The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-08-03
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.


she escapes, either with or without
the object for which she has come. Is
Susan. the maid. there? Could anyone
have got away through that door after
the time that you heard the cry, Su-
SAM"
NO. sir. it is impossible. Before I
got down the stair. I'd have seen any
never o-ened, or l would have heard
| it,"
THAT settles that exit. Then no doubt
the lady went out the way she came
I understand that this other passage
leads only to the professors room.
There is no exit that '-'ay?"
| mo, sir
I'VE shall go down it and make the
acquaintance of the professor. Halloa,
! HOPKINS! this is very important, very
important indeed. The professors cor
ridor is also lined with cocoanut mat
ting
Well, sir, what of that:"
Don't you see any bearing upon the
case? Well, well, j don't insist upon it.
No doubt I am wrong. And yet it
seems to me to be suggestive. Come
with me and introduce me-"
We passed down the passage, which
was of the same length as that which
led to the garden. AT the end was a
short flight of steps ending in door.
Our guide knocked. and then ushered
us into the professors bedroom
1t was a very large chamber. lined
with innumerable Volumes which had
oNerfiowed from the shelves and lay in
| piles in the corners, or We're stacked
all round at the base of the cases. The
bed was in the center of the room, and
In 1t, propped up with pillows. was the
owner of the house. I have seldom
seen a more remarkable looking per-
| L
which was turned towards US, with
| piercing dark eyes. which lurled in
deep hollows under overhung and
tufted brows. His hair and beard We're
white, save that the latter was curious
~ stained with yellow around his
mouth mo 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 it
was also stained with yellow nicotine.
"A smoker. MIR. Holiness" said he.
speaking IN well-chosen English, with a
curious little mincing accent. pray take
a cigaret. And you, sir? can recon-
mend them, for I have them especially
prepared by Ionides. Of Alexandria. He
sends me a thousand at time, and
grieve to say that have to arrange for
fresh supply every fortnight Bad. sir.
very bad. but an old man has few pleas
|
that isIeft to me-"
Holmes had litia cigarct and was shoot
ing little darling glances all over the
room. III 4S x & I.
Tobacco and my work. but now only
tobacco" the old man exclaimed. Alas!
what fatal interruption! Who could have
| foreseen such a terrible CATASTROPHE. So
est.mable young man! I assure you
| that, after few months training he was
an admirable assistant. What do you
think of the matter. Mr.. Holiness"
| Il have not get made up my mind"
q shall indeed be indebted to you if you
can throw a light where all is SO dark
to us. To a poor bookworm and invalid
like myself such blow is paralyzing.
seem to have lost the faculty of thought.
| But you are man of action-you 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, inLeed in having you at our
side"
Holmes was pacing UP and down one
| side of the room whilst the old professor
was talking. l observed that he was
| smoking with extraordinary rapidity. 1t
was evident that he shared our hosts lik-
ing for the fresh Alexandrian cigarets
Eyes, SIR, it is crushing blow said the
old man. THAT Is my magnum opus-the
pile Of papers on the side table yonder,
1t is my analysis Of the documents found
| in the Coptic monasteres of Syria and
| Egypt n work which will cut deep at the
very foundation of revealed religion. With
my enfeebled health LIDO not know wheth-
| er shall ever be able to complete it, now
| that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me! Mr.. Holmes why, you are
even a quicker smoker than l am myself"
| Holmes smiled.
81 am conno:sseur." said he. taking
another cigaret from the box--his fourth
and lighting it from the stub of that which
he had finished. Il will not trouble you
with any lengthy cross-cxamination, Pro-
| fessor Coram, since / gather that you
were in bed at the time of the crime, and
could know nothing about it. l would only
ask this. What do you imagine that this
poor fellow meant by his last words: The
| Professor-it was she'?"
The professor shook his head
Susan is a country girl" said he, land
! you know the incredible stupidity of that
class. fancy that the poor fellow muir
INJURED some incohcrent. dclirious words
i and that she twisted them into this mean
inglcss message
II see. You have no explanation your
self of the tragedy"
Possibly an accident. possibly-I only
4 breathe II among ourselves-a suicide.
I Young men have their hidden troubles
some affair of the heart, perhaps, which
we have never known. 1t is more prob
able superstition than murder"
But the eyeglasses" q
..Ah! ! am only a student-a man of
dreams. II cannot explain the practical
things of life! But still, are aware,
my friend, that beverages may take
strange shapes. BY all means take an
other c:garet. 1t is a pleasure to see any
one appreciate them so. A fan, glove.
| glasses-Who knows what article may be