The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-07-20
ax-THE ADVENTURE OF THREE

u understand" said Holmes, that
you left your key in the door?"
eyes. SIR"
WAS it not very extraordinary that
you should do this On the very day
wien there We're these papers inside?'
ut was most unfortunate. sir. But
have occasionally done the same thing
at other tines
.'When did you enter the room?"
ct was about 1880. That is Mr..
6oames' tea time"
GLOW long did you stay?"
When I saw that he was absent. I
withdrew at once
Ibid you look at these papers on the
table?'
mo, sir-certainly not"
How came you to leave the key in
the door?"
ct had the tea tray in my hand. 1
thought 1 would come back for the key.
Then I forgot"
Has the outer door a spring LOCKE"
-.Then it was open all the time?"
Eyes, SIR
Anyone in the room could get out ~
When Mr., soames returned and
called for you, YOU We're very much dis
turbed?'
yes. sir. Such a thing has never
happened during the many years that I
have been here. l nearly tainted, sir"
S I understand. Where We're you
when you began to feel bad?"
Where was 1, sir? Why, here, near
h door"
THAT is singular, because you sat
down in that chair over yonder near
The corner. Why did you pass these
other chairs?"
Il don'tsknow. sir. it didn't matter to
me where I sat-"
II really don't think he knew much
hi ~ NJ
very bad-quite CHASTITY"
You stayed here when your master
aeft?"
Only for a minute or SO. Then I
locked the door and went to my room.
Whom do o suspect?"
on, 1 would not venture to say, sir.
Z don't believe there is any gentleman
In this university who is capable of
prohting by such an action. No, sir,
III not believe it,"
~Fhank you, that will do" said
Holmes. "Oh, one more word. You
nave o mentioned to any of the three
gentlemen whom you attend that any
thing is amiss?"
No, sir-not a word"
You haven't seen any of them?"
mo, SIR"
Very good. Now, Mr.. soames, we
VIII take a walk in the quadrangle, if
you please"
Three yellow squares Of light shone
US In the gathering gloom.
. three birds are all in their
nests said Holmes, looking up. HAL
toa! h that? One of them seems
restless enough
1t was the Indian, whose dark sill
nouetfe appeared suddenly upon his
olind- He was pacing swiftly up and
down his room.
= should like to nave a peep at each
sof them" said Holmes. lis it pos
ssible?"
mo difficulty in the world" soames
answered. This set of rooms is quite
the Oldest In the college, and it is not
unusual for visitors to go over them.
Come along. and I will personally con-
duct you"
we knocked at Gilchrist's door,. A tall,
,naxen-haired, slim young fellow opened
u, ard made US welcome when he UNI
s1erstood our errand. There were some
really curious pieces Of medieval do
nestle architecture within. Holmes
ne insisted on drawing it in his note
book. broke his pencil, had to borrow
r0ne from our host. and finally borrowed
a knife to sharpen his OWL. The same
curious accident happened to him in
the rooms of the Indiana silent. little.
,haok-nosed fellow, who eyed us
saskance, and was obviously glad when
Holmes architectural studies had come
to an end. / could not see that in
either case Holmes had come upon the
clue for which he was searching. Only
at the third did our visit prove abor-
tive. The outer door would not open
10 our knock, n nothing more sub
SANTA than a torrent Of bad language
came from behind it. "I don't care
who you are. You can go to blazes!!"
roared the angry voice. "Tomorrow's
the exam. and I won't be drawn by
any one"
rude fellow" said our guide,
flushing with anger as we Withdrew
down the stair. "Of course he did not
realize that 1t was l who was Knocking,
out none the less his conduct was very
uncourteous, and, indeed, under the
circumstances rather suspicious"
Holmes response was a curious me.
Can you tell me his exact height 2"
he asked.
Really. Mr.. Holmes, I cannot under
dian. not SO tall as Gilchrist. 1 sup
pose five foot six would be about it,"
THAT is very important" said
Holmes. AN now Mr.. soames. l
wish you goodnight"
Our guide cried aloud in his aston
Mr.. Holmes, you are surely not going
TO leave me in this abrupt fashioni
You don't seem to realize the position,
Tomorrow is the examination. I must
take some definite action tonight. l
cannot allow the examination to be
Eeld IL n of the papers has been tam
pered with. The situation must be
faced"
You must leave it as 1t is. I shall
drop round early tomorrow morning
and chat the matter over 1t is possi-
BILE that I may be in a position then
to indicate some course of action,
Meanwhile. you change nothing-noth-
ing at ALL"
Very good, MI. Holiness"
You can be perfectly easy in your
mind. We shall certainly find some
way out of Jour difficulties. 1 will
take the black clay with me, also the
pencil cuttings. Goodby.'
we Wera out in the darkness
of the quadrangle we again looked ur
at the windows The Indian still paced
his room. The others We're invisible.
Well Watson, what do you think OF
it," Holmes asked. as we came gu,
into the main street. Quite a little
parlor garne-sort of three-card trick
Is 1t not? There are your three men
1t must be one of them. You take your
choice Which Is yours?"
The foul-mouthed fellow at the top
Wa Ia. fh. 0po 1,,sk1 49, ,,1..A $500,