Evening star., 1925-03-15

broken. He is 81 years of age but he
became engaged to the daughter of Prof.
MorphS, his colleague in the chair of
comparative anatomy. 1t was not, as
| understand, the reasoned counting
of an elderly man, but rather the
passionate frenzy of youth for no
one could have shown himself a
more devoted lover. The lady, Alice
Morphy. was a very perfect girl both
in mind and body, so that there was
every excuse for the professors in
fatuatiOn. None the less il did not
meet with full approval in his own
family"
we thought it rather excessive"
said our visitor.
Exactly. Excessive and a little
violent and unnatural. But Prof.
Presbury was rich and there was
no objection upon the part of the
father. The daughter. however, had
other views, and there were already
several candidates for her hand, who
if they We're less eligible from a
worldly point of view, were at least
more of an age. The girl seemed to
like the professor in spite of his &c
centricities. 1t was only age which
stood in the way.
About this time a little mystery
suddenly clouded the normal routine
\
he had never done before. He left
home and gave no indication where
he was going. He was away a fort
night. and returned looking rather
trayel-worn. He made no allusion to
where he had been, although he was
usually the frankest of men.
1T chanced. however, that our
client here, Mr.. Bennett, received a
letter from a fellow student in
Prague, who said that he was glad
to have seen Prof. Presbury there, al
though he had not been able to talk
to him. Only in this way did his own
household learn where he had been.
X X X
"NoW comes the point. From that
time onward a curious change
came over the professor. He became
furtive and sly. Those around him
not the man that they had known, but
that he was under some shadow which
had darkened his higher qualities. His
intellect was not affected. His lee
lures were as brilliant as ever. But
always there was something new,
something sinister and unexpected.
His daughter. who was devoted to him,
tried again and again to resume the
old relations and to penetrate this
illdSh WHICH utF ldIHcT SeeHleu 10 nave
put on-you, sir. as L understand, did
the same-but all was in vain. And
now, Mr.. Bennett, tell in your own
words the incident of the letters
You must understand, Dr. Watson.
that the professor had no secrets from
me. If l were his son or his younger
brother, l could not have more COM
pletely enjoyed his confidence. AS his
secretary L handled every paper which
came to him, and 1 opened and sub
div 'ded his letters.
Shortly after his return all this was
changed. He told me that certain let
ters might come to him from London
which would be marked by a cross
under the stamp These were to be set
aside for his own eyes only. / may
say that several of these did pass
through my hands, but they had the
Z. C. mark, and were in an illiterate
handwriting. If he answered them at
all the answers did not pass through my
hands nor into the letter basket in
which our correspondence was col
lected."
And the box" said Holmes.
"Ah, yes. the box. The professor
brought back little wooden box from
his travels. 1t was the one thing
which suggested a continental tour,
for it was one of those quaint carved
things which one associates with Ger
many This he placed in his instru-
ment cupboard. One day in looking
for a canula / took up the box.
ITO my surprise he was very angry
and reproved me, in words which were
quite savage, for my curiosity. 1t was
the first time such a thing had hap
pened and 1 was deeply hurt. 1 en-
deavored to explain that it was a mere
accident that / had touched the box,
but all evening l was conscious that
he looked at me harshly and that the
incident was ranking in his mind"
Mr.. Bennett drew a little diary book
from his pocket. THAT was on the
I'd OF July" said he.
You are certainly an admirable wit
ness" said Holmes. Il may need
some of these dates which you have
noted"
Il learned method among other
things from my great teacher. From
the time that I observed abnormality
in his behavior I felt that it was my
duty to study his case. Thus / have
1t here that it was on that very day,
July 2, that Roy attacked the profess
sor. a he came from his study into the
hall. Again on July II there was
scene OF the same sort, and then nave
a note of yet another upon July 20.
After that we had to Danish Roy to
the stable. He was dear, affectionate
animal-but L fear l weary you"
MIR. Bennett spoke in a tone of re-
proach, for it was very clear that
Holmes was not listening. His face
was rigid and his eyes gazed abstract
edly at the ceiling. With an effort he
recovered himself.
"Singularl Most singular" he muir
INJURED These details were new to
me, Mr.. Bennett L think we have
now fairly gone over the old ground,
have we not? But you spoke of some
fresh development"
THE pleasant open face of our Wis
itor clouded over, shadowed by
some grim remembrance. What L
speak of occurred the night before
last" said he. II was lying awake
about in the morning when I was
aware of a dull muffied sound coming
from the passage. 1 opened my door
and peeped out. / should explain that
the professor sleeps at the end of the
passage
THE date being-?'' asked Holmes.
Our visitor was clearly annoyed at
so irrelevant an interruption.
Il have said, sir, that 1t was the
night before last-that is, Septem-
Der f..
Holmes nodded and smiled.
Pray, continue" said he.
He sleeps at the end of the pas
sage and would have to pass my door
in order to reach the staircase. 1t
was a really terrifying experience, Mr..
Holmes. l think that T am as strong
nerved as my neighbors. but I was
shaken by what I saw. The passage
was dark save that one window half
way along it threw a patch of light.
l could see that some thing was COM
ing along the passa age-some mething
dark and crouching. Then suddenly
it emerged into the light. and 1 saw