The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-10-25

THE secretary came back and tolu us
employer of the woman he had met.
Then in his last breath he tried to send
message that it was she-the she
whom he had just discussed with him."
You must let me speak," said the
woman in an imperative voice, and
her face contracted as IL in pain.
when he had fallen rushed from the
room, chose the wrong door and found
myself in my husbands room. He
spoke Of giving me up. l showed him
that If he did so his life was in my
hands. Ii he gave me to the law,
could give him to the Brotherhood 1t
was not that l wished to live for my
own sake, but it was that l desired
to accomplish my purpose. He knew
that would do what l said-that his
own fate was involved in mine For
that reason, and for no other, he shield
ed me. He thrust me into that dark
hiding place-a relic of old days,
known only to himself. He took his
meals in his own room. and so was
able to give me part of his food. 1t
was agreed that when the police left
the house l should slip away by night
and come back no more. But in some
way you have read our plans" She
tore from the bosom of her dress
small packet. "These are my last
words" said she. Here is the packet
which will save Alexis. confide it to
your honor and to your love Of justice.
Take it! You will deliver it at the
Russian embassy. Now, have done
my duty, and
stop her." cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room and had
wrenched a small vial from her hand
TOO late!" she said, sinking back on
the bed. TOO late! took the poison
before left my hiding place. My
head swims! l am going! l charge
you. sir, to remember the packet"
"A simple case. and yet In some
ways an instructive one" Holmes re-
marked as we Travelled back to town.
1T hinged from the outset upon the
pince-nez. But for the fortunate chance
Of the dying man having seized these
am not sure that we could ever have
reached our solution. 1t was clear to
me, from the strength of the glasses,
that the wearer must have been very
blind and helpless when deprived of
them. When you asked me to believe
that she walked along narrow strip
of grass without once making a false
step l remarked, as you may remem-
Der, that 1t was a noteworthy perform
ance In my mind set 1t down as an
impossible performance save in the un-
likely case that she had second pair
OF glasses. l was forced, therefore, to
seriously consider the hypothesis that
she had remained within the house. On
perceiving the similarity Of the two
corridors 1t became clear that she might
very easily have made such a mistake,
and In that case 1t was evident that
she must have entered the professors
room. l was keenly OH the alert, there
fore, for whatever would bear out this
supposition, and 1 examined the room
narrowly for anything In the shape of
hiding place. The carpet seemed con-
tinuous and firmly nailed, SO dismiss
ed the idea Of trapdoor There might
we'll be recess behind the books. AS
you are aware, such devices are COM
mon In old libraries. observed that
books were piled on the floor at all
other points. but that one bookcase
was left clear. This, then, might be
the door. l could see no marks to
guide me, but the carpet was of
dun color, which lends itself very we'll
to examination. l therefore smoked a
great number Of those excellent ciga-
rettes. and dropped the ash all over
the space in front Of the suspected
bookcase. 1t was a simple trick, but
exceedingly effective l then went
downstairs, and ascertained In your
presence. Watson, without your per-
ceiving the drift of my remarks, that
Professor Coram's consumption of food
had increased-as one would expect
when he Is supplying second person.
We then assembled to the room again,
when, by upsetting the cigarette box,
obtained very excellent view Of the
door and was able to see quite clearly
from the traces upon the cigarette ash
that the prisoner had In our absence
come out from her retreat Well, Hop
kins. here we are at Charing Cross, and
congratulate you on having brought
your case to successful conclusion.
You are going to headquarters, no
doubt. think. Watson, you and l
will drive together to the Russian en-
bassy."
Unanswerable.
Maiden Aunt-Caroline. you don't