The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-10-25
Sherlock 0 ( Holmes Story
The Adventure of
the Golden
Pince-Nez
No. 10 Of the Series

NSOpyyvxoSs 4IU9S ~ MsSIeSS, TAMUDS q Co.
dignity which compelled obedience.
The old man lay back in his chair
with twitching face and stared at
her with brooding eyes.
Eyes. sir, l am your prisoner" she
said. From where stood could hear
everything, and l know that you have
learned the truth. l confess it all. 1t
was l who killed the young man. But
you are right-you who say it was an
accident. did not even know that it
was knife which l held in my hand,
for in my despair snatched anything
from the table and struck at him to
make him let me go. 1t is the truth
that tell"
Madam" said, Holmes, 81 am sure
that it is the truth. fear that you are
far from we'll"
She had turned dreadful color, the
more CHASTITY, under the dark dust
streaks upon her face. She seated her
self on the side of the bed; then she re-
sumed "a
Il have only a little time here" she
said, "but would have you to know
the whole truth. am this mans WIFE
He is not an Englishman. He is Rus
sian. His name I will not tell.'
For the first time the old man stirred
God bless you, Anna" he cried. "God
bless you"
She cast a look of the deepest disdain
in his direction. why should you cling
30 hard to that wretched life of yours.
Sergius" said She ut has done harm
to many and good to none. not even
yourself. However. 1t Is not for me to
cause the frail thread to be snapped
before Gods time. I have enough al
ready upon my soul since crossed the
threshold Of this cursed house. But I
must speak or shall be too late.
II have said, gentlemen, that I am
this mans wife. He was fifty and a
foolish girl of twenty when we mar
ried. 1t was in city Of Russia, uni
versity-I will not name the place"
God bless you, Anna.' murmured
the old man again.
I'VE were reformers. revolutionists,
nihilists. you Understandable and I
and many more. Then there came a
time of trouble. A police officer was
killed. many were arrested. evidence
was wanted, and in order to save his
own life and earn great reward my
husband betrayed his own wife and his
companions. Yes. we were all arrested
upon his confession. Some of US found
our way to the gallows and some to ST.
IBERIA. was among these last, but my
term was not for life. My husband
came to England with his Ill gotten
gains and has lived in quiet ever since,
knowing well that II the Brotherhood
knew where he was not week would
pass before justice would be DONE"
The old man reached out a trembling
hand and helped himself to cigarette.
II am In your hands, Anna" said he.
"You were always good to me-"
II have not yet told you the height
Of his villainy," said she. among our
comrades Of the order there was one
who was the friend of my heart. He
was noble, unselfish, loving-all that
my husband was not. He hated VIC
lence. We We're all guilty. IL that is
guilt. but he was not He wrote for
ever dissuading us from such course.
These letters would have saved him.
So would my diary. in which from day
to day had entered both my feelings
toward him and the view which each
Of US had taken. My husband found
and kept both diary and letters. He
hid them. and he tried hard to swear
away the young mans life In this he
failed, but Alexis was sent convict
to Siberia, where now at this moment
he works in salt mine. Think Of
that. you villain. you villain-now, now.
at this very moment, Alexis. man
whose name you are not worthy to
speak. works and lives like slave,
and yet have your life in my hands.
and let you go!'
you were always a noble woman,
Anna" said the old man, putting at his
cigarette.
She had risen, but she fell back again
with little cry of pain.
II must finish" she said. when my
term was over set myself to get the
diary and letters which, II sent to the
Russian government, would procure
my friends release. l knew that my
husband had come to England. After
months of searching discovered wher
he was. knew that he still had the
diary, for when was in Siberia had
q letter from him once reproaching me
and quoting some. passages from its
pages. Yet l was sure that, with his
revengeful nature, he would never give
it to me Of his own free will. i must
get 1t for myself. With this object l
engaged an agent from private de-
tective firm, who entered my husbands
house as a secretary. 1t was your sec
Ond secretary, Sergius one who
left you so hurriedly. He found that
papers were Kept In the cupboard, and
he got an impression of the key. He
would not 60 further. He furnished
me with plan of the house, and he
told me that In the forenoon the study
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