Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27

me. Dear me. Mr.. Holmes. why, You
are even a quicker smoker than am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
II am n connoisseur," said he, TAX
ing another cigarette from the box. his
fourth. and lighting 1t from the stub
OF that which he had finished. II will
not trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination, Professor Cornm. since I
gather that you were IN bed at the
time of the crime and could know moth
ing about 1t. would only ask this:
What do you Imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words, The
profcssor-it was she?'"
The professor shook his head.
susan Is Il country girl" said he,
"and you know the incredible stupidity
OF that class. fancy that the poor
Fellow murmured some incohcrcnt, dc.
liriOus words and that she twisted
them into this meaningless message"
~ see. You have no explanation
yourself Of the tragedy"
POSSIBLY an accident. possibly-I
only breathe 1t among ourselves-a sui
eide. Young mon have their hidden
troubles some affair Of the heart per-
haps. which we have never known. 1t
Is more probable suppostion than
murder"
but tho cycglnss?"
"Ah. am only a student. n man Of
dreams cannot explain the practical
things of life. But still we are aware,
my friend that love Cages may take
strange shapes. By all means take an
other cigarette. II is a pleasure TO see
any one appreciate Them so. A fan. n
glove. glasses knows what ar
ticlc may be carried as a token or
treasured when n man puts an end to
his life: This gentleman speaks Of
footsteps in the grass; but, after all, it
Is easy to he mistaken on such a
point. AS to the knife, it might well
man as he fell. 1t Is possible that I
SPEAK as child. but to me 1t seems
that Willoughby Smith has met his
fate by his own hand"
Holmes seemed struck by the theory
thus put forward. and he continued to
walk up and down for some time. lost
in thought and consuming cigarette
after cigarette.
"'rcll me, Professor Coram." he said
at last. what Is in that cupboard in
the bnrenu?"
Nothing that would help n thief
family papers. letters from my poor
wife, diplomas Of universities which
have done me honor. Here is the key.
You can look for yourself"
Holmes picked up the key and look
ed at it for an instant; then he handed
it back.
"NO; I hardly think that it would
help me-" said he. II should prefer
to go quietly down to your garden and
turn the whole matter over in my
head. There is something to be said
for the theory of suicide which you
have put forward. We must apologize
for having intruded upon you. Pro
fessor Coram, and l promise that we
won't disturb you until after lunch
At o'clock we will come again and
report to you anything which may
have happened in the interval"
Holmes was curiously distract. and
we walked up and down the garden
path for some time in silence.
"Have you a clew" I asked at last
ut depends upon those cigarettes
that smoked" said ne. ut ia posi-.
ble that I am utterly mistaken. The
cigarettes will show me-"
MY dear Holiness" exclaimed
chow on earth
"Wel. we'll. you may see for your
self. II not there's no harm done
OF course we always have the opticiar
clew to fall back upon. but ! take 4
short cut when l can get it. All. her.
is the good Mrs. Marker! Let us on
| JOY five minutes Of instructive con
versation with her"
may have remarked before tha
Holmes had. when he liked, a peculiar
~ ingratiating way with women anc
that he very readily established term.
Of confidence with them. In half tn.
time which he had named he had cap
tured the housekeeper's good will ant
was chatting with her as If he hat
known her for years.
YES, Mr.. Holmes. II is rs You say
sir. lie does smoke something terrible
All day and sometimes all night. sir
I've seen that room of a mOrning-well
sir. you'd have thought it was II London
fog. Poor young Mr.. Smith. he was a
smoker also, but not as bad as the pro
fessor. His health--well. l don't know
that it's better nor worse for the smol.
ing"
"Ah." said Holmes, "but it kills the
appetite"
well. don't know about that, sir
II suppose the professor eats hardly
anything?"
"Well. he is variable. I'll say that for
him."
"I'll wager he took no breakfast this
morning and won't face his lunch after
all the cigarettes l saw him consume
"Well. you're out there, sir, rs 1t hap
pens, for he ate a remarkably big
breakfast this morning. don't know
when I've known him make a better
one. and he's ordered Il good dish OF
outlets for his lunch. I'm surprised
myself for since came into that room
yesterday and saw young Mr. Smith
lying there on the floor couldn't bear
to look at food. Well. it takes all sorts
to make world, and the professor
hasn't let II take his annette 0Way"