Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-02
Come. come" said HOLMES


can accuse you OF being a calious Grim
inaL Perhaps il would be easier for
you il were 20 tell Mr.. Soames what
occurred. and you can check me where
am wrong. Shall do sol Well. well.
don't trouble to answer. Listen. and
see that do you no injustice"
From the moment. Mr.. Soames, that
you said 10 me that no one. not even
Bannister. could have told that the pa
pers We're Ia your room the case began
10 take a definite shape In my mind.
The printer one could. OF course. dis
miss. He could examine the papers in
his own Office. The Indian also
thought nothing Of II the proofs were
In roll he could not possibly know
what they We're. On the other hand. II
seemed an unthinkable coincidence
that a man should dare TO enter the
room, and that by chance on that very
day the papers Were on the table. I
dismissed that The man who entered
knew that the papers were there How
did be know?
when I approached your room /
examined the window You amused
me by supposng that 1 was contem-
plating the possibility of some one hav-
ing In broad daylight. under the eyes
Of all these opposite rooms. forced him
self through It Such an idea was alb
surd. 1 WIS measuring how tall a
man would need 10 be IN order TO see
as he passed what papers were on the
central table. I am six feet high. and
I could do IL with an effort. No one
less than that would have a chance.
Already, you see. I had reason to think
that IL one Of your three students was
man Of unusual height he was the
most worth watching OF the three.
Il entered, and took you into nv
confidence as 10 the suggestions of the
side table. OF the center table I could
make nothing until IN your description
OF Gilchrist you mentioned that be was
a long distance jumper. Then the
whole thing came TO nae In an instant.
and only needed certain corroborative
proofs. which l speedily obtained.
What happened was this: This young
fellow had employed his afternoon at
the athletic grounds, where he had
been practicing the jump. he return
Ell carrying his Jumping shoes. which
are provided as you are aware. with
several sharp spikes As he passed
your window he saw by means OF his
great height. these proofs upon your
table and coniectured what they We're.
No I'm would have been done had IL
not been that as be passed your door he
perceived the key which had been left
by the carelessness OF your servant
A sudden Impulse came over him TO en-
ter and see II they were indeed the
proofs. IL was not dangerous ex-
plolt. for he could always pretend that
he bad simply looked in 10 ask a ques-
ton.
We'll. when he saw that they were
indeed the proofs IL was then that he
yielded TO temptation. He put his
shoes on the table What was IL you
put on that chair near the Window"
Gloves" said the young man.
Holmes looked triumphantly at Ban
mister. HE put his gloves on the chair.
and he took the proofs sheet by sheet.
20 4s..ssS. them. He thought the tutor
must return by the main gate and that
be would see him. As we know. he
came back by the side gate Suddenly
he heard him at the very door. There
was no possible escape. He forgot his
gloves, but he caught up his shoes and
darted into the bedroom. You observe
that the scratch on that table IL slight
at one side but deepens I'm the direction
OF the bedroom door. That I'm itself is
enough 10 show US that the shoe had
been drawn IN that direction and that
the culprit had taken refuge there. The
earth round the spike had been left on
the table, and a second sample was
loosened and fell In the bedroom.
may add that walked out 10 the ath-
letic grounds this morning, saw that
tenacious black clay Is used I'm the
Jumping pin and carried away a speci-
men Of it. together with some OF the
fine tan or sawdust which is strewn
over It TO prevent the athlete from
slipping. Have / told the truth, Mr..
Gilchrist?' -
The student had drawn himself erect.
Eyes, sir; IL is true" said he.
Good heavens! Have you nothing
10 add?' cried Soames.
''Yes, sir, I have. but the shock OF
this disgraceful exposure has bewilder-
ed me. l have a letter here Mr.. SOames.
which l wrote 20 you early this morn
Ing in the middle OF restless night.
1t was before knew that my sin had
found noe out Here IL is. sir. You will
see that have said 4 have determined
not 10 go IN for the examination. I
have been offered a commission In the
Rhodesian police, and am going out
TO South Africa ar once"
II am indeed pleased 10 hear that you
did not intend 70 profit by your unfair
advantage" said Soames. But why
did you change your purposeT
Gilchrist pointed 20 Bannister.
There is the man who set me In the
right path" said he
Come now. Bannister," said Holmes.
ut viii be clear to you from what
have said that only you could have let
this young man our, since you We're
left ia the room and must have locked
the door when you went out. AS 10 his
escaping by that window. IL was in
credible. Can you not clear up the
last point IN this mystery and tell US
the reasons for your acton2"
1T was simple enough, sir, IL you
L.