The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07

1t isIa more probable supposition than
murder"
But the eyeglasses
"Ahl ] am only q student man OF
tfcal things OF life. But still. we are
aware. my friend. that lQve-gages
may take strange shapes. BY all means
take another cigarette. It Is a pleasure
to see any one appreciate them so. A
fan, q glove. glasses-who knows what
article may be carried as a token or
treasured when a man puts an end to
footsteps In the grass, but, after all,
1t Is easy to be mistaken on such a
point AS to the knife, 1t might well
be thrown far from the unfortunate
man as he fell. 1t is possible that /
speak as a child. but to me it 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.
TELL me, Professor Coram," he said,
at last. what is in that cupboard in
the bureau?'.
Nothing that would help a thief
wife, diplomas of universities which
have done me honor. Here Is the key.
You can look for yourself"
Holmes picked up the key and looked
at it for an instant. then he handed it
back.
mo, I hardly think that, it would
help me-" said he. I should prefer
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, Professor
Coram, and I promise that we won't
disturb you until after lunch. At 2
o'clock we will come again and report
to you anything which may have hap
pened in the interval
Holmes was curiously distrait, and
we walked up and down the garden
path for some time in silence.
Have you a clew?" / asked, at last.
1T depends upon those cigarettes
that smoked" said he. 1T is possi-
bic that am utterly mistaken. The
cigarettes will show me-"
my dear Holmes" I exclaimed,
show on earth"
We'll, well. you may see for your
self. If not, there's no harm done. OF
course, we always have the optician
clew to fall back upon, but take
short cut when can get it. All, here is
the good Mrs. Marker! Let us enjoy
five minutes of instructive converSa-
tion with her."
l may have remarked before that
Holmes had, when he liked, a peculiarly
ingratiating way with women, and that
he very readily established terms of
confidence with them. In half the time
which he had named, he. had captured
the housekeeper's goodwill, and was
chatting with her as If he had known
her for years.
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes, it is as you say,
sir. He does smoke something terrible.
All day and sometimes all night. sir.
I've seen that room of morning
well sir, you'd have thought it was a
London fog. Poor young Mr.. Smith,
he was smoker also, but not SO bad
as the professor. His health-well, l
don't know that 1t is better nor worse
for the smoking"
.Ah!" said Holmes, 'but 1t kills the
appetite" ;.
se.sWell, 1 don't know about that, sir. :"
ahything?"
.ssWell, 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 I saw him consume" !"
{ We'll, you're out there, sir as it hap
pens, for he ate a remarkably big
when I've known him make better
one, and he's ordered good dish of
outlets for his lunch. I'm sur
prised myself, for since / came
into that room yesterday and
saw young Smith lying there
on the floor couldn't bear to look at
food. Well, it takes all sorts to make
a world, and the Professor hasn't let
it take his appetite away"
We 1oifarad tho morning awav in
the garden. Stanley Hopkins had
gone down to the village to look into
some rumors of strange woman who
har been seen by some children on the
Chatham Road the previous morning.
AS to my friend, all his usual energy
seemed to have deserted him. / had
never known him handle case in
such a half-hearted fashion. Even
the news brought back by Hopkins
that he had found children, and that
they had undoubtedly seen a woman
exactly corresponding with Holmes
description, and wearing. either spec
tacles or eyeglasses, failed to rouse
any sign of keen interest. He was
more attentive when Susan, who
the information that she believed Mr..
Smith had been out for a walk yes
terday morning, and that he had only
returned half an hour before the trag-
edy occurred. I could not myself see
the bearing of this incident, but !
clearly perceived that Holmes was
weaving 1t into the general scheme
which he had formed In his brain.
Suddenly he sprang from his chair
and glanced at my watch. Two
o'clock, gentlemen" said he. we
must 90 up and have 1t out with our
friend, the Professor
The old man had just finished his
lunch. and certainly his empty dish
bore evidence to the good appetite
which his housekeeper had credited
him. He was. indeed, weird figure
as he turned his white name and his
glowing eyes toward us. The eternal
cigarette smoldered in his mouth.
He had been dressed. and was seated
in an armchair by the fire.
well, Mr.. Holmes. have you solved
this mystery YETI" He showed the
large tin of cigarettes which stood on
a table beside him toward my COM
panion. Holmes stretched out his
hand at the same moment, and be-
tween them they tipped the box over
the edge. For a minute or two we
were ali on our knees retrieving stray
cigarettes from impossible places.
when we rose again, I observed
Holnes' eyes were shining and his