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

left my own there, but on feeling in
my pocket | found that it was all
right. The only duplicate which ex-
listed. so far as l knew, was that
which belonged to my servant, Ban
nister--a man who has looked after
my room for ten years, and whose
honesty is absolutely above suspicion.
| found that the key was indeed his,
that he had entered my room to know
if l wanted tea, and that he had very |
carelessly left the key in the door
when he came out. His visit to my
room must have been within very
few minutes of my leaving IT. His
forgetfulness about the key would |
have mattered little upon any other
occasion. but on this one day it has
produced the most deplorable conse- |
quences.
The moment l looked at my table,
l was aware that some one had rum
mayed among my papers. The proof
was in three long strips. l had left
them all together. Now, I found that
one of them was lying on the floor,
one was on the side table near the
window, and the third was where l
had left it,
Holmes stirred for the first time.
THE first page on the floor, the
| second in the window, the third where
you left it," said he.
Exactly, Mr.. Holmes. You amaze
me. How could you possibly know
that?"
Pray continue your very interest
/ ing statement"
For an instant imagined that
Banister had taken the objectionable
! liberty of examining my papers. He
denied it, however, with the utmost
earnestness, and l am convinced that
he was speaking the truth. The al
| tentative was that some one passing
| had observed the key in the door, had
! known that l was out and had enter
| ed to look at the papers. A large sum
of money is at stake. for the scholar
| ship is a very valuable one, and an
| INSCRIPTIONS man might very well
| run risk in order to gain an advant-
age over his fellows.
| "Bannister was very much upset by
the incident. He had nearly tainted
when we found that the papers had
undoubtedly been tempered with. |
gave him little brandy and left him
collapsed in a chair, while l made
most careful examination of the room.
| soon saw that the intruder had left
I other traces of his presence besides
the rumpled papers. On the table in
the window were several shreds from
a pencil which had been sharpened
A broken tip of lead was lying there
also Evidently the rascal had copied
the paper in a great hurry, had broken
his pencil, and had been compelled to
, put fresh point to it."
Excellent" said Holmes, who was
recovering his good humor as his at
tention became more engrossed by
, the case. Fortune has been your
E friend"
This was not all have a new
writing table with a fine surface Of
: red leather. I am prepared to swear,
and so is Bannister, that it was
smooth and unstained. Now I have
found a clean cut in it about three
inches long-not a mere scratch, but
a positive cut. Not only this, but on
the table l found a small ball of
black dough or clay. with specks OF
something which looks like sawdust
, in it. I am convinced that these
marks were left by the man who rifled
the papers. l was at my wits end,
when suddenly the happy thought oc-
: CURED to me that you were in town,
4 and I came straight round to put the
matter into your hands. Do help me,
2 Mr.. Holmes. You see my dilemma
( Either l must find the man or else the
= examination must be postponed until
A fresh papers are prepared, and since
p this can no be done without explana.
g ton, there will ensue a hideous scan,
dial, which will throw a cloud not
t only on the college, but on the uni
4 versity. Above all things, l desire tc
e settle the matter quietly and discreet
r ly."
:. Il shall be happy to look into it and
1 to give you such advice as l can" said