The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-07-20
BY A. CONAN DOYLE
cepyrisAt. 1905.
BY Mcclure. PAillips q Co.

BY Mcclure. PHILLIPS q Co.
! lnives-all was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me-"
"Who?"
why, Bannister, the servant. What's
his game in the matter?"
HE impressed me as being per-
fectly honest man."
so he did me. That's the puzzlins
part. Why should a perfectly honest
toner's. We shall begin our researches
here"
There were only four stationers Of
any consequence in the town. and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips.
and bid high for a duplicate. All We're
that 1t was not a usual size Of pencil,
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.
mo good, my dear Watson. This,
the best and only final clue. has run to
nothing. But. indeed, have little
doubt that we can build up sufficient
case without 1t. BY Jovei my dear
fellow. 1t is nearly 8. and the landlady
babbled of green peas at 1880. What
| u,
and your irregularity at meals. ex-
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 alusion to
the matter that day, though he sat lost
in thought for a long time after our
belated dinner. AT in the morning
he came Into my room just as l fin
ished my toilet.
Well Watson" said he. cit is time
we went down to ST. Lukc's. Can you
do without breakfast?"
Certainly"
"Soames will be in dreadful fidget
until we are able to tell him something
positive"
Have you anything positive to tell
him?"
II think So"
you have formed a conclusion?"
Eyes, my dear Watson. have solved
the mystery"
But what fresh evidence could you
have got?"
aha! 1t is not for nothing that
have turned myself out of bed at the
untimely hour Of 6. I have put in two
hours hard work and covered at least
five miles, with something to show for
it. Look at that"
three little pyramids of black. doughty
clay.
why Holmes, you had only two yes
terday."
"And one more this morning. It is a
fair argument that wherever No. came
, from is also the source Of Nos. and 2. Eth.
Watson? Well, come along and put
friend Soames out of his PAIN"
The unfortunate tutor was certainly In
state of pitiable agitation when we found
him in his chambers In a few hours the
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 outstretc5f-
) ed.
: THANK Heaven, that you have come! !
feared that you had given 1t up in despair.
What am I to do? Shall the examina ton
proceed?"
Yes, let 1t proceed. by all means"
3 but this rascal p"
. "He shall not compete"
You know him?"
Il think SO. If this matter is not to be-
come 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 take the armchair in the middle.
, think that we are now sufficiently i'm
J posing to strike terror into a guilty
: breast Kindly ring the bell"
Bannister entered. and shrank back ir
!, evident surprise and fear at our judic.a
appearance.
You will kindly close the door," sale
: Holmes. Now. Bannister, will you please
tell us the truth about yesterdays Incl
{ dent?"
The man turned white to the roots of his
hair.
: II have told you everything, SIR"
o Nothing to add?"
q Nothing at all. sir"
!" well, then, 1 must make some sug
. gestion to you. When you sat down OF
v that chair yesterday, did you do so in or
: der to conceal some object which would
). have shown who had been in the room 2"
y Bannister's face was CHASTITY.
t mo, sir, certainly not"
{, 1T is only a suggestion said Holmes
v suavely. II frankly admit that am un
e able to prove 1t. But it seems proba bl,
enough. since the moment that Mr.
!. Soames' back was turned, you released tn,
y man who was hiding in that bedroom"
Bann.ster licked his dry lips.
: There was no man, SIR
: "Ah. that's pity. Bannister. Up t.
: now you may have spoken the truth bu
now know that you have lied"
d The mans face set in sullcn defiance.
There was no man, SIR
Come, come, Bannister!
: mo, sir. there was no one"
5, I'm that case, you can give US no fur
g Their information. Would you please re
I! main in the room. Stand over there nea
!. the bedroom door. Now, Soames, am go
It ing to ask you to have the great kindnes
l to go up to the room of young Gilchrist
e and to ask him to step down into yours
An instant later the tutor returned
e bringing with him the student. He was
fine figure of man. tall 1.-the. and agile
: ~