Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-01
us INTO tho professors bedroom.


with innumerable volumes, which had
overlooked from the shelves and lay IN
piles in the corners or We're stacked all
round at the base of the eases. The
bed was in the center of the room, and
in 1t, propped up with pillows, was the
owner of the house. | have seldom
seen Il more remarkable looking person.
IT was a gaunt, aquiline face which
was turned townrd us, with pierc-
ing ark eyes which lurked in deep
holo.vs under overhung and tuft
ed brows His hnir and beard We're
white save the latter was curiously
stained with yellow around his mouth.
A cigarette glowed, 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 l
perceived that 1t was also stained with
yellow nicotine.
"a smoker Mr.. Holmes?" said he.
speaking in well chosen English, with
Il curious little mincing accent. pray
take a cigarette And you, sir? l can
recommend them. for have them espe-
cialy prepared by IoniGeS Of Alexan-
tlria. He sends me thousand at a
time, aud grieve to say that have to
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 chances all over
the room.
tobacco and my work. but now on
ly tobacco" the old man exclaimed
"Alas, what fatal Interruption! Who
| could have forcseen such terrible ca
| tastrophe? SO estimable young man!
| assure you that after a few months
training he was an admirable assist
ant What do you think of the matter,
Mr. Holiness?
Il have not yet made up my mind
81 shall indeed be Indebted to you If
YOU can throw light where all is so
dark to Us. To poor bookworm and
invalid like myself such blow Is para
living | seem to have lost the faculty
of thought Hut you are man Of ac-
ton-yo, 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 I observed that he was
smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
1t was evident that he shared our hosts
liking for the fresh Alexandrian ciga-
rettes. .
Yes. sir, it is q crushing blow" said
the old man. THAT is my magnum
| opus-the pile of papers on the side TIA
BILE yondcr. 1t is my analysis Of the
documents found in the Coptic monas-
teries Of. Syria and Egypt a 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 1t, now
that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me. Mr.. Holmes. why. you
are even quicker smoker than I am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
81 am connoisseur," said he. TAX
| ing another cigarette from the box. his
| fourth. and lighting it from the stub
OF that which he had finished. II 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, l would only ask this:
What do you imagine that this poor
fellow meant by his last words, The
professor-t was she?'"
The professor shook his head
"Susan is country girl" said he,
"and you know the incredible stupidity
Of that class 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
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. 1t
is more probable supposition than
murder"
"But the eyeglass??"
"Ah. | am only student. 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. 1t is pleasure to see
any one appreciate them SO. A fan, a
glove, glasses-who knows what ar
ticle may be carried as token or
treasured when man puts an end to
his life! This gentleman speaks Of
footsteps in the grass; but, after all, it
is easy to be mistaken OH such
point. AS to the knife, it might well
be thrown far from the unfortunate
man as he fell. 1t is possible that
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
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 i'll
the bureau?"
Nothing that would help thief
family papers, letters from my poor
wife, diplomas Of universities which