The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-07-20

with springy step and pleasant. open
face. His troubled blue eyes glanced at
each of Is. and finally rested with an
| expression of blank dismay upon Bannis-
ter in the farther corner.
'Just close the door" said Holmes
Now. Mr.. Gilchrist, we are all quite alone
here, and no one need ever know one word
| Of what passes between us. We can be
perfectly frank with each other. We want
to know, Mr.. Gilchrist how you, an hon
durable man. ever came to commit such
an action as that Of yesterday"
| The unfortunate young man staggered
back, and cast look full Of horror and
| reproach at Bannister.
| mo, no, Mr.. Gilchrist, sir. never said
a word-never one word" cried the SER
| want.
mo. but you have now" said Holmes.
| Now. sir. you must see that after Ban
ister's words your position is hopeless, and
that your only chance lies IN a frank con-
| fess!on."
For a moment Gilchrist with appraised
hand. tried to control his writing feat
ures. The next he had thrown himself on.
his knees beside the table, and burying
his face In his hands. he had burst into a
storm of passionate sobb.ng.
Come. come" said Holmes. kindly, sit
Is human to err and at least no one can
Perhaps 1t would be easier for you If
were to tell Mr.. Soames what occurred,
and you can check me where am wrong.
Shall / do so? Well. well, don't trouble to
answer. Listen. and see that do you no
injustice"
From the moment, Mr.. Soamcs, that
you said to me that no onc not even Ban
mister. could have told that the papers
We're In your room. the case began to take
a definite shape in my mind. The printer
one could, of course, dismiss He could
examine the papers in his own office The
Indian also thought nothing Of If the
proofs were In roll, he could not possibly
know what they We're On the other hand,
1t seemed an unthinknbie coincidence that
a man should dare to enter the room,
and that by chance on that very day the
papers We're on the table. dismissed
that. The man who entered knew that
the papers We're there. How did he know?
when approached your room, exam
ncd tho window. You amused me by sup
posing that ! was contemplating the pos
slbillty of someone having in broad day
light. under the eyes Of all these opposite
rooms, forced himself through It, Such an
idea was absurd. I was measuring how
tall man would need to be in order to
sec. as he passed. what papers were on
the central table. am six feet high and
l could do 1t with an effort. No one less
than that would have a chance. Already
you see had reason tc-th:nk that, II one
of your three students was man Of UNI
usual height he was the most worth
watching of the three. /
II entered. and took you into my con-
fldence as to the suggestions Of the side
table. OF the center table I could make
nothing, until In your description of Gil
christ you mentioned that he was a long,
distance jumper. Then thetwhole thing
came to me In an instant and I only
needed certain corroborative proofs, which
I speedily obtained - "a
What happened was this. This young
fellow mad employed his afternoon at the
athletic grounds. where he had been prac-
ticing the jump He returned carrying his
jumping shoes. which are provided, ms
you are aware, with several sharp spikes.
AS he passed your window he saw, by
means OF his great height. these proofs
upon your table, and conjectured
what they were. No harm would have
been done had it not been that. as he
passed your door, he perceived the kew
which had been left by the carelessness OF
your servant. A sudden impulse came over
him to enter. and see If they were indeed
the proofs. 1t was not a dangerous exploit,
for he could always pretend that he had
simply looked In to ask question.
Well, when he saw that they were In
deed the proofs. 1t was then that he yield
Eed to temptation. He put his shoes on the
table. What was 1t you put on that chair
near the Window"
Gloves" said the young man.
Holmes looked triumphantly at Ban
mister He put his gloves on the chair,
and took the proofs, sheet by sheet to
copy them. He thought the tutor must
return by the main gate, and that he
would see him. AS we know, he came
back by the side gate. Suddenly he heard
him at the very door There was no pos
sible escape. He forgot his gloves, but he
caught up his shoes and dartcd into the
bedroom. You observe that the scratch
on that table Is slight at one side. but
deepens In the direction Of the bedroom
door. That in itself is enough to show us
that the shoe had been drawn In that di
recton, and that the culprit had takcr
,, refuge there. The earth round the spike
had been left on the table, and SECOND
sample was loosened and fell in the bed
, room. may add that walked out to the
athletic grounds this morning. saw tina
tenacious black clay is used In the jump
Ing pit, and carried away specimen O
It, together with some of the fine tai
or sawdust which is strewn over 1t to pre-
vent the athlete from slipping. Have
told the truth. Mr.. Gilchrist?'
The student had drawn himself erect.
Yes sir, 1t is true said he.
Good heavens have you nothing t,
add?' cried Soames
Yes, sir, / have, but the shock OF THU
dtSBraceful exposure has beWudercd me
have a letter here, Mr.. Soamcs, which
wrote to you early this morning in tn
> middle of a restless night. 1t was befor
knew that my sin had found me out
. Here it is, sir. You will see that I hav,
said. L have determined not to go in
the examination. have been offered
commission in the Rhodesian police, and
am going out to South Africa at once -
II am indeed pleased to hear that 70,
!, did not intend to profit by your unfair adj
: vantage" said Soames But why dit
you change your purposc?''
Gilchrist pointed to Bannister
There is the man who set me In TIL
right path" said he.
Come now, Bannister.' said Holmes
ut will be clear to you. from what hav'
: said, that only you could have let thi
: young man out since you were left in tn
9 room. and must have locked the doc
: when you went out. AS to his escapin,
. by that window. 1t was incredible. Cal
you not clear UP the last point in thi
, mystery, and tell us the reasons for you
. action?"
, 1T was simple enough. sir. If you onl,
had known, but, with all your clcverness
it was impossible that you could know
Time was. sir. when ! was butler to oil
Oir Toll ~