The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-06
PART EVE.

PART FIVE.
Yes, ''esaid''iie,- Il have solved it."
Stanley Hopkins and l stared in
amazement. Something like sheer
euivered ov er the gaunt features of the
old Professor. -
Indeed. In the garden?">
NO, heEe.@..~~.
Here. When?''' e. =
This instant"
You are surely. joking, Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes You compel me to tell
You that this is too serious a matter
TO DE treated in such a fashion
II have forged and tested every link
OF my chain, Professor Coram, and l
am sure that it is sound. What your
motives are, or what exact part you
play in this strange business, l am
not yet able 10 say. In few minutes
shall probably hear it from your own
lips Meanwhile I Will reconstruct
what is past for your benefit. so that
you may know the information which
I still require.
"A lady yesterday entered your
study. She came with the intention
of possessing Herself Of certain docu-
n1ents which were in your bureau.
She had Il key of her own. l 1--WE had
IA opportunity of examining yours.
and DO rot find that slight discolor-
alton which the scratch made upon the
rarnish would have produced. YOU
were not an accessory, therefore aud
she came, SO far as l can read the
evidence, without your knowledge 10
rob YOU" ~ &c. 49, '-s.- -.
The Professor blew cloud from his
lips. This is most interesting and in
e kIysn ffxya I,a
more to add Surely, having traced
this lady so far. you c;I also say what
has become of her"
Il will endeavor to do so. In the
first place she was seized by your
secretary, and stabbed him in order to
escape, This catastrophe ! am in
clined to regard as an unhappy acct
dent, for am convinced that the lady
had no intention Of inf1icting so griev-
Gus an injury. An assassin does not
come unarmed. Mortified by what she
had done, she rushed wildly away
from the scene of the tragedy. Unfor-
tunately for her, she had lost her
glasses in the scuffle. and as she vas
extremely short-sighted she was really
helpless without them. She ran down
a corridor, which she imagined to be
that by which she had come-both
it was only when it was too late that
she understood that she had taken the
wrong passage. and that her retreat
was cut oft behind her. What was she
tosd do? She could not go back. She
could not remain where she was. She
must go on. She went on. She mount
ed stair, pushed open a door, and
found herself in your ROOM
The old man sat with his mouth
open, staring wildly at Holmes. Amaze
ment and fear were stamped upon his
expressive features. Now, with an eff
fort, he shrugged his shoulders and
burst into insincere laughter.
'All very fine, Mr.. Holmes" said
he. But there is one little flaw in
your splendid theory. l was myself
in my room, and l never left it during
tie day"
Il am aware of that. Professor
Coram."
sand you mean to say that could
lie, upon that bed and not be aware
that woman had entered my
ROOM"
IT never said So You were aware
off it. You spoke with her. You
recognized her. You aided her to
escape
Again the Professor burst into nigh
keseQ iduknl6T. ne HdU risen u MS
feet. and his eyes glow ed like embers.
tYou are mad" he cried. You are
talking insanely. l Helped her to es.
cape? Where is she now"
"She is there said Holmes, and ne
pointed to a high bookcase in the
corner Of the room.
/ saw the old man throw up his
arms, terrible CONFUSION passed
over his grim face, and he fell back
in his chair. At the same instant the
bookcase at which Holmes pointed
swung round upon hinge. and q
woman rushed out into the room
You are right" she cried. in g
strange, foreign voice. You are right
am here
She was brown With the dust, anf
draped with the cobwebs, which hat
come from the walls of her hiding
place. Her face too, was streaket
with CRIME. and at the best she coult
never have been handsome. for she
had the exact physical characteristics
which Holmes had OWNED. with. ir
addition. a long and obstinate chin
What with her natural blindness. ant
what with the change from dark t.
light she stood as one dazed, blinking
;bout her to see where and who W.
were. Ard yet, in spite Of all thes'