Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-15

message that 1t 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 if in pain. When he had fallen I rushed from the room, chose the wrong door and found myself in my husbands room. He spoke of giving me up. showed him that if he did so his life was in my hands. If he gave me to the law, could give him to the Brotherhood. It was not that wished to live for my own sake but it was that I desired to accomplish my purpose He knew that would do what 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. It was agreed that when the police left the house I 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 a small packet. These are my last words said she. Here is the packet which will save Alexis. confde it to your honor and to your love of justice. Take it! You will deliver it at the Russian embassy. Now, I have done my duty, and'-
 'Stop her!" cried Holmes. He had bounded across the room and had wrenched small vial from her hand.
 "Too late!' she said. sinking back on the bed. "Too late. took the poison before I left my hiding place. My head swims! I am going! I 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. Tt hinged from the outset upon the pince-nez. But for the fortunatechance of the dying man having seized these I am not sure that we could ever have reached our solution. It 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 false step I remarked, as you may remem- Der, that it was noteworthy perform ance. In my mind I set it down as an impossible performance save in the un- likely case that she had second pair of glasses I was forced, therefore, to seriously consider the hypothesis that she had remained within the house. 'On perceiving the similarity of the two corridors it became clear that she might very easily have made such mistake, md in that case it was evident that
 he must have entered the professors
 oom. was keenly on the alert, there
 ore, for whatever would bear out this
 imposition, and I examined the room
 lrrowly for anything in the shape of
 hiding place. The carpet seemed con
 nuous and firmly nailed, so dismiss
 VI the idea of trapdoor. There might we'll be recess behind the books. As
 ou are aware. such devices are com mon in old libraries. I 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. I could see no marks to guide me, but the carpet was of dun color, which lends itself very we'll to examination. I therefore smoked great number of those excellent ciga- rettes. and dropped the ash all over the space in front of the suspected bookcase. It was simple trick, but exceedingly effective. I then went downstairs. and ascertained in your 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 ascended to the room again, when. by upsetting the cigarette box, I . obtained a very excellent view of the floor 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 I congratulate you on having brought your case to a. successful conclusion. You are going to headquarters. no doubt I think. Watson, you and I will drive together to the Russian en- T." "----''
 THE ADVENTURE OF THE