The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-08-11


true facts. l beg you then, Mr.. Holmes,
to tell exactly what has happened and
what it will lead to. Tell me all, Mr.
Holmes. Let no regard for your
clients interests keep you silent, for
assure you that his interests, if he
would only see it, would be best served
by taking me into his complete con-
fidence. What was this paper which
was stolenf'
Madam, what you ask me is really
impossible"
She groaned and sank her face in her
hands
You must see that this is so, mad
am. If your husband thinks fit to
keep you in the dark over this matter.
is it for me. who have only learned the
true facts under the pledge OF profess
sionel secrecy, to tell what he has
withheld? 1t is not fair TO ask it. 1t
is him whom you must ask"
81 have asked him. | come to you
as Il last resource But without your
telling me anything definite. Mr.
Holmes, you may do great service
if you would enlighten Inc on one
point"
what is it, MADAME"
rs my husbands political career
likely TO suffer through this incident?"
We'll, madam, unless it is set right
it may certainly have a very unfortu-
nate effect
All. She drew in her breath sharp
ly, as one whose doubts are resolved.
"One more question. Mr.. Holmes.
From an expression which my hus-
band dropped in the first shock of
this disaster | understood that terrible
public consequences might arise from
the loss of this document
IF he said so l certainly cannot deny
it."
"Of what nature are they?"
Nay, madam; there again you ask
me more than can possibly answer"
Then | will take up no more of your
time. | cannot blame you. Mr.. Holmes,
for having refused to speak more free
ly, and you on your side will not. |
am sure, think the worse of me be-
cause | desire. even against his will.
to share my husbands anXieties. Once
more | beg that you will say nothing
of my visit"
She looked back at us from the door,
and had a last impression of that
beautiful. haunted face. the startled
ey and the drawn mouth. Then she
was gone.
Now. Watson. the fair sex is your
department" said Holmes, with IL
smile. when the dwindling froufrou Of
skirts had ended in the slam of the
front door. What was the fair lady's
game: What did she really want:"
Surely her own statement is clear
and her anxiety very natural"
'lium, Think Of her appearance.
Watson-hcr manner, her suppressed
excitement. her reStlessnesS. her tenac-
ity in asking QccStions Remember that
she comes of Il caste who do not lightly
show emotion"
'Sh@ was certainly much moved"
''Rcmcmhcr also The curious earnest
hess with which she assured us that it
was lest for her husband that she
should know ali. What did she mean
by that? and you must have Observed.
Watson. how she m3npuvcrcd to have
the light Mt her back She did not wish
us t. read Der expression"
YES, she chose the one chair in the
ROOM
And yet tie motives of women are
so irec-1 ic. You remember the wo-
man ~ Ma~@atc whom | suspected for
the $3-se reason No powder on her
nose-th2t proved to be the correct So
luton. How can YOU build on such
quicksand: Their most trivial action
may mean volumes, or their most ex-
traordinary conduct may depend upon
a hairpn or Il curling tongs. Good
morning, Watson"
You are Off"
Eyes. | will while away the morning
at Godolphin street with our friends of
the regular establishment. With Ed
uardo Lucas lies the solution of orr
problem. though must admit that
have not an inkIing as to what form if
may take. 1t is Il capital mistake TO
theoriZe in advance of the facts. Do
you stay on guard, my good Watson.
and receive any fresh visitors. I'll Join
you ut lunch if am able"
All that day and the next and next
Holmes was in a mood which his
friends would call taciturn and others
morose. He ran ont and ran in. smol;-
ed 1nceSSantly, played Snatches ON his
violin, sank into reverieS. dcvoured
sandwiches ut irregular hours ana
hardly answered the casual questions
which l put TO him. 1t was evident 10
me that things We're not going we'll
with him or his quest He would say
nothing of the case, and it was from
the papers that | learned the particu-
lars of the inquest and the arrest. with
the subsequent release. of John Nit.
ton. the valet of the deceased. The
coroner's jury brought in the obvious
"willful murder" hut the parties re-
manned as unknown as ever. No mo-
tive was suggested The room was
full of articles of value. but none had
been taken. The dead mans papers
had not been tempered with. They
were carefully examined and showed
that he was keen student of interna-
tional politics, an indefatigable gossip,
q remarkable linguist and an untiring
letter writer. He had been on init
mate terms with the leading politicians
of l,,t
sational was discovered among the doc