Morris tribune., 1905-10-28

The butler had hardly closed the door
behind him when Lady Hilda was
down on her knees at Holmes feet,
her hands outstretched, her beautiful
face upturned and wet with her tears.
"Oh, spare me, Mr. Holmes! Spare
meY' she ple.. led in a frenzy OF sup
plication For heavens sake, don't
tell him! l love him SO! would not
bring one shadow on his life, and this
I know would break his noble heart"
Holmes raised the lady. II am
thankful. nadam, that you have come
to your senses even at this last mo-
ment! There is not an instant to lose.
Where is the letter?'
She darted across to writing desk,
unlocked it and drew out long blue
envelope.
"Here it is, Mr.. Holmes. Would to
heaven l had never seen itn
How can we return itw Holmes
muttered. "Quick, quick, we, must
think of some way! Where is the
dispatch boxw
'Still in his bedroom
"What stroke Of luck! Quick,
madam, bring it h@ew
A moment later she had appeared
with red, fat box in her hand.
How did you open it before? You
have duplicate key? Yes, of course
you have. Open itv'
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 the bedroom.
''Now we are 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 affair."
'Mr. Holmes, will tell you every.
thing cried the lady. ''Oh, Mr..
Holmes, would cut off my right hand
before l gave him moment Of sor-
row. There is no woman in all Lon
don who loves her husband as l do,
and yet if he knew how l have acted
how | have been compelled to act-he
would never forgive me, for his own
honor stands so high that he could not
forget or pardon a lapse in another.
Help me, Mr. Holmes! My happiness,
his happiness, our very lives, are at
stalker
"Quick, madam; the time grows
shortv'
at was letter of mine, Mr.. Holmes,
an indiscreet letter written before my
marriages. foolish letter, letter Of
an impulsive, loving girl. l meant no
harm, and yet he would have thought
it criminal. Had he read that letter
his confidence woulL have been forever
it. 1 had thought that the whole mat
ter was forgotten. Then at last |
heard from this man Lucas that it had
passed into his hands and that he
would lay it before my husband. l
implored his mercy. He said that he
would return my letter if would bring
him a certain document which he de-
scribed in my husbands dispatch box.
He had some spy in the Office who had
told him of it's existence. He assured
me that no harm could come to my
husband. Put yourself in my posi-
ton, Mr. Holmes! What was to do?"
'Take your husband into your conf
dence"
II could not, Mr. Holmes, 1 could
not! On the one side seemed certain
ruin; on the other, terrible as it seem
ed, to take my husbands paper; still in
a matter Of politics 1 could not IN
derstand the consequences, while in a
matter of love and trust they were on
~ too clear to me. 1 did it, Mr. |
Holmes! l took an impression Of his |
key. This man Lucas furnished /
duplicate. / opened his dispatch box,
took the paper and conveyed it to |
Godolphin street"
"What happened there, MADAME
81 tapped at the door as agreed. Lu-
cas- opened it. l followed him into his |
room, leaving the hall door ajar behind |
me, for l feared to be alone with the
man. 1 remember that there was a
outside as entered. Our bust !
less was soon done. He had my let
;er on his desk I handed him the doc
1ment. He gave me the letter At this
instant there was a sound at the door,
There were steps in the passage. Lu
cas- quickly turned back the drugget,
:hrust the document into some hiding
,lace there and covered it over.
what happened after that is like
some fearful dream. I have vision of,
| dark, frantic face, of a woman's
7oice, which screamed in French: My
waiting is not in vain. At last, at last,
have found you with herr There was
| savage struggle I saw him with
hair in his hand; knife cleaned in
lers. l rushed from the horrible scene.
an from the house,. and only next
morning i'll the paper did learn the
lreadful result. That night l was
lappy, for l had my letter, and I had
lot seen yet what the future would
'ring.