The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-12
III.

| slept at Baker street that n;,h.
we were engaged upon our toast ara - ~
in the morning when the king Of Hohs'
rushed into the room.
You have really got ltEn hs
grasping Sherlock Holmes by eitbs,
der and looking eagerly into his fae,
''Not yet"
But you have hopes?"
II have hopes"
"Then come. / am all impatiene. :.
gone"
Eve must have cab"
"No, my brougham is waiting.n
Then that will simplify matters y =
descended, and started of once mar.
Briony Lodge
Irene Adler is married." rsnu>.
Holmes.
Married? When?"
esterday."
"But to whom?"
ITO an English lawyer named Norse..
''But she could not love him?s
81 am in hopes that she does.s
"And why in hopes?"
Because 1t would spare your ma;....
all fear of future annoyance. If tia ~
loves her husband, she does does NJ, NJ
your majesty. If she does not love -.
majesty, there is no reason xbv 81
should interfere with. your ma,essss|
plan.
1T is true And yet Well, ~,.1l
she had been of my own statlonl Whsi y
queen she would have maders ~
lapsed into moody silence which r.. ~
broken until we drew up in Sernens;s.)
avenue.
The door of Briony Lodge was omen -
an elderly woman stood upon the stsr~
She watched us with q sardonic eye 8 ~
stepped from the brougham.
MIR. Sherlock Holmes, believe ~ -
she.
81 am Mr.. Holmes" answered nv -.
panion, looking at her with oaest51os;..
and rather startled gaze.
"Indeedl My mistress told me that =.
were likely to call. She left this morniss
with her husband by the Sis trs:5 e
Charing Cross for the continents
What" Sherlock Holmes stasp,.s
back, white with chagrin and snsSr;~
do you mean that she has Left hs
land?n
Never to return"
f'And the papers? asked Tia IT,
hoarely. "All is lost"
eve shall see." He pushed ii a.
servant and rushed into the drawirkmpr
followed by the king and myx5 n.
furniture was scattered about nns,v 4.
rection, with dismantled shelvan1 a.
drawers, as if the lady had hnrredI1
ransacked them before her flight. Eslnas
rushed at the bell pull, tore back xnN
sliding shutter, and, plunging in hn hand,
pulled out photograph and letter Ihs
photograph was of Irene Adler heES1H h
evening dress. the letter was supeneih1
to Sherlock Holmes. esq. lobe In iii
called for ," Ny friend tore it open, III
we all three read it together. II NJ
dated at midnight of the preceding uie1k
and ran in this way
Ny Dear Mr.. Sherlock Holmes: You rsally tl
it very we'll You took me in completely raa
after the alarm of fire had no susplcjsn N4
then when / found how | had betrayed ryaelf
began to think. / had been warned sgainxkYm
months ago l had been told that II tie N
employed an agent 1t would certainly y NJ.
And your address had been given me- fefv
all this you made me reveal what You w1nfu1|
know. Even after became suspicious iu14
il hard to think evil of such dear, kind 81
clergyman. But, you know, have been t1lM@
as an actress myself. Male costume Is not111
new TO me. / often take advantage OF tke l5us
dom which 1t gives. ! sent John, the coacAn1a
TO watch you, ran up stairs, got into my Waila
clothes, as call them. and came down t1fu
you departed.
Well, followed you to your door, ~ u
made sure that was really an object OF i211N
to the celebrated Mr.. sherlock Holmes n4|
i, rather imprudently, wished you good ~
and started for the temple TO see my hnshG4
We both thought the best resources was n<4
when pursued BY so formidable antagonM'
you will md the nest empty when you c11 ~
morrow. As to the photograph, your clicn1 ~
rest in peace. / love and am loved By nau4
man than he The king may do whaS ~ nM
without hindrance from one whom hs -
cruelty wronged. / keep it only to safegume
myself and 10 preserve a weapon when VIZ
always secure me from any steps which n
might take in the future. / leave Photograph
which he might care TO possess, and lfem4n
dear Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, very truly yourss
IRENE NORTON, nw AGIxk
''What a woman-oh, what woman y
cried the king eff Bohemia, when We Al
three read this epistle. did mot feI yoa
how quick and resolute she vast Noaia
she not have made an admirable queen
Is it not pity that she was MOI on ny
level?"
From what / have seen of the ladF ~
seems, indeed, to be on very aaayH
level 10 your majesty" said hanA
coldly. 81 am sorry that | have % ~
able to bring your majesty's buzne4 q
a more successful conclusion"
ION the contrary, my dear sir, ca
the king. nothing could be more succtsk
full. / know that her word is inviolxM
The photograph is as safe now as If i VT
in the fire.
II am glad TO hear your majesty saTsa'
Il am immensely indebted TO you. IT.
tell me in what way can reward yoQ
This ring"
He slipped an emerald snake ring fror
his finger and held it out upon the palm
his hand.
Your majesty has something which
should value even more highly, -
Holmes.
You have but to name it.
This photograph J"
The king stared at him in amazement
"lrene's photograph ~ he cried. 20
talnly, II you wish it. :"
II thank your majesty. Then there = z
more TO be done in the matter. have u
honor to wish you very good mornih6
lie bowed, and, turning away winol
observing the hand which the KING D.
stretched out to him, he set on IN ~
company for his chambers. !,
And that was how great seana
threatened to affect the kingdom OF Bone
mia, and how the best plans of Mr.. 90.
lock Holmes were beaten by woms1s
wit He used to make merry 80
the cleyerness of women, but !
not heard him do it of late. And wnus
speaks of Irene Adler, or when he reie1sn
her photograph, il is always under tnes'@
orable title of the woman.
A. Conan DorIk