The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-03-24
Sunday, March "a, 1912.

fortnight. Bad, sir, very bad, but an
old man has few pleasures. Tobacco
and my work--that is all that is left
to me-"
Holmes had lit cigarette, and was
shooting little darting glances all over
the room.
Tobacco and my work, but now only
tobacco" the old man exclaimed
ALAS, what a fatal interruption Who
could have foreseen such a terrible
catastrophel SO estimable a young
mani ] assure you that after a few
months training he was an admirable
assistant. What do you think Of the
matter, Mr.. Holmesf"
II have not yet made up my mind"
Il shall indeed be indebted to you IL
you can throw light where all is SO
dark to us. To a poor bookworm and
invalid like myself such blow is
paralyzing. l seem to have lost the
faculty OF thought. But You are man
Of action--you are a man OF affairs. 1t
is paft of the everyday routine Of your
life. You can preserve your balance in
every emergency. We are fortunate,
indeed, in having you at Our side"
Holmes was pacing UP and down one
side of the room while the old pro-
fessor was talking. ! observed that he
was smoking with extraordinary rapid
ity. II was evident that he shared our
hosts liking for the fresh Alexandrian
cigarettes: :,
"Yes, sir. It is a crushing blow" said
the old man. That is my mdgnam
opas-the pile of papers on the side
table yonder 1t is my analysis OF the
documents found in the Coptic monas-
teries Of Syria and Egypt, work
which will cut deep at the very founda-
ton of revealed religion. With my en-
feebled health / do not know whether
! shall ever be able to complete il, now
that my assistant has been taken from
me. Dear me Mr.. Holmes, why. you
are even a quicker smoker than l am
myself"
Holmes smiled.
II am a connoisseur," said he, taking
another cigarette from the box-his
fourth-and lighting il from the stub
of that which he had finished. 81 will
not trouble you with any lengthy cross
examination, Prof Coram, since
gather that you we're in bed at the
time Of the crime, and could know
nothing about il. ! would only ask
this: What do you imagine that this
poor fellow meant by his last words,
The professor-it was she'p
The professor shook his head.
Susan is country girl" said he,
and you know the incredible stupidity
OF that class. i fancy that the poor
fellow murmured some incoherent, de-
lirious words, and that she twisted
them into this meaningless message"
Il see. You have no explanation
yourself of the tragedy"
Possibly an accident, possibly
only breathe il among ourselves sui
eide. Young men have their hidden
troublesome affair of the heart, per-
haps, which we have never known. 1t
is a more probable supposition than
murder"
But the eye-glasses?'
"Ahl i am only a student-a man
Of dreams. cannot explain the prac-
tical things Of life But still, we are
aware, my friend, that love cages may
take strange shapes By all means take
another cigarette. II IS a pleasure to
see any one appreciate them so. A fan,
a glove, giasses--who knows what ar
ticle may be carried as a token or,
treasured when man puts an end TO
his life? This gentleman speaks of
footsteps in the grass, but, after all, it
IS easy TO be mistaken on such a point.
As TO the knife, it might well be thrown
far from the unfortunate man as he
fell. II is possible that speak as a
child, but it seems to me that VIII
loughby Smith has met his fate by hrs
own hand"
Holmes seemed struck by the theory
thus put forward, and he continued to
walk up and down for some time, lost
in thought and consuming cigarette
after cigarette.
Tell me, Prof. Coram," he said, at
last, what is in that cupboard in the
Nothing that would help a thief.
Family papers, letters from my poor
wife, diplomas of universities which
have done me honor Here is the key.
You can look for yourself"
Holmes picked up the key and looked
at for an instant, then he handed it
back.
"NA H. 4