The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-11
PART ONE.

TAn SNGs
1t was in the year '95 that comDl-
nation Of events. into which neea
not enter. caused Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes and myself TO spend some
weeks in one of our great university
towns, and il was during this time
that the small but instructive adven-
ture which | am about 10 relate DeIeli
us. 1t will be obvious that any de-
tails which would help the reader to
exactly identity the college or the
criminal would be injudicious and OIL
fensiye. So painful a scandal may
we'll be allowed to die out. With due
discretion the incident itself may,
however, be described. since it serves
to illustrate some of those qualities
for which my friend was remarkable.
| will endeayor in my statement, to
avoid such terms as would serve 10
limit the events to any particular
place, or give a clue as TO the people
concerned. 1 -re
We were residing at. the time in
furnished lodgings close to library
where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing
some laborious researches in early
English charters-researches Whlcn
led to results so striking that they
may be the subject of one OF my fu-
ture narratives. Here it was that one
evening we received visit from an
acquaintance, Mr.. Hilton Soames, tu-
tor and lecturer at the College OF ST.
Luke's. Mr.. Soames was tall, spare
man, of a nervous and excitable temp
erament. | had always known him TO
be restless in his manner, but on this
particular occasion he was in such a
state of uncomfortable agitation that
it was clear something very unusual
had occurred.
81 trust, Mr.. Holmes, that you can
spare me a few hours of your valuable
time. We have had very painful in
cident at st. Luke's, and really, but
for the happy chance of your being in
town, i should have been at a loss
what to do"
Il am very busy just now, and de-
sire no distractions" my friend an
swered. 81 should much prefer that
you called in the aid of the police
mo, no, my dear sir; such course
Is utterly impossible. When once the
law is evoked it cannot be stayed
again, and this is just one of those
cases where, for the credit of the col
lege, it is most essential TO avoid scan
dal. Your discretion is as well known
as your powers, and you are the one
man in the world who can help me.
beg you, Mr.. Holmes, to do what you
can" ...-
My friends temper had not improv
ed since he had been deprived of the
congenial surroundings OF Bake
street. Without his scrap-books, hi!
chemicals, and his homely untidiness
he was an uncomfortable man. HI
shrugged his shoulders in ungraciou!
acquiescence, while our visitor in hur
ried words and with much eXcitabl'
gesticulation poured forth his story
Il must explain to you, Mr.. Holmes
that tomorrow is the first day of thu
examination for the Fortescue Scho
larship. l am one of the examiners
My subject is Greek, and the first o
the papers consists of a large passag
OF Greek translation which the candi
date has not seen. This passage i
printed on the examination paper, ant
it would naturally be an immense ad
vantage if the candidate could pre-
pare it in advance. For this reason
great care is taken to keep the pape
secret.
To-day, about 3 o'clock, the proof
of this paper arrived fro mthe print
ers. The exercise consists of half
chapter Of Thucydides. l had to real
it over carefully, as the text must b
absolutely correct. At 4:30 my tasI
was not yet completed. l had, how
ever, promised to take tea in
friends rooms, so l left the proof u
on my desk. was absent rather NOR
than an hour
You are aware, Mr.. Holmes, tina
our college doors are double-a gree
baize one within and heavy oak on
without. AS l approached my cute
door, was amazed to see a key in i
For an instant l imagined that l ha