The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-13

Holmes, suavely. Il frankly admit
that | am unable to prove it. But 1t ,
seems probable enough, since the
moment that Mr.. Soames back was |
turned, you released the man who was
hiding in that bedroom
Bannister licked his dry lips.
There was no man, sir.
"Ah, that's a pity, Bannister. Up TO
now you may have spoken the truth, |
but now l know that you have lied"
The mans face set in sullen de-
fiance.
There was no man, sir.
Come, come, Bannlster!
No, sir, there was no one"
In that case, you can give US no
further information. Would you please
remain in the room. Stand over there
near the bedroom door. Now, Soames,
am going to ask you to have the
great kindness to go up to the room of
young Gilchrist, and to ask him to
step down into yours"
! An instant later the tutor returned,
bringing with him the student. He
was a fine figure of a man, tall, 1.-THE,
and agile, with a springy step and
pleasant, open face. His troubled blue
eyes glanced at each of US, and finally
rested with an expression of blank
dismay upon Bannister 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 honorable man, ever came
to commit such an action as that of
yesterday"
The unfortunate young man stag
gered back, and cast a look full of
horror and reproach at Bannister.
mo, no, Mr.. Gilbert, sir, never said
a word-never one word" cried the
servant
mo. but you have now" said
Holmes. Now, sir, you must see that
after Bannister's words your position
is hopeless, and that your only chance
lies in a frank confession"
For moment Gilchrist, with up
raised hand, tried to control his with
ing features. 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
sobbing.
Come, come" said Holmes, kindly
1T is human to err, and at least no
one can accuse you of being a callous
criminal. Perhaps il would be easier
for you if I were to tell Mr.. Soames
what occurred, and you can check me
where l am wrong. Shall I do so?
, Well, WELL don't trouble to answer
! Listen, and see that l do you no in.
justice"
a From the moment Mr.. Soames, that
: you said to me that no one, not ever
! | Bannister, could have told that the
: papers were in your room, the case
began to take a definite shape in my
. mind. The printer one could, o
! course, dismiss. He could examine
> the papers in his own office. The In
dian l also thought nothing of. L
the proofs were in roll, he could no
possibly know what they were. Or
the other hand, it seemed an unthink
able coincidence that a man shoulC
, dare to enter the room, and that b,
$ chance on that very day the paper
were on the table. I dismissed that
i The man who entered knew that tn,
papers were there. How did he know
a When l approached your room,
Y examined the window. You amuse,
r me by supposing that l was contem
e plating the possibility of some on
having in broad daylight, under tn
X eyes Of all these opposite rooms, fore
ed himself through it Such an ide
was absurd. I was measuring hoy
4" tall man would need to be in orde
II to see, as he passed, what papers wer
s. on the central table. I am six fee
high, and | could do it with an effor-
IS No one less than that would have
chance. Already you see l had res
son to think that, if one of your tire
STUD dents was man of unusual heigh,
he was the most worth watching c
q the three
n Il entered, and I took you into m
10 confidence as to the suggestions c
h the side table. OF the centre table
n could make nothing, until in your d,
scription of Gilchrist you mentione
that he was a long-distance jumpe
Then the whole thing came to me i
Id an instant, and / only needed certai