The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-04
The Adventure Of the Golden Pmce-Nez
Dy SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Published
with The Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

, got down the stair. I'd have seen any
one in the passage. Besides, the door
never opened, or would have heard
it,"
THAT settles this exit. Then no
doubt the lady went out the way she
came. l understand that this other
passage leads only to the Professors
room. There is no exit that way?"
mo, SIR"
I'VE shall 60 down it and make the
acquaintance Of the Professor. Halloa,
Hopkins! this is very important, very
! important, indeed. The Professors
corridor is also lined with cocoanut
| mating"
well, sir. what of that"
Don't you see any bearing upon the
case? Well. well. ] don't insist upon
it. No doubt ! am wrong. And yet it
seems to me to be suggestive. Come
! with me and introduce me-"
We. passed down the passage. which
| was of the same length as that which
led to the garden. At the end was
short fight of steps ending in
door. Our guide knocked, and then
ushered us into the Professors bed
room. 1t was very large chamber,
| lined with innumerable volumes, which
| had overlooked from the shelves and
| lay in piles in the corners, or were
| stacked all round at the base of the
cases. The bed was in the centre OF
the room. and in it. propped up with
pillows, was the owner of the house.
l have seldom seen more remark
! able-looking person 1t was a gaunt,
aquiline face which was turned to-
wards US. with piercing dark eyes,
| xvh int, l,,rL in
overhung and tufted brows. His hair
and beard were white, save that the
latter was curiously stained with vel
low around his mouth. A cigarette
glowed amid the tangle of white hair
and the air of the room was fetid with
stale tobacco smoke. AS he held out
his hand to Holmes, I perceived that
it was also stained with yellow nico
tine
"A smoker, Mr.. Holiness" said he
. speaking in well-chosen English, with
a curious little mincing accent pray
, take cigarette. And you, sir? l car
recommend them, for I have them es
pecially prepared by Ionides, Of Alex
andria. He sends me thousand a.
a time, and I grieve to say that I have
. to arrange for a fresh supply every
fortnight. Bad, sir. very bad. but al
old man has few pleasures Tobacco
, and my work-that is all that is lief
to me.p
, Holmes had lit a cigarette, ant
was shooting little darting glances al
over the room.
f Tobacco and my work, but nov
only tobacco" the old man exclaimed
Alas! what a fatal interruption
+, Who could have foreseen such a ter
rible catastrophe? So estimable
y young man! l assure you that, afte
few months training. he was al
admirable assistant. What do yo'
think of the matter. Mr. Holiness"
81 have not yet made up my mind
Il shall indeed be indebted to yo1
: If you can throw light where all II
so dark to us. To a poor bookworr
. and invalid like myself such a blow
is paralyzing. I seem to have los
the faculty of thought But you ar
man Of action-you are a man o
, affairs. 1t is part of the everyda
). routine Of your life. You can pre-
: serve your balance in every emery
, ency. We are fortunate, indeed, il
q having you at our side"
r TomorroW-"The Adventure of tn
Golden Pince-Nez," continued.