The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-07-27

have been Just what his employer
wanted. His work consisted in writ
Ing all the morning to the professors
dictation, and he usually spent the
evening in hunting up references and
passages which bore upon the next
days work. This Willoughby Smith
has nothing against him, either as a
boy at Cppingham or as young man
at Cambridge. have seen his testi-
monfals, and from the first he was
decent, quiet, Woodworking fellow. with
no weak spot in him at all. And yet
this is the lad who has met his death
this morning In the professors study
under circumstances which can point
only to murder
The Wind howled and screamed at
the windows. Holmes and l drew
closer to the fire, while the young in
spector slowly and point by point de-
Veloped his singular narrative.
IF you We're to search all England"
said he, II don't suppose you could
find a household more self contained or
freer from outside influences. Whole
weeks would pass and not one of them
would go past the garden gate. The
professor was buried in his work and
existed for nothing else. Young Smith
knew nobody in the neighborhood. and
lived very much as his employer did
The two women had nothing to take
them from the house. Mortimer, the
gardener, who wheels the bath chair,
is an army pensioner-an old Crimean
man of excellent character. He does
not live i'll the house. but in a three
roomed cottage at the other end of
the garden. Those are the only people
that you would find within the grounds
of YoXley Old Place. At the same time
the gate of the garden is hundred
yards from the main London to Chath-
man road. 1t opens with a latch, and
there is nothing TO prevent anyone from
walking in.
'Now l will give you the evidence of
Susan Tarlton. who is the only person
who can say anything positive about
the matter. 1t was in the forenoon be-
tween eleven and twelve. She was en-
gagged at the moment in hanging some
curtains in the upstairs front bedroom.
Professor Coram was still In bed, for
when the weather is bad he seldom
rises before midday The housekeeper
was busted with some work in the back
OF the house. Willoughby Smith had
been in his bedroom. which he 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 mis-
taken in his quick. firm tread. She did
not hear the study door close, but a
minute or so later there was a dreadful
cry in the room below. 1t was wild.
hoarse scream. so strange and unnat-
ural that it might have come either
from man or a woman. At the same
instant there was a heavy thud; which
shook the old house. and then all was
silence. The maid stood petrified for a
| moment, and then. recovering her cour-
| age. she ran downstairs. The study
| door was shut and she opened it. In
side, young Mr.. Willoughby Smith was
stretched upon the floor. At first she
could see no injury, but as she tried
to raise him she saw that the blood
was pouring from the underside Of his
| neck. 1t was pierced by a very small
| but very deep wound, which had di-
! vided the carotid artery. The in-tru-
| mont with which the injury had been
inflicted lay upon the carpet beside
him. 1t was one of those small seal
ing wax knives to be found on old fash
Toned writing tables with an ivory.
handle and stiff blade. 1t was part
of the fittings Of the professors own
desk
"At first the maid thought that
young Smith was already dead, but on
pouring some water from the carafe
over his forehead he opened his eyes
| for an instant. The professor he
murmured-it was she.' The maid is
~ SPthA C0 " S"SdI llldl lHOSe were the
exact words. He tried desperately to
say somthing else. and he held his
| right hand up in the air. Then he fell
| back dead.
"In the meantime the housekeeper
| had also arrived upon the scene. but
she was just too late to catch the
young mans dying words. Leaving
| the professors room. He was sitting
| up in bed horribly agitated for he had
| heard enough to convince him that
something terrible had occurred. Mrs.
Marker is prepared to swear that the
professor was still in his night clothes,
and indeed it was impossible for him
| to dress without the help Of Mortimer,
| whose orders We're to come at twelve
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 professor-it was She but
imagines that they We're the outcome
of delirum. He believes that Willoughby
Smith had not an enemy in the world,
and can give no reason for the crime
His first action was to send Mortimer.
the gardener for the local police A
little later the chief constable sent for
me. Nothing was moved before l got
| there. and strict orders We're given that
no one should awlk upon the paths lead :
| ing to the house. 1t was a splendid
chance of putting your theories into
practice. Mr.. Sherlock Holmes. There
was really nothing wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holiness" said
my companion, with somewhat bitter
smile. We'll let us hear about it..
What sort of a job did you make Of it 2"
Il must ask you first, Mr.. Holmes, to
| glance at this rough plan. which will
sA(,H I rs.