Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-06

r. y ,-'SsN ,sHTfi readers In tne
| ,tHrt,i, ~ - Nh singular r
----------S souality n
unique methods of this remarkable man
The real reason lay in the reluctance which
Mr.. Holmes has shown 10 the continued
publication of his experiences. So long as
lie was In actual professional practice the
records OF his successes were of some Drac-
ticai value 10 him. but since he has deti-
niteIy retired from London and betaken
himself to study and bee farming on the
Sussex Downs notoyiety has become hate
full to HIM and he has peremptoriiy re-
ouested that his wishes in this matter
should be strictly observed. 1t was only
upon my representing to him that L had
given a promise that The Adventures OF
the Second Stain should be published when
che times were ripe, and pointing out 10
him that it is only appropriate that this
long series of episodes should culminate in
the most important international oase
which he has ever been called upon to han
die, that l at last succeeded in obtaining
his consent that a carefully guarded ac-
count OF the incident should at last be laid
before the public. II in telling the story
l seem to be somewhat vague in certain de-
tails. the public will readily understand
that there is an excellent reason for my
reticence.
1t was. then. in a year. and even In a
decade. that shall be nameless that upon
one Tuesday morning in autumn we found
two visitors of European fame within the
walls of our humble room In Baker street.
The one. austere. high-nosed. eagle-eYed
and dominant was none other than the
iliustriOus Lord Rellinger, twice premier
of Britain. The other. dark, clear-cut and
elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and en-
dowed with every beauty of body and of
mind. was the Right Honorable Trelawney
Hope, secretary of European affairs and
the most rising statesman in the country.
They sat side by side upon our paper-lit-
tered settee. and 1t was easy to see from
their worn and anxious faces that 1t was
business of the most pressing Importance
which had brought them. The premiers
thin blue-veined hands were clasped tightly
over the ivory head of his umbrella, and
his gaunt. ascetic face looked gioomily
from Holmes to me- The European secre-
tary pulled nervously at his mustache and
fdgeted with the seals of his watch chain.
When l discovered my loss Mr.. Holmes,
which was at s O'Clock this morning. 1 at
once informed the prime minister. 1t was
ct his suggestion that we have both come
TO you
NO, sir said the prime minister with
the quick. decisive manner for which he
was famous I'VE have not done so, nor
is it possible that we should do so. To in
form the police must, in the long run. mean
to inform the public. This is what we par
tcularly desire to avoid"
And why. sir?"
because the document IN question: Is VI
such immense Importance that its publlca-
ton might very easily-I might almost say
probably-lead to European complications of
the utmost moment. 1t is not too much to
say that peace or war may hang upon the
issue. Unless its recovery can be attended
with the utmost secrecy. then it may as
well not be recovered at all. for all that is
aimed al by those who have taken 1t is that
its contents shall be generally known"
II understand. Now. Mr.. Trelawney
Hope. 1 should be much obliged If you
4
der WHICH this document disappeared"
That can be done in very few words
Mr.. Holmes. The letter-for 1t was a let
ter from a foreign potentate-was received
six days ago. 1t was of such Importance
that have never left II in my safe, but
have taken x across each evening to my
house in Whitehall terrace. and kept 1t in
my bedroom in a locked dispatch box. 1t
was there last night. OF that L am certain.
1 actually opened the box while L was
dressing for dinner and the document
Inside. This morning 1t was gone. The dis
patch box had stood beside the glass upon
my dressing table all night. 1 am light
sleeper. and so as my wife. We are both
prepared to swear that no one could have
entered the room during the night. And
yet repeat that the paper is gone"
What time did you diner
"HaIf-paSt seven"
How long was it before you went to
bed?"
MY wife had gone to the theater. 1
waited up for her. 1t was half-past eleven
Then for four hours the dispatch box
had lain unguarded?''
mo one Is ever permitted to enter that
room save the housemaid IN the morning
AMI my valet or my wife's maid during the
res: OF the day. They are both trusty SER
wants who have been with us for some
time. Besides. neither of them could pos
slbly have known that there was anything
more valuable than the ordinary depart
mental Papers in my dispatch box"
Who did know OF the existence of that
letter."
NO one in the house,
surely your wife knew
No. sir. had said nothing to my wife
until missed the paper this morning"
The premier nodded approvingly
Il have long known. sir how high is
your sense of public duty" said he II am
convinced that In the case OF a secret of
this Importance It would rise superior to
the most intimate domestic ties"
The European secretary bowed.
You DO me no more than justice. sir.
ontH this morning L have never breathed
one word 10 my wife upon this matter"
Could she have guessed?"
NO. MIR. Holmes. she could not have
guessed-nor could any one have gtIessed -
Have you lost any documents before"
mo. sir
Who is there in England who did know
OF the existence of this letter."
Each member of the cabinet was in
FORMED or II yesterday, but the pledge OF
secrecy which attends every cabinet meet :
ing was Increased by the solemn warning
winch was given by the prime minister
GOOD heavens, to think that within a few
hours should myself have lost itr' His
handsome face was distorted with a spasm
or despair. and his hands tore at his hair
FOR moment we caught glimpse of the
natural man. impulsive. ardent. keenIy
sensitive. The next the aristocratic mask
was replaced and the gentle voice had re-
turned. Besides the members of the cabi-
net there are two, or possibly three depart
mental officials who know of the letter. No
one else in England. Mr.. Holmes. l assure
you"
But abroad?'
u believe that no one abroad has seen II
save the man who wrote It. am well con-