The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-07-12

broke his pencil, and had, as you OBJ
serve, to sharpen it again. This is O.
interest, Watson. The pencil was MOI
an ordinary one. 1t was above the
usual size, with a soft lead, the outer
color was dark blue, the makers name
was printed in silver lettering, and the
piece remaining is only about an inch
and a half long. Look for such a pen
Gil, Mr.. Soames, and you have got youl
man. When / add that he possessed
a large and very blunt knife, you have
an additional aid"
Mr.. Soames was somewhat over
whelmed by this flood of information
Il can follow the other points," said he
but really, in this matter of the
length-'
Holmes held out a small chip with
the letters mn II a space Of clear
wood after them.
you See?'
NO, I fear that ven now
watson, l have always done 70.
an injustice. There are others. What
could This Mn be? 1t is at the end
of a word. You are aware that Johann
Faber is the most common makers
name. Is it not clear hat there is
just as much Of the pencil left as usu-
ally follows the johanna" He held the
small table sideways to the electric
light. Il was hoping that if the paper
on Which he wrote was thin, some trace
of it might come through upon this
polished surface. No, l see nothing.
l don't think there is anything more to
be learned here. Now for the central
table. This small pellet is, 1 presume,
the black, doughty mass you spoke of.
Roughly pyramidal in shape and hol-
lowed out, / perceive. AS you say,
there appear to be grains of sawdust
in it. Dear me, this is very interest
ing. And the cut-a positive tear, I
see. 1t began with a thin scratch and
ended in a Jagged hole. I am much
indebted to you for directing my at
tention to this case, Mr.. Soames.
ITO my bedroom"
Have you been in it since your ad-
venture?'
mo, I came straight way for you"
Il should like to have a glance round.
What a charming, old fashioned room!
Perhaps o will kindly wait a min
ute, until I have examined the floor.
No, l see nothing. What about this
curtain? You hang your clothes be-
hind it. II anyone were forced to con-
ceal himself in this room he must do it
there, since the bed is too low and the
wardrobe too shallow. No one there,
L suppose?"
AS Holmes drew the curtain I was
aware, from some little rigidity and
a~lertness Of his attitude, that he was
prepared for an emergency. AS a mat
ter or act the drawn curtain disclosed
nothing but three or fou suits of
clothes hanging from a line Of pegs.
holmes turned away, and stopped sud-
denly to the floor.
"Halloa! What's this?" said he.
1t was a small pyramid of black, put
ty-like stuff, exactly like the one upon
the table of the study. Holmes held it
ny an nc .N~N~ IL T..
the electric light.
You visitor seems to nave left
traces in your bedroom as we'll as in
your sitting room, MIR. Soaanes."
what could he have wanted there?"
thlnk 1t is clear enough. You came
pack by an unexpected way, and so he
mad no warning until you We're at the
very door. What could he do? He
caught UP everything which would be-
room to conceal himself"
Good gracious, Mr.. Holmes, do you
mean to tell me that, all the time l was
talking to Bannister in this room, we
a the man prisoner if we had only
known it?"
80 I read it."
Surely there is another alternative,
MT. Hoimes l dOn know whether you
observed my bedroom Window"
"Lattice-paned, lead framework, three
separate windows, one swinging on
hinge, and large enough to admit a
man."
Exactly. And it looks out on an
angle of the courtyard so as to be
partly invisible. The man might have
erected his entrance there, left traces
as he passed through the bedroom, and
finally, finding the door open, have es-
capped that way"
homes shook his head impatioltly.
Let us be practical said he, IT
understand you to say that there are
three students who use this stair, and
are in the habit OF passing your door?"
Yes, there are"
And they are all in for this exami-
nation?"
Yes"
'Have you any reason to suspect any
n of them more than the others?"
1t is a very delicate question: said
Soames. One hardly likes to throw
suspicion where there are no proofs"
Let us hear the suspicious. I will
look after the proofs
L will tell you in a few words the
character of the three men who in
habit these rooms. The lower of the
three Is Gilchrist, a fine scholar and
athlete, plays in the Rugby team and
the cricket team for the college, and
got his blue for the hurdles and the
loHS Jump. lie is a fine, manly fellow.
His father was the notorious Sir Jabez
Chemist, who ruined himself on the
turf. My scholar has been left very
poor, but he is Woodworking and indus
trlous. He -.7ill do well.
The second floor is inhabited Nv
Daulat Ras, the Indian. He is a quiet.
~lnscruta5le fellow, as most of those
ndian are. He is well up in his
work, though his Greek is his weak
SUBJECT. He is steady and m%ethodlcaI
The top floor belongs to Miles Nc.
Laren. He is a brilliant fellow when
ne chooses to work-one Of the bright
est intellects of the university: but he
is hayward, dissipated, and unprin-
clpled. He was nearly expelled over
a card scandal in his first wear. He
a been idling all this term. and he
must look forward with dread to the
examination"
Then 1t is he whom you ~suspecto"
7 dare not go SO far as mai. Rut
OF the three, he is perhaps the least,
unlikely" ae
Exactly. Now, Mr.. soames ,e+ nc
ave a look at your servant Eannis.
ter" ~
He was a little, white-faced, clean
grizzly haired fellow Of so. He
still suffering from this sudden
disturbance of the quiet routine OF his
life. His plump face was tw;+ob;aS