The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-21

, dence may implicate not only your friend.
Mr. Stapleton. but his wife as we'll"
The lady sprang from her chair.
His wiferr she cried.
The fact is no longer a secret. The
person who has passed for his sister Is
really his wife"
Mrs. Lyons had resumed her seat Her
hands were grasping the arms of her chair.
and / saw that the pink nails had turned
white with the pressure OF her grip.
His wifer' she said again. His wifei
He is not a married man."
Sherlock Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
Prove 1t to me-! Prove 1t to me. And IL
you can do So The fierce flash Of her
eyes said more than any words.
Il have come prepared to do So said
Holmes. drawing several papers from his
pockets. Here is a photograph of the
couple taken in York four years ago. 1t Is
Endorsed, Mr.. and Mrs. Vandeleur." but
| you will have no difficulty in recognizing
him. and her. also. II you know her by
sight. Here are three written descriptions
by trustworthy witnesses of Mr.. and Mrs
vandeleur. who at hat time kept st.
divers private school. Read them. and
see il you can doubt the identity Of these
people"
She glanced at them. and then looked up
at Us with the set. rigid face OF a desperate
woman.
Mr.. Holmes" she said. this man had
offered me marriage on condition that /
could get a divorce from my husband. He
has lied to me. the villain. in every con-
ceivabIe way. Not one word of truth has
he ever told me- And why-why2 / mag
ined that all was 70. my own sake. But
now I see that 1 was never anything but a
tool in his hands. Why should I preserve
faith with him who never kept any with
me? Why should / try TO shield him from
the consequences of his own wicked acts?
Ask me what you like. and there is moth
ing which / shall hold back. One thing /
swear to you. and that is. that when 1
wrote the letter I never dreamed of any
harm to the old gentleman, who had been
my kindest friend"
Il entirely believe you. madam" said
Sherlock Holmes. The recital of these
events must be very painful to you. and
perhaps IL will make II easier IL / tell You
what occurred. and you can check me IL
1 make any material mistake The sending
of this letter was suggested to you by
Stapletong"
II dictated it."
81 presume that the reason he gave was
that you would receive help from Sir
with your divorce?"
Exactly"
:And then after YOU had sent the letter
he dissuaded you from keeping the appoint
ment?"
He told me that il would hurt his self
RESPECT Iudt any Otner man suouiu hhu ~
money for such an object. and that though
he was a poor man himself he would de-
vote his last penny to removing the OBJ
stacies which divided u.s."
Z "He appears to be a very consistent char
acter. And then you heard nothing until
you read :he reports Of the death In the
paper"
no"
And he made you swear to say nothing
about your appointment with Sir Chariesy
he did. He said that the death was a
very mysterious one. and that I should GER
aainly be suspected IL the facts came out
frightened me into remaining silent"
, quite so. But you had your suspicions?
She hesitated and looked down.
.I knew him." she said. But IL he had
kept faith with me 1 should always have
done so with him"
IT think that on the whole you have had
A fortunate escape said Sherlock Holmes |
..You have had him in your power and he
knew X. and yet you are alive. You have
been walking for some months very near
TO the edge of a precipice. We must
wish you good morning now. MrA LyonA