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

have peep" says she She had pretty.
eoaxing ways. as you might say. and
| thought there was no harm ia letting hex
just put her head through the door.''
How was she dressedr
Quiet. SRA long maaae down 60 her
| What time was ity'
| 1t was just growing dusk at the time
| iheS were lighting the Lamps as l came
back with the brandy"
| very good. said Holmes. Come. Wat
son, | think we have more important work
| elsewhere
As we left the house Lestrade remained
| In the front room. while the repent ant con-
| stable opened the door to let US out.
! Holmes turned on the step and held up
| something in his hand The constable stared
! inteatiy.
Good Lord. sir!' he cried, with amaze
| n.ent on his face. Holmes put his finger on
his lips. replaced his hand IN his breast
| pocket and burst out laughing As we turned
down the street ''Exceslenti' said he
| Come, friend Watson, the curtain rings up
for the last act You VIII be relieved to
| hear that there will be war that the
| Right Honorable TraaWney HOPE Will sui
| fer no setback in his brilliant career that
| the indiscreet sovereign VIII receive no pun
| iShment for his indiScretion, that the prime
| minister will have no european cotnplica-
| ton TO deal with. and that with a little
| tact and managemeut upon our part nobody
| will be penny the worse for what might
| have been very ugly Incident"
| My mind filed with admiration for this
| extraordinary man.
| You have solved itl'' | cried
! Hardly that, Watson. There are some
| points which are as dark ever But we
| have so much that il will be our own fault
| II we cannot get the rest. We win go
| straight to Whitehall terrace and bring the
| matter to a head"
When we arrived at the residence OF the
| European secretary Ii was for Lady Hiida
| Tretawney Hope that Sherl)cx Holmes in
| quired. We were shown into the morning
| room.
Mr.. Holiness" said the lady and her
| face was pink with her Indignation. this
| Is surely most unfair and ungenerows upon
your part. | desired. as / have explained.
| to keep my visit to you secret, lest my
| husband should think that | was intruding
into his affairs. And yet you co<uIsosnise
me by coming here and 50 showing that
| there are business relations between us
Unfortunately. madam. l had pos
| sibie alternative. / have been commission
ed to recover this immensely important pa
per. must therefore ask you, madam, to
| be kind enough to place it in my hands"
The lady sprang to her feet with the
| color all dashed in an instant from her
beautiful face. Her eyes giazed-sile tot
| tered thought that she would faint. Then
| with a grand effort she rallied from tho
shock. and a supreme establishment and in
dignation chased every other expression
from her features.
''You-you insult me. Mr.. Holmes"
Come. come. madam. it is useless. Give
up the letter"
She darted to the bell.
The butler shall show you out"
do not ring, Lady Hilda If you do
then all my earnest efforts to avoid q scan
dial will be frustrated. Give up the letter
and all will be set right If you will work
with me | can arrange everything. II you
| work against me / must expose you
She stood grandly defiant. aueenly fig
ure. her eyes fixed upon his IL she would
read his very soul. Her hand was on the
bell but she had forborne to ring it.
you are trying to brighten me. 1t is not
very manly thing, Mr.. Holmes. to come
here and browbeat woman. You say that
you know something. What Is it that you
know"
Pray sit down. madam. You will hurt
yourself there If you fall. / will not speak
until you sit down. Thank you.
Il give you five minutes, Mr. Holmes"
'One is enough, Lady Hilda l know of
your visit to Eduardo Lucas, of your giving
turn to the room last night. and of the
manner in which you took the letter from
the hiding place under the carpet"
She stared at him with an ashen face and
suped twice before she could speak.
You are mad Mr. Holmes - you are
madi' she cried. at last.
He drew a small piece of cardboard from
his pocket. 1t was the face of a woman
cut out of portrait
Il have carried this because thought 1t
might be useful said he. The policeman
has recognized it,"
She gave a gasp and her head dropped
back in the chair.
Come. Lady Hilda. You have the letter
The matter may still be adjusted l have
To desire to bring trouble to you My duty
ends when I have returned the lost letter
to your husband. Take my advice and be
frank with me. 1t is your only chance"
Her courage was admirable. Even now
she would not own defeat.
Il tell you again, Mr.. Holmes, that you
are under some absurd Illusion"
Holmes rose from his chair
II am sorry for you. Lady Hilda. / have
M 4 fS
all in vain"
He rang the bell. The butler entered.
rs Mr. Trelawney Hope at homer
HE will be home. sir. at a quarter to
one"
Holmes glanced al his watch.
Still a quarter of an hour" said he.
Every good, l shall wait
The butler had hardly closed the door be-
hind him when Lady Hilda was down on
her knees at Holmes feet. her hands out
stretched. her beautiful face upturnsd and
wet with her tears.
"Oh, spare me- Mr.. Holmesl Spare mel"
she pleaded in a frenzy of sIDplication.
For heavens sake, don't tell him! d love
him sol l would not bring one shadow on
his life, and this L know would break his
roble heart
Holmes raised the lady. 81 am thankful,
madam, that you have come to your senses
even at this last moment There is not
instant to lose. Where is the letter."
She darted across to a writing desk. un-
locked it, and drew out a long blue en-
VeiOpe.
Here it is. Mr.. Holmes. Would to heaven
! had never seen iti
How can we return it?'' Holmes NUT
tered. Quick, quick. must think of
some wayI Where is the dispatch box?'
''Stih in his bed room"
what 4 stroke of luck! Quick. madam,
bring it heret'
A moment later she had appeared with a
red fiat box in her hand
How did you open it before? You have
duplicate key? Yes, of course you have.
Open it,
From out of her bosom Lady Hilda had
drawn a small key. The box flew open. 1t
was stuffed with papers. Holmes thrust the
blue envelope deep down into the heart OF
them between the leaves of some other
document The box was shut, locked and
returned to his bed room.
Now we ready for him.. said Holmes.
1--WE have still ten minutes. ! am going far
to screen you. Lady Hilda. In return you
will spend the time in telling me frankly
the real meaning of this extraordinary af-
fair
Mr.. Holmes, 1 will tell you everything.
cried the lady. "Oh, Mir. Holmes, would
cut off my right hand before l gave
him moment of sorrow! There is no