Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-09

son who can say anything positive
about the matter. 1t was in the fore
noon. between IL and II. She was en-
gagged at the moment in hanging some
curtains I'm the upstairs front bed
room. Professor Coram was still in
bed, for when the weather Is bad he
seldom rises before midday. The house
keeper was busted with some work in
the back OF the house. Willoughby
Smith had been in his bedroom, which
be uses as sitting room, but the maid
heard him at that moment pass along
the passage and descend TO the study
Immediately below her. She did not
see him, but she says that she could
not be mistaken in his quick, firm
tread. She did not hear the study
door close, but a minute or 50 later
there was a dreadful cry In the room
below. IL was wild. hoarse scream.
50 strange and unnatural that Il might
have come either from a man or "A
woman. At the same instant there
/ was heavy thud which shook the
| old house. and then all was silence.
The maid stood petriied for a moment.
ana then, recovering her courage she
| ran downstairs. The study door was
shut, and she opened it, Inside young
Mr.. Wiiloughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor At first she could see
no injury. but as she tried to raise
him she saw that blood was pouring
from the underside OF his neck. 1t
was pierced 10y a very small but very
deep wound, which had divided the
on a q.
which the injury had been inflicted lay
upon the carpet beside him. 1t was
| one of those small sealing wax knives
/ TO be found on old fashioned writing
| tables. with an ivory handle and a
stin blade. II was part of the fittings
| Of the professors own desk.
AT first the maid thought that young
Smith was already dead. but on pour
| ing some water from the Carafe over
his forehead he opened his eyes for an
instant The professor he murmur-
edit was She The maid is prepared
10 swear that those We're the exact
words. He tried desperately to say
| something else. and De held his right
hand up in the air Then he fcu back
| dead.
| had also arrived upon the scene. but
she was just too late TO catch the young
| mans dying words Leaving Susan
with the body, she hurried 20 the pro
/ fessor's room. lie was sitting up i'm
/ bed horribly agita;cd. for he had heard
| enough 10 convince him that something
( terrible had occurred Mrs Marker is
| prepared TO swear that the professor
| was still I'm his night clothes, and. in
| deed, it was impossible Tor him TO
| dress without the help OF Mortimer.
/ whose orders were TO come at T.
1 O'Clock. The professor declares that he
heard the distant cry but that he
knows nothing more. He can give no
explanation OF the young mans last
words The profcssor-it was She but
imagines that they were the outcome
! OF delirium. lie believes that Willough-
by Smith had not au enemy en- the
world, and can give no reason Tor the
crime. His first action was TO send
Mortimer, the gardener. FOR the local
police. a little later the chief CON
stable sent for me. Nothing was NOV
| cd before I got there and strict orders
I were given that uo. one should walk up-
| on the paths leading 90 the house IL
was splendid chance OF putting your
theories into practice Nr Sherlocl,
Holmes There was really nothing
wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holmes" said
my companion. with a somewhat bitter
smile. "Weu, let Us hear about &c.
What sort OF job did you make OF
It?"
Il must ask YOU first. Mr.. Holmes, 20
glance az this rough plan. which will
give You general idea of the position
Of the professors study and the varl-
Gus point, of the case. Il viii help
you in following my Investigation"
He unfoided the rough chart. which
1 here reproduce. aud lac laid IL across
Holmes knee. 1 rose and. standing be-
hind Holmes. studied it ever his shout
der.
1t is very rough. OF course. and 81 on
~ deals with the points which seem 70
me 10 be essential All the rest YOU
will see later for yourself. Now. first
OF all, presuming that the assassin en-
tered the house, how did he or she
come in? Undoubtedly 10y the garden
i
there is direct access 10 the study. ANY
other way would have been exceeding
ly complicated. The escape must have
also been made along that line. for OF
the two other exits from the room one
was blocked by Susan as she ran
downstairs and the other leads straight
10 the professors bedroom. I therefore
directed my attention at once 10 the
garden path. which was saturated with
recent rain and would certainly show
any fOOtmarks
My examination showed me that I
was dealing with a cautious and ex-
pert criminal No foomarks were To
be found on the path. There could be
no question. however that some one
had passed along the grass border
(which lines the path and that he had
done SO IN order 10 avoid leaving
track. l could not find anything in the