The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-10-18

arrange for fresh supply every fort
night. 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 cigarette and was
shooting little darting glances all over
the room.
Tobacco and my work, but now on
~ tobacco the old man exclaimed.
ALAS, what a fatal interruption. Who
could have foreseen such terrible ca
tastrophe? So estimable a young man!
I assure you that after few months
training he was an admirable assist
ant. What do you think Of the matter,
MIR. Holmes?"
II have not yet made up my mind"
II shall indeed be indebted to you If
you can throw light where all is so
dark to us. To a poor bookworm and
invalid like myself such blow is para
lying. seem to have lost the faculty
of thought. But you are a man of ac-
tion-you are a man of affairs. 1t is
part Of the everyday routine of your
life. You can preserve your balance in
every emergency. We are fortunate
indeed in having you at our side.'
Holmes was pacing up and down one
side of the room while the old professor
was talking. l observed that he was
smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
1t was evident that he shared our hosts
liking for the fresh Alexandrian ciga-
rettes.
Eyes. sir, it is crushing blow" said
the old man. THAT is my magnum
opus-the pile of papers on the side ia
BILE yonder. 1t is my analysis of the
documents found in the Coptic monas:
teries of Syria and Egypt, work
which will cut deep at the very founda-
ton Of revealed religion. With my en-
feebled health do not know whether
shall ever be able to complete it, now
that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me- Mr.. Holmes. why, you
are even quicker smoker than l am
myself
Holmes smiled.
81 am a connoisseur," said he, talk
ing another cigarette from the box, his
fourth, and lighting it from the stub
of that which he had finished 81 will
not trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination, Professor Coram, since /
gather that you were in bed at the
time of the crime and could know moth
ing about it. would only ask this:
What do you imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words, The
professor-it was she?'"
The professor shook his head.
Susan is a country girl" said he,
and you know the incredible stupidity
of that class. l fancy that the poor
fellow murmured some incoherent, de-
lirious words and that she twisted
them into this meaningless message"
II see. You have no explanation
yourself of the tragedy"
Possibly an accident, possibly-I
only breathe it among ourselves-a sui
eide. Young men have their hidden
troublesome affair Of the heart, per-
haps, which we have never known. Il
is more probable supposition than
murder"
But the eyeglass?"
''Ah. aul only a student, man of
dreams. l 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. 1t is a pleasure to see
any one appreciate them So A fan,
glove. glasses-who knows what ar
ticle may be carried as token or
treasured when Il man puts an end to
his life? This gentleman speaks Of
footsteps in the grass; but, after all, it
is easy to be mistaken on such 81
point. AS to the knife, it might well
be thrown far from the unfortunate
man as he fell. 1t is possible that l
speak as 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
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
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; l hardly think that it would
help me-" said he. 81 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 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 happened in the interval"
Holmes was curiously distract, and
we walked up and down the garden
path for some time In silence.