Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-07-26

spector slowly and point by point de-
NelOped his singular NARRATIVES.
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'm the house. but I'm n 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 II hundred
yards from the main London To Chath-
man road. 1t opens With y latch, and
there is nothing To prevent anyone from
walking in.
Nov 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 III hanging some
curtains in the upstairs front bedroom.
Professor Coram was still i'll bed for
when the Weather is bad he seldom
rises before midday. The housekcoper
WAS busted with some work in the back
of the house. Willougl.by Smith had
been In his bedroom. which he uses as
Il sitting room. hui the maid heard him
ut that moment pnSs along the passa Sc
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. finn tread. She did
not hear the study door close. bu, Il
minute or so later there WAS n dreadful
cry In the room below. 1t was IL Wild.
hoarse scream, so strange and unnat-
ural that it might have come either
from Il man or q woman. AT the same
instant there was Il heavy thud. which
shook the old house. and then all was
silence. The maid stood petrilied for II
moment. and then, recovering her cnur-
age, she ran downstairs. The study
door was shut and she opened it, In
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 Il very small
but very deep wound. which had di-
yided the carotid artery. The instru-
mcnt with wnich 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 a 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 he carafe
over his forehead he opened his eyes
for an instant. The professor, he
murmured-'it was she The maid is
prepared to swear that those We're the
exact words He tried desperately to
say somthing else. and he held his
right hand UP in the air. Then he fel
back dead.
I'm the meantime the housekeeper
had also arrived upon the scene. but
she WAS just too late to catch the
young mans dying words. Leaving
Susan With the body, she hurried Il
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
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 profcssor-it was she but
imagines that they were the outcome
OF delirum. lie believes that Willoughby
Smith had not an enemy i'm 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 foi
me. Nothing was moved before | got
there. and strict orders were given that
no one should awlk upon the paths lead
ing TO the house 1t WAS IL splcndo
chance of putting your theories into
practice. MIR. Sherlock Holmes. There
WAS really nothing wanting"
Except Mr.. Sherlock Holmes" saic
my companion, with i somewhat bittel
smile. "Well let us hear about it
What sort of {; Job did you make OF ~
II must ask you first, Mr.. Holmes. Il
glance at this rough plan. which pil