Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-15

| 0du Nneu he
rose from his chair:
| MURDER IN WESTMINSTER
A crime of mysterious character was
committed last night at Is Godolphin
street one Of the old fashioned and Sc
! cluded rows OF eighteenth century houses
| which lie between the river and the alb
| hey. almost in the shadow Of the great
tower OF the houses Of parliament This
| small but select mansion has been inhabit-
! ed for some years by Mr.. Eduardo Lucas,
/ well known in society circles both on ac-
count of his charming personality and be-
cause he has the well deserved reputation
/ OF being one OF the best amateur tenOrS
| in the country Mr. Lucas is an unmar-
ried man. thirty-four years Of age and
his establishment consists of Mrs. Prin-
! gle. an elderly housekeeper. and of Milton.
| his valet. The former retires early and
sleeps at the top of the house. The valet
was out for the evening, visiting a friend
| at Hammersmith. From 10 o'clock onward
Mr.. Lucas had the house TO himself
What occurred during that time has not
vet tranSpired but at quarter 10 IL
Police Constable Barrett passing along
Godolphin street observed that the door
OF No. 16 was ajar. He knocked. but re-
ceived no answer. Perceiving a light in
the front room. ne advanced into the pas
sage and again knocked, but without re-
ply. He then pushed open the door and
entered. The room was in n state OF wild
disorder. the furniture being all swept TO
one size ana one CnalT lAlnk on IT'S DdCk
in the center. Beside this chair and still
grasping one of its legs lay the unfor-
tunate tenant OF the house. He had been
stabbed to the heart and must have died
instantly. The knife with which the crime
had been committed was curved Indian
dagger. plucked down from a trophy OF
oriental arms which adorned one of the
walls. Robbery does not appear to have
been the motive of the crime. for there
had been no attempt 10 remove the valu-
al ont ~ fha NJ 40
Lucas we'll known and popular
that his violent and mysterious fate will
arouse painful interest and intense SYM
pathy in widespread circle of friends.
"Well. Watson. what do you make of
this" asked Holmes after long pause
1T is an amazing coincidence"
"A coincidence! Here is one of the
three men whom we had named as
possible actors in this drama, and he
meets a violent death during the very
hours when we know that that drama
was being enacted. The odds are
enormous against its being coincidence.
No figures could express them. No.
my dear Watson, the two events were
connected-must be connected. 1t is
for us to find the connection"
But now the official police must
know all"
Not at all. They know all they see
at GodOlphin streeT. they Know-anu
shall know-nothiHg of Whitehall ter
race. Only we know both events and
can trace the relation between them.
There is one obvious point which
would in any case have turned my
suspicious toward I.ucas. Godolphin
street, Westminster, is only few min
utes' walk from Whitehall terrace.
The other secret agents whom / have
named live in the extreme west end.
1t WAS easier. therefore, for Lucas than
for the others TO establish connection
or receive a message from the Euro
pean secretary's household - a small
thing, and yet it may prove essential
Hello. What have we here?'
Mrs. Hudson had appeared with a
lady's card upon her salver. Holmes
handed ii over TO me.
ASK Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope if
she will he kind enough to step up"
said he.
4 moment later our modest apart
ment, already so distinguished that
morning. was further hOnOred by the
entrance Of the most lovely woman in
London. l had often heard of the
beauty of the youngest daughter of the
Duke of Belminster, but no description
of ii had prepared me for the sub
tie, delicate charm and the beauti-
full cOlOring of that exquisite head And
yet as we saw il that autumn morning
it was not its beauty which would be
the first thing to impress the observer.
The cheek was lovely, but it was paled
with emotion the eyes We're bright. but
ii was the brightness of fever; the sen
Sitive mouth was tight and drawn in
an effort after self command Terror
not beauty-was what sprang first to
the eye
Has my husband been here, Mr.
Holiness"
Yes. madam, he has been here"
Mr.. Holmes. / implore you not TO
tell him that l came here" Holmes
bowed and mOtiOned her to a chair.
Your ladyship places me in a very
delicate position. beg that You will
sit down and tell me what you desire,
but / fear that | cannot make any I'm
conditional promise"
She swept across the room and seated
herself with her back 10 the window.
1t was a queenly presence-tall grace
ful and intensely womanly.
Mr. Holmes" she said, and her
white glOved hands clasped and un
clasped as she spoke. Il Will speak
frankly to you IN the hopes that it may
induce you TO speak frankly in return.
There is complete confidence between
my husband aud me on all matters
save one. That one is politics. On this
his lips are sealed. He tells me moth
ing Now. / am aware that there was
a most deplOrable occurrence in our
house last night. / know that paper
has disappeared. But because the mat
ter is political my husband refuses TO
take me into his complete confidence.
Now il is sentiaI-essential. / say
that should thoroughly understand it,
You are the only other person. save
only these politicians. who knows the
s.. 4 Ia 4 N..NHW