Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-20

was SO charmed with one Of them that
he insisted on drawing II in his note.
book, broke hts pencil, had to borrow
one from our host and finally borrowed
a knife to sharpen his own. The same
curious accident happened to him In
the rooms OF the Indiana silent little
hook nosed fellow. who eyed ~ askance
and was obviously glad when Holmes
architectural studies had come to an
end. could not see that in either case
Holmes had come upon the clew for
which he was searching Only at tho
third did our visit prove abortive. The
outer door would not open to our
knock and nothing more substantial
than torrent Of bad language came
from behind 1t. II don't care who you
are. You can go to blazes" roared the
angry voice. "Tomorrow's the exam,
and won't be drawn by any one"
"a rude fellow!'' said our guide.
flushing with anger as we withdrew
down the stair. "Of course he did not
realize that It was I who was knock.
ing, but none the less his conduct was
very uncourteous and. indeed, under
the circumstances rather suspicious"
Holmes response was a curious one.
"Can you tell me his exact height"
he asked.
Really. Mr.. Holmes. I cannot nm.
dertake to say. He is taller than the
Indian, not 40 tall as Gilchrist. sup
pose FIVE foot six would be about It,"
THAT is very important" said
Holmes. And now. Mr.. soames,
wish you good night"
Our guide cried aloud in his aston
ishment and dismay. Good gracious,
Mr.. Holmes. you are surely not 60
ing to leave me in this abrupt fashion!
You don't seem to realize the position.
Tomorrow Is the examination. must
take some definite action tonight.
cannot allow the examination to be
held II one Of the papers has been tam.
pcred with. The situation must be
faced"
You must leave II az II is. I shall
drop round early tomorrow morning
and chat the matter over. 1t ia posi-.
bic that may be in position then
to indicate some course Of action
Meanwhile. you change nothing-noth.
ing at ALL"
VERY good. Mr.. Holmes"
"You can be perfectly easy in your
mind. We shall certainly hnd some
way out Of your difficulties. will
take the black clay with me; also the
pencil cuttings. Goodby"
When we We're out in the darkness
Of the quadrangle we again looked up
at the windows. The Indian still pac-
ed his room. The others were In.
visible.
"Well. Watson. what do you think
OF IT." Holmes asked as we came out
into the main street. "QMte a little
parlor game-sort Of three card trick,
Is it not? There are your three men.
1t must he one Of them. You take
your choice. Which ia yOurs?"
THE foul mouthed fellow at the top.
He Is the one with the worst record.
And yet that Indian was a sly fellow
also Why should he be pacing his
room all the time|'
There is nothing in that. Many men
do it when they are trying to learn
anything by heart"
He looked at us in a queer way"
$50 would you If a flock OF strangers
came in on you when you were pre-
pairing for an examination next day
and every moment was Of value. No.
I see nothing in that. Pencils. too. and
knives-al was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me-"
"Who:"
"Why. Bannister, the servant. What's
his game in the matterY
"He impressed me as being a perfect
~ honest man."
$50 he did me. That's the puazling
part. Why should a perfectly honest
MAXWELL, we'll, here's a large station.
er's. We shall begin our researches
here
There We're only four stationers Of
any consequence in the town, and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips
and bid high for duplicate. All were
agreed that one could be ordered. but
that 1t was not usual size of pencil
and that 1t was seldom kept in stock.
My friend did not appear to be depress.
ed by his failure. but shrugged his
shoulders In half humorous resigna.
ton.
mo good. my dear Watson. This, the
best and only final clew, has run to
nothing. But, indeed. have little
doubt that we can build up sufficient
case without 1t. by Jove. my dear fel-
low. 1t Ia nearly 3, and the landlady
babbled Of green peas at 7:SO. What
with your eternal tobacco. Watson and
your irregularity at meals. expect
that You will get notice to quit and
that l shall share your dOwnfall-not,
however. before we have solved the
problem Of the nervous tutor, the care
less servant and the three entcrprising
students"
Holmes made no further allusiou to
the matter that day. though he sat lost
in thought for long time after our be-
lated dinner. At In the morning he
came into my room just as I finished
my toilet.
well. Watson" said he, ut IL time
we went down to st. Lukes. Can you
do without breakfast?"
Certainly"
"SOamas will be In dreadful fdget
until we are able to tell him something
positive"
Have you anything positive to tell
him?"
II think &c."
NXo,, ho vo fOrvnoI q ann oluoto,, 90