Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-07-20

knives-all was satisfactory. But that
fellow does puzzle me-"
"Who?"
why, Bannister, the servant. What's
his game In the natter"
He impressed me as being a per-
fectly honest man."
so he did me. That's the puzzling
part. Why should a perfectly honest
maxwell, well, here's a large sta
toners. We shall begin our researches
here"
There were only four s%tationers Of
any consequence i'm the town, and at
each Holmes produced his pencil chips,
and bid high for a duplicate. All were
agreed that one could be ordered. but
that it was not a usual size OF pencil,
and that IL was seldom kept I'm 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 lear Watson. This.
| the best and only final clue. has run TO
nothing. But, indeed, / have little
doubt that we can build up q sufficient
case without H. BY Jove! my dear
fellow. IL is nearly 8, and the landlady
babbled OF green peas at 1880. What
with you eternal tobacco, Watson,
and your irregularity at meals, | ex-
pect that you will get notice to quit,
and that / shall share you downfall
not, however, before we ave 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 u
belated dinner. At s in the morning
he came into my room just as / fin
ished my toilet.
well. Watson" said he. ut is time
we went down to st. Luke's. Can you
do without breakfast"
Certainly"
"Soames will be In a 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?"
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
untimely hour of 6. I have put I'm two
hours hard work n covered at least
five miles, with something to show for
II. Look at that"
He held out his hand. On the palm were
three little pyramids of black. doughty
clay.
why. Holmes. you had only two yes
terday."
"And one more this morning. 1t Is a
fair argument that wherever No. 3 came
from is also the source OF Nos. l and 2, Eth.
Watson? Well, come along and put
friend Soames out of his pain"
The unfortunate tutor was certainly In
a state of pitiable agitation whenw we found
him I'm 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 agita ron, and he ran towards
Holmes with two eager hands outstretch-
ed.
Thank Heaven, that you nave come! I
feared hat you had given II up in despair.
What am | to do? Shall the examination
proceed?"
Eyes. let Il proceed. by all means"
But this rascal -"
II shall not compete"
you know him ?"
II think so. IL 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.
II you please, Soames! Watson, you herei
I'll take the armchair in the middle. /
think that we are now sufficiently Inn
posing to strike terror into a guilty
breast, Kindly ring the belil"
Bannister entered, and shrank back In
evident surprise and fear at our judicial
appearance.
'You will kindly close the door," said
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"
Nothing to add?'
Nothing at all. sir"
We'll, then. l 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
have shown who had been In the room?"
Bannister's face was CHASTITY.
mo, sir. certainly not"
1T Is only a suggestion" said Holmes,
suavely. II frankly admit that I am un-
able to prove II. But 1t seems probable
enough. since the moment that 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"
All. that's a pity, Bannister. Up TO
now you may have spoken the truth. but
now l know that you ave he'd"
The mans face set in sullen defiance.
There was no man. SIR"
Come, come, Bannisterl"
mo. 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, Soamcs, l am go
Ing TO ask you TO have the great kindness
TO go up TO the room OF young Gilchrist,
and to ask him 10 step down into yours"
An instant later the tutor returned,
II a. - 49, ~ 49, -
fine figure of a man. tall. 1.-THE. and agile,