Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-02

GA college. a Gothic arched door led
TO worn stone staircase ON the
ground floor was the tutors room.
Above We're three students, one on
each story. Il was already twilight
problem. Holmes halted and looked
earnestly az the window: then he ap-
preached it and. standing on tiptoe
with his neck Grained. he looked into
the room.
He must have entered through the
door. There is no opening except the
one pane" said our learned guide.
Dear me-. said Holmes. and he
smiled in singular way as he glanc-
ed at our companion. We'll. II there
is nothing TO be learned here we had
bet go inside"
The lecturer unlocked the outer door
and ushered Us into his room. We
stood at the entrance while Holmes
made an examination Of the carpet.
Il am afraid there are no signs
here" said be. "One could hardly
hope for any upon so dry a day. Your
servant seems 10 have quite recovered.
You left him in a chair. you say.
W men chalrF
by the window there"
Il see. Near this little table. You
can come In now. l have finished
with the carpet. Let US take the lit
tie table first. OF course what has
happened is very clear. The man en-
tered and took the papers. sheet by
sheet, from the central table. He car
ried them over TO the window table.
because from there he could see II you
came across the courtyard and so
could effect an escape"
CAS- matter OF fact be could not
said Soames. "for entered by the
side door"
"Ah, that's good. Well, anyhow. that
was In his mind. Let me see the three
strips. No finger impressions-no
Well. he carried over this one first. and
he copied It. How long would il take
him to do that using every possible
contraction \ quarter OF an hour. not
less. Then he tossed IL down and seiz-
ed the next. He was IN the midst OF that
when your return caused him 10 make
very hurried retreat-very hurried.
since he had not time 10 replace the
papers which would tell you that be
had been there. You were not aware
OF any hurryiug feet on the stair as
You entered the outer doorT'
no. I can't say 1 was
'Well. he wrote so furiously that he
broke his pencil. apd had. as you OBJ
serve. 20 sharpen # again. This Is OF
interest. Watson. The pencil was not
an ordinary one. IL was above the
usual size. with n soft lead. the
outer color was dark blue. the makers
name was printed I'm silver lettering.
and the piece remaining IS only about
an inch and a half long. Look for such
n pencil, Mr.. Soames. and you have got
your man When I add that he pos
sesses large and very blunt knife you
have an additional aid"
Mr.. Soames was somewhat over
whelmed by this food OF Information.
II can follow the other points" said
he, but really, IN this matter OF the
length
Holmes held out a small chip with
the letters M and a space OF clear
wood after them.
"You see?"
'No. fear that even now
"Watson. I have always done you an
injustice. There are others. What
could this M beg II is az the end or a
word. You are aware that Johann
Taber Is the most common makers
name. Is it not clear that there is Just
as much OF the pencil left as usually
follows the JOHANNA" He held the
small table sideways 70 the electric
light. Il was hoping that II the paper
on which he wrote was thin some trace
or II might come through upon this pol
'shed surface. No. I see nothing.
dent think there Is anything more 90
be learned here. Now for the central
table. This small pellet IS, presume.
the black doughty mass you spoke of.
Roughly pyramidal in shape and hOl-
lowed out, 1 perceive. As you say,
there appear 90 be grains OF sawdust in
IL. Dear ME. this Is very interesting.
And the cut-a positive tear, see. II
began with n thin scratch and ended
with a jagged hole. l am much in
debted 10 you for directing my atten-
ton TO this case. Mr. Soames. Where
does that door lead to-"
ITO my bedroom"
Have you been in it since your ad-
venturegp
mo, came straight away for you"
Il should like 10 have a glance
round. What a charming, old fashion
ed room. Perhaps you will kindly
wait minute until / have examined
the floor. No, see nothing. What
a ~
clothes behind il. II any one were
forced TO conceal himself in this room
he must do IL there. since the bed is
too low and the wardrobe too shallow.
No one there, I suppose"
AS Holmes drew the curtain I was
aware from some little rigidity and
alertness OF his attitude that he was
prepared for an emergency. AS mat
ter OF fact, the drawn curtain diSclos-