
carotid artery. The instrument with
Which the injury had been inflicted Law
upon the carpet beside him. 1t wa
one of those small sealing WAX knives
to be found on old fashioned writing
tables, with an ivory handle and a
stiff blade. 1t vas part Of the fittings
OF the professors w desk.
AT first the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead, but on pour
ing some water from the carafe over
his forehead he opened his ewes for an
instant. The professor he murmur-
edit was she The maid is prepared
to swear that those were the exact
words. He tried desperately to say
something else, and he held his. right
hand up in the air. Then he fell back
dead.
'1n the meantime the ho~usekeeper
had also arrived upon the scene, but
she was just too late to catch the Young
mans dying words. Leaving Susan
with the body, she hurried to the pro-
lessons room. He was sitting uD in
bed horribly agitatcd. for he had heard
enough to convince him that something
terrible lad occurred. Mrs. Marker is
prepared to swear that the professor
was still in his nignt clothes, and. in
deed, it. was impossible for him to
dress without the help of Mortimer.
whose orders were to come at y
O'Clock. The professor declares that no
heard the distant cry, but that he
knows nothing more. He can give no
explanation Of the young mans last
words, The profesSor-it was She but
imagincS that they were the outcome
OF delirium. He believes that Willoucb-
by Smith had not an encmy in the
world, and can give no reason for thn
crime. His first action was to send
Mortimer, the gardener. for the local
police. a little later the chief con
stable sent for me. Nothing wus NOV
ell before | got there, ana strict orders
were given that no II should walk u,.
on the paths leading to the house. II
was n splendid chance of putting your
theories into practice, Mr.. Sherlock
Lb@Anes. Rsere WAS really nothing