Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15

case? Well, well, I don't insist upon it.
No doubt l am wrong. And yet it seems
to me to be suggestive. Come with me and
introduce me-"
We passed down the passage, which was
of the same length that which led to
the garden. At the end was short fight
of steps ending in a door. Our guide
knocked and then ushered us into the pro-
fesSors bed room.
1t was a very large chamber, lined with
innumerable volumes, which had overfiowed
from the shelves and lay in piles in the
corners, or were stacked all around at the
base of the case. The bed was in the CEN
ter of the roosl, and in it, propped up with
pillows, was the owner of the house. /
have seldom seen more remarkable-look-
ing person. 1t was a gaunt, aquiine face
which was turned toward us, with pierre
ing dark eyes, which lurked in deep hol-
lows under overhung and tufted brows. His
hair and beard We're white, save that the
latter was curiously stained with yellow
around his mouth. A cigarette giowed
amid the tangle Of white hair. and
the air of the room was fetid
with stale tobacco smoke AS he held out
his hand to Holmes perceived that it was
also stained with yellow nicotine.
"a smoker, Mr.. Holiness" said he, speak
ing in well-chosen English, with a curious
rette And you, sir? l can recommend
them. for l have them especially prepared
by Ionides of Alexandria. He sends me a
thousand at time, and l grieve to say that
1 have to arrange for a fresh supply every
fortnight. Bad, sir, very bad, but an old
man has few pleasures. Tobacco and my
work-that is all that is left to me-"
Holmes had lit a cigarette and was shoot
ing little darting glances all over the ROOM
Tobacco and my work, but now only
tobacco" the old man exclaimed Alas!
what fatal interruption! Who could have
foreseen such a terrible catastrophe? So
estimable young man! / assure you that
after a few months training he was an
admirable assistant What do you think
of the matter, Mr.. Holmes?"
II have not yet made up my mind"
81 shall indeed be Indebted to you IL you
can throw light where all is SO dark to
US. To poor bookworm and invalid like
myself such a blow is paralyzing. seem
to have lost the faculty of thought. But
affairs. 1t Is part OF the everyday routine
of your life. You can preserve your bal
ance in every emergency. We are fortu-
nate, indeed, In having you at our side.''
Holmes was pacing up and down one side
of the room while the old professor was
talking 1 observed that he was smoking
with extraordinary rapidity. It was EVIL
dent that he shared our hosts liking for the
fresh Alexandrian cigarettes.
YES sir, it Is a crushing blow" said the
old man. THAT is my magnum opus-the
pile of papers on the side table yonder. 1t
is my analysis of the documents found In
the Coptic monasteries of Syria and Egypt,
a work which will cut deep at the very
foundation of revealed religion. With my
enfeebled health do not know whether
shall ever be able to complete 1t, now that
my assistant has been taken from me,
Dear me! Mr.. Holmes, why, you are even
a quicker smoker than am myself"
Holmes smiled.
81 am connoisseur." said he, taking an
other 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, Prof
Coram, since gather that you We're in bed
at the time of the crime, and could know
nothing about it. I would only ask this.
What do you imagine that this poor fell
low meant by his last words: The pro-
fessor--it was she?' -
The professor shook his head.
Susan Is country girl" said he, land
you know the incredible stupidity of that
class. I. fancy that the poor fellow muir
INJURED some incoherent, delirious words, and
that she twisted them into this meaning
less message
II see. You have no explanation your
self of the tragedy?"
Possibly an accident, possibly only
breathe It among ourselves-a suicide
Young men have their hidden troubles