The Washington times., 1905-05-28
The NAVAL Treaty

ever stole my papers could only have
come through the door,
How about the firepIace?''
They use none. There is a stove.
The bell rope hangs from the wire just
to the right of m desk. Whoever rang
1T must have come right up TO the desk
10 do it. But why should any criminal
wish to ring the bell? 1t Is a most in
soluble mystery"
Certainly the incident was unusual
What were your next steps? You ex-
amined the room, 1 presume, to see If
the introduer had left any traces-any
cigar-end or dropped glove or hairpin
or other trifie?'
There was nothing of the sort
mo smell2''
well, we never thought Of that
t'Ah. a scent of tobacco would have
been worth a great deal to Us in such
an investigation
Il never smoke myself. so / think l
should have observed il il there had
been any smell of tobacco There was
absolutely no clue of any kind. The
only tangible fact was that the COM
missionaries wife-Mrs. Taagey was
the name-had hurried out of the place.
He could give no explanation save that
1t was about the time when the woman
always went home. The policeman and
I agreed that our best plan would be
to seize the woman before she could
get rid of the papers. presuming that
she had them.
1.-The alarm had reached Scotland
Yard by this time. and Mr.. Forbes. the
detective. came round at once and took
up the case with great deal OF energy.
we hired a hanson. and Ia half an hour
we were at the address which mad been
given TO US. A young woman opened
the door, yho proved to be Mrs. Tan
gey's eldest daughter. Her mother had
not come back yet, and we Were shown
into the front room to wait.
about ten minutes later a knock came
at the door. and here we made the one
serious mistake for which I blame my
self. Instead of opening the door our
selves. we allowed the girl to do SO.
We heard her say. Mother. there are
two men In the house waiting TO see
you and an instant afterward we heard
the patter OF feet rushing down the
passage Forbes flung open the door,
and ne both ran into the back room
or kitchen. but the woman had got there
before us. She stared at US with defiant
eyes, and then, suddenly recognizing
me, an expression OF absolute astonish-
nent came over her face.
- Why. If it isn't Mr.. Phelps. OF the
ofice1 she cried.
'' Come, come, who did you think we
were when you ran away from ns?' ask
ed my companion.
II thought you were the brokers'
said she, we have had some trouble
with tradesman,'
That's not quite good enough an
swered Forbes. We have reason TO be-
lieve that you have taken a paper of
Importance from the foreign office, and
that you ran in here TO dispose Of II.
You must come back with us to Scotland
Yard to be searched
'It was in vain that she protested
and resisted. a four-wheeler was
brought, and We all three drove back in
it. We had first made an examination
OF the kitchen. and especially of the
kitchen fire. to see whether she might
have made away with the papers dur
ing the instant that she was alone
There were no signs. however. of any
ashes or scraps When we reached
Scotland Yard she was handed over at
once TO the female searcher. / waited
in an agony Of suspense until she came
back with her report. There were no
signs OF the papers.
Then for the first time the horror OF
my situation came IN its full force.
Hitherto l had been acting, and action
had numbled thought. I had been SO
confident Of regaining the treaty at
once that 1 had not dared to think OF
what would be the consequence If
failed To do so. But now there was
nothing more to be done, and I had
leisure to realize my position. Tt was
horrible Watson there would tell you
that I was a nervous. sensitive boy at
school. It Is my nature. I thought OF
my uncle and of his colleagues in the
cabinet, OF the shame which l had
brought upon him, upon myself. upon
every one connected with me. What
though ! was the victim of an extraor-
binary accident? No allowance is made
for accidents where diplomatic interests
are at stake. I was ruined. Ehamefully.