The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-07-19

expression OF blank dismay upon Bannis.
ter In the farther corner.
Just close the door" sad Holmes.
Now. Mr.. Gilchrist. We are all quite alone
here. and no one need ever know one word
% what passes between us. We can he
perfectly frank with zach other. We want
Co know. Mr.. Gllchrist. how you. an m
Durable man. ever came TO commit such
an action as that OF yesterday"
The unfortunate young man staggered
hack. and cas-, n look full Of horror and
rcproach at Bannistcr.
NO. no. Ms. Glichrlst. sir. I never said
n word-ncycr one word" cried the SER
want.
NO. but you have now" said Holmes.
Now. sir. you must see that after Ban
istcr's words you position IL hopeless. and
that your only chance les N n frank con-
fcssion."
For n momcn Gilchrist. with appraised
hand. tried 60 control his writhlng feat
urcs. The next he had thrown himself on
his knees beside the table. n burying
his face In his hands. he had burst into n
storm OF passionate sobb.ng.
Come. come" said Holmes. kindly. 'it
IL human to err. and ut least no one can
accuse you OF b.Ing a callous criminal.
Perhaps ~ would be easier for you II I
were 90 tell Mr.. soames what occurred.
and you can check me where I am wrong.
Shall I do so? Well. well. don't trouble TO
answer. Listen. and see that I do you no
injustice"
From the moment. Mr. soamcs. tina,
you said To me that no one. not even Ban
mister. could have told that the papers
were In your room. the case began to take
a cin shnp" In my mind. The printer
one could. OF course. dismiss. lie could
examine the papers In hts own office. The
indian ! also thought nothing OF. II the
proofs were In roll. he could not possibly
know what, they were. On the other hand,
n seemed an unthinknblc coincidence that
a mar should dare to enter the room.
and that by chance on that very day the
papers We're on the table. ! dismissed
that. Tbs man who entered know that
the papers were there. How did he know?
when approached your room. I exam
incd the window. You amused me by sup
posing tha' ] was contemplating The pos
slhi.iiy Of someone having In broad day
light. under the eyes OF all these opposite
rooms. forced himself through II. Such nm
idea was absurd. I was measuring how
tall "A man would need TO be In order to
sec. as he passed. What papers were on
the central table. ! am six feet high. and
I could do Il with an effort. No one less
than that would have a chance. Already
you see ] had reason TO think that. N one
OF your three students was a man OF un-
usual height. he was the most worth
watching OF tho three.
II entered. and ! took you into my con-
ndcncc as To the suggestions OF the side
table. or the center table I could make
nothing. until In your description Of OIL
christ you mentioned tina, he was a long
distance jumper. Then the whole thing
came 10 me In nm instant. u I only
needed certain corroborativc proofs, which
I speedily obtained.
"wha happened was this. This Young
fellow mad employed his afternoon M tho
athletic rounds. where he had been prac-
ticlEE the jump. lie returned carrying his
jumping shoes. which are provided, ms
you are aware. with several sharp spIkcs.
As he passed YOU window he saw. By
means OF hts great height. these proofs
upon your table. and coni.cturcd
what they were. No harm would have
been done had q not been that. as he
passed your door. he perceived the key
which had been left by the carclessness OF
your servant A sudden impulse came over
him TO enter. and see " they were indeed
the proofs. IL was not q dangerous exploit.
for he could always pretend that he had
simply looked In TO ask a question.
We'll. when he saw that they were In
deed the proofs. IL was then that he Yield
ed 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 triumphantiy at Ran
Mister. II put his groves on the chair.
and took the proofs. sheet by sheet. TO
copy them. He thought the tutor must
return by the main gate. and that he
would see him.. As we know. he came
back by the side gate. Suddenly he heard
him at the very door. There was no pos
Siblc escape. He forgot his glo res. but he
caught up his shoes and dartcd Into the
bedroom. You observe that the scratch
on that table is slight ut one side. but
deepens In the direction OF the bedroom
That In itself In enough TO show us
That the shoe had been drawn In that d.
r~cction. n that the cuiprit had taken
refuge there. The earth round the spike
had been left on the table. and n second
sample was iooScncd and fell In the bed
room. ! may add that I ak out TO tho
athletic grounds this morning. saw that
tenacious black clay Is used In the jump
Ing pit. and carried away a specimen OF
~. together with some OF the fine tan
vcnt the athlete from slipping. Have I
told IN. truth. Mr.. Giichristg"
The student had drawn himself erect.
Yes. sir. IL Is true" said he.
GOOD heavens! have you nothing to
add" cried Soames
Yes. sir. i have, but the shock OF this
disgraceful exposure has bcwildcred me.
I have a letter here. Mr.. Soamcs. which I
wrote TO you early this morning IN the
middle OF a restless night. IL was before
I knew that ms sin had found me out.
Here IL is. sir. You will see that ! have
said. I have determined not TO go In for
the examination. I have been offered n
commission I'm the Rhodcsian police. and I
am going out 10 South Africa Rt once"
II am indeed pleased TO hear that you
did not intend TO profit by your unfair ad-
vantage" said Soamcs. But why did
you change your purpose"
GilchriSi pointed TO Bannistcr.
There H. the man who set me In tho
right path.' said he.
Come now. Bannistcr." said Holmes.
1T will be clear TO you. from what I have
said. that only you could ave let this
young mar out. since you were left In the
room. and must have locke the door
when you went out. As to his escaping
by that window. IL was incredible. Car
you not clear up the last point In this
mystery. and tell US tho reasons for your
action
ut was simple enough. sir. II you only
had known. but. with all your clcvcrncss.
Il was impossible hat you could know.