Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-24
The Adventure of
 the Second Stain
No. l3 of the Series
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 'sYes,' said he ''there is no better way of approaching it. The situation is desperate, but not hopeless. Even now, if we could be sure which of them has taken it, 1t is just possible that it has not yet passed out of his hands. After all. it is question of money with these fellows. and I have the British treasury behind me- It is con ceivable that the fellow might hold it back to see what bids come from this side before he tries his luck on the other. There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game there are Oberstein. La Rothiere and Eduardo Lucas I will see each of them"
 I glanced at my morning paper.
 ''Ise that Eduardo Lucas of Godol- phin street:"
 Yes
 You will not see him."
 "Why not?'
 
 night
 My friend has so often astonished me in the course of our adventures that it was with sense of exultation that realized how completely I had aston ished him. He stared in amazement and then snatched the paper from my hands This was the paragraph which had been engaged in reading when he rose from his chair:
 MURDER IN WESTMINSTER
 crime of mysterious character was committed last night at IS Godolphin street. one of the old fashioned and se- cluded rows of eighteenth century houses which lie between the river and the ab- bey almost in the shadow of the great tower of the houses of parliament. This small but select mansion has been inhabft- ed for some years by Mir. Eduardo Lucas, well known in society circles both on &C., 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. MT. 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 Mir. Lucas had the house to himself, What occurred during that time has not yet transpired. but at a quarter to 12 Police Constable Barrett. passing along Godolphin street, observed that. the, d6er of No. Is was ajar. He knocked, but re- ceived ho answer. Perceiving a light in Nc l.Ea, ral snrn ba y,o e sage and again knocked. but without re- ply. He then pushed open the door and entered. The room was in state of wild disorder the furniture being all swept to one side and one chair lying on its back 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 a curved Indian dagger. plucked down from trophy of oriental arms which adorned one of the walls. Robbery does not appear 10 have been the motive of the crime. for there had been no attempt to remove the valu- able contents of the room MT. Eduardo Lucas was so well 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.
 Tt 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 it's being coincidence. No figures could express them. No. my dear Watson. the two events were connected-must be connected. It is for us to find the connection"
 But now the official police must know all.r
 Not at all. They know all they see at Godolphin street They know-and shall know-nothing 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 Lucas. Gc1olphin street. Westminster. Is only few min, utes' walk from Whitehall terrace. The other secret agents whom have named live In the extreme west end. II was easier. therefore. for Lucas than for the others to establish a 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 hereE-
 Mz. Hudson had appeared with a Iady's card upon her salver. Holmes glanced at it. raised his eyebrows and banded it over to me
 Ask Lady Hilds Trelavney Hope if she will be kind enough to step up.- said he
 4 moment later our modest apart nent- already % distinguished that morning was further honored by the entrance Of the most lovely woman in London had often heard If the beauty Of the youngest daughter Of the Duke of Beiminster. but 10 description of it had prepared me for the sub tie delicate charm and the beauti- ful colO-inz Of that exquisite head And yet as Ue saw ft that autumn morning it was not its beauty which would be the first thing to impress the observer. The cheek was lovely. but il was paled with emotion. the eyes were bright. bgf it was the brightness of fever. tte sen sftive mouth vzs tight and drawn fn sn effort after sef c5nmand- Terrr not hezuty-Uzs -hst sprzux first to