Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-07

thatY
Pray continue your very interest
Ing statement"
For an instant ] imagined that
Bannister had taken tho unpardon-
ablo liberty Of examining my papers.
IIo denied It. however. with tho ut
most earnestnoss and | am convinced
that no was speaking tho truth. The
alternative was that some one pass
/ ing had observed the key in tho door.
had known that / was out, and en-
tered TO look at the papers. A large
sum of money Is at stake, for tho
scholarship is n very valuable one, and
an INSCRIPTIONS man might very we'll
run "A risk I'm order TO gain an ad-
vantage over his fellows.
"Bann.stcr was very much upset by
tho incident. lie had nearly tainted
when we found that the papers had
undoubtedly been tampered with. /
gave him little brandy and left him
collapse IN a chair, while [ rnado a
most careful examination Of tho room.
| soon saw that the intruder had left
other traces OF his presence besides
tho rumpled papers. on tho table IN
the window were several shreds from
n pencil which had been sharpened
a broken tip Of lead was lying there
also. Evidently the rascal had copied
tho paper In great hurry, had
broken his pencil. and had been com
PEELED to put a fresh point to it."
Excellent" said Holmes. who was
recovering his good humor az his at
tention become more engrOssed by tho
case. Fortune has been your friend"
This was not an / have new
writing tablet with a fino surface Of
red leather. I am prepared 20 swear.
and 80 Is Bannlster. that Il was smooth
and unstained. Now I found q clean
cut In II about three inches long-not
n mere scratch. but "A positive cut. Not
only this but on tho table ! found a
small ball Il black dough or clay. with
/ specks Of something which looks like
sawdust in IT, [ am convinced that
, these marks were left by the man who
a rihed the papers. There were no
7 foot marks and no other eyldenn4-rrs
to his identity. I was at my wits ends
. when suddenly the happy thought oc-
I CURED 10 me that you were in the
! town. and l came straight round T.
q put the matter into your hands. DC
, help me, Mr.. Holmes. You see Tny
, dilemma Either I must find the mar
or else tho examination must be post.
poned until fresh papers are prepared
o and since this cannot be done without
= explanation, there will ensue
q, hideous scandal which will throw 8
cloud not only on the college, but or
. the university. Above all things,
:. desire to settle the matter quietly anC
;, discreetly."
q II shall he happy 10 look into q ant
10 give you such advice as I can,
, said Holmes, rising and putting on hi
. overcoat. The case ls not entirel,
devoid Of interest. Had any on
=, visited you in your room after tn
. papers came to you?"
Il Yes, young Daualt Ras. an India1
q student. who lives on the same stair
d came in 10 ask me some particular
Il about the examination"
/ Fer which he was entered7"
= "Yes."
l. And the papers were on you
r table?'
ITO the best Of my belief, the,
e were rolled up
e But might be recognized a
# proofs?"
o Possibly"
It NO one else in your room?-
= NO"
4. Did any one know that these proof
a would be there"
II NO one save the printer
r Did this man Bannister know?"
''NO. certainly not. No one knew,
1t Where is Bannister nOw?"
n He was very i'll. poor fellow. LEI
lie him collapsed in the chair. 7 was 1
sr such a hurry TO come 70 you"
n You left your door open?"
I 81 locked up the papers first"
l. Then IL amounts to this, VI
IS Soames, that, unless the Indian stu
n dent recognized the roll as bein
at proofs, the man who tampered wit
Il them came upon them accidental
er without knowledge that they wer
Sc there"
n. so il seems 10 me-"
- AlNAAAACS save Ola NAtA AAA1LAE SlLAic.
TO We'll" said he. let US go roun
I'd Not one Of your cases Watscn-mer
le tai, not physical. All right; come
TO you want 10. Now. Mr.. Soames-;
q your disposal"
1t. The sittingroom Of our client oper
Id ed by long, low, latticed window c
er TO the ancient hchen-tinted court
as the old college. \ Gothic arched do,
e. led 70 a worn stone staircase. On Il
ground floor was the tutors roor
e, Above were three students. one {
Il each story. 1t was already twiligl
Of when we reached the scene of OF
IT problem. Holmes halted and look,
at earnestly at the window. Then 7
". approached it, and, standing on til
ne toe with his neck craned, he look,
Id into the room.
He must have entered through Il
door. There is no opening except Il
he one pane" said our learned guide.
re Dear me-" said Holmes. and !
smiled in a singular way as he CLAN
ze ed at our companion. We'll, II the