The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-07-20
BY A. CONAN DOYLE
Copyright. 1905.
by Mcclure. Phillips q Co.

Inives-all was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me"
"Who?"
Why, Bannister, the servant. What's
his game in the m%atter?"
Tie impressed me as being a per-
fectly honest man."
so he did me. That's the puzzling
part. Why should a perfectly honest
MAXWELL. we'll, here's a large sta
here
There We're Only four stationers Of
any consequence In the town. and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips,
and bio high for a duplicate. All We're
agreed that n could be ordered. but
and that 1T was seldom kept in stock.
My friend did not appear to be de-
pressed by his failure, but shrugged
his shoulders in half humorous resig-
nation.
NO good. my dear Watson. This,
the best and only final clue, has run to
nothing. But, indeed, I nave little
doubt that we can build up a sufficient
case without 1t. BY Jove! my dear
fellow, 1t is nearly 8, and the landlady
babbled of green peas at 7:30. What
with your eternal tobacco. Watson,
dIlQ yOQl uldTllN dl metals, 1 eN.
pect that you will get notice to quit,
and that I shall share your downfall
not, however, before we have solved the
problem of the nervous tutor. the care
less servant. and the three enterprising
Students"
Holmes made no further allusion to
the matter that day, though he sat lost
in thought for a long time after our
belated dinner. AT s in the morning
he came into my room just as I fin
ished my toilet.
We'll, Watson" said ne. tit is time
we went down to ST. Luke's. Can you
do without breakfast?"
Certainly"
"Soames will be in n dreadful fdget
until we are able to tell him something
positive"
Have you anything positive to tell
him."
81 think So"
You have formed a conclusion?"
Yes, my dear Watson, l have solved
the mystery
But what fresh evidence could you
have got?"
AHA! 1t is not for. nothing that I
have turned myself out of bed at the
hours hard work and covered at least
five miles, with something to show for
it. Look at that"
He held out his hand. On the palm were
three little pyramids Of black, doughty
clay.
why. Holmes. you had only w yes
terday."
And one more this morning. It is a
fair argument that wherever No 8 came
from is also the source of Nos. 1 and 9. Eth,
Watson? Well, come along and put
friend Soames out of his pain"
The unfortunate tutor was certainly In
a state of pitiable agitation when we found
-~a a., hf~ ol1 ,1,@,- - - g.. I-..- %h-
examination would commence, and he was
still in the dilemma between making the
facts public and allowing the cuprit to
compete for the valuable scholarship. He
could hardly stand still, so great was his
mental agitation. and he ran towards
Holmes with two eager hands outstretch-
THANK Heaven. that you nave come! I
feared that you had given it up in despair.
What ana I to do? Shall the examination
proceed?"
Yes, let it proceed, by all means"
But this rascal %"
He shall not compete"
"You know him?"
81 think so. If this matter is not to be-
public. we must give ourselves GER
tain powers, and resolve ourselves into a
small private court martial. You there.
If you please, Soames! Watson, you here!
I'll a the armchair in the middle. i
think that we are now sufficiently i'm
posing to strike terror into a guilty
breast. Kindly ring the BELL"
Bannister entered, and shrank back in
evident surprise and fear at our judicial
appearance.
You will kindly close the door," said
Holmes. Now. Banntster, will you please
tell us the truth about yesterdays Incl
dent?'
The man turned white to the roots of his
hair.
Il have told you everything. SIR"
Nothing to add?'
Nothing at all, SIR"
well, then, I must make some sug-
gest.on to you. When you sat down on
that chair yesterday, did you do SO in or
der to conceal some object which would
ave shown who had been in the room?"
Bannister's face was CHASTITY.
mo. sir, certainly not"
ut Is only a suggestion" said Holmes,
suaNely. II frankly admit that I am un-
able to prove it. But it seems probable
enough, since the moment h Mr..
Soames' back was turned, you released the
man Who was hiding in that bedroom"
Bann-ster licked his dry lips.
There was no man. Sir"
"Ah. that's a pity, Bannister. Up to
now you may have spoken the truth, but
now l know that you have led"
The mans face set in suilen defiance.
'.There was no man, SIR"
Come. come, Bannister!"
No. sir, there was no one"
In that case. you can give us no fur
Their information. Would you please re-
main in the room. Stand over there near
the bedroom door. Now. Soames, I am go
ing to ask you to have the great kindness
to go up to the room of young. Gilchrist.
and TO ask him to step down into yours
An instant later the tutor returned.
bringing with him the student. He was a
fine figure of a man. tall. 1.-THE, and agile,
q.