Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-19

mind was turned to the one thought OF
getting bnck my husbands paper. 1t
must still be where Lucas had placed
It. for It was concealed before this
1rcadful woman entered the room. II
1t had not been for her coming,
should not have known where his hid
ing place was. How was to get into
The room? For two days watched the
place, but the door was never left
open. Last night made last attempt
What I did and how I succeeded you
have already learned. brought the
paper back with me and thought Of de
stroying 1t. since could see no way Of
returning 1t without confessing my
guilt to my husband. Heavens. hear
his step upon the stalr!"
The European secretary burst exc!t.
edly into the room.
"Any news, M Holmes, any news?"
he cried
II have some hopes"
"Ah, thank heaven!' His face be-
came radiant. '.rhe prime minister ~
launching with me- May he share your
homes? He has nerves Of steel. and yer
know that he has hardly slept since
this terrible event. Jacobs, will you
ask the prime minister to come up? AS
to you, dear, I fear that this is matter
Of politics. We win ioin you in few
minutes In the dining room"
The prime minister's manner was
subdued, but could see by the CLEAN
Of his eyes and the twitchings Of his
bony hands that he shared the excite
ment of his young colleague.
II understand that you have some
thing to report, Mr. Holiness"
Purely negative as yet" my friend
answered Il have inquired at every
point where it might be, and l am sure
that there is no danger to be appre-
hended."
"Bnt that is not enough, Mr. Holmes.
| We cannot live forever on such vol
cano. We must have something def
mite"
II am in hopes Of getting 1t. That is
| why am here. The more think Of
the matter the more convinced l am
that the letter has never left this
house,"
'Mr. Holmesv'
"If 1t had 1t would certainly have
been public by now"
"But. why should any one take 1t in
order to keep It in this house7"
/! IT am not convinced that any one
did take It."
.Then how could it leave the dis
patch box"
II am not convinced that 1t ever did
leave the dispatch box"
"Afr. Holmes. this Joking Is very i'll
timed You have my assurance that II
left the box"
"Have you examined the box since
Tuesday morning?"
mo. It was not necessary"
"You may concefvably have overlook
ed It,"
Impossible, say"
'sBut I am not convinced Of It.
have known such things to happen.
presume there are other papers there.
Well, it may have got mixed with
them
l III WIS ON INC IVp.
"Some one may have shaken the box
and displaced it,
"No, no; ! had everything OUT
Surely It is easily decided, Hope, :"
said the premier. LET us have the
dispatch box brought In"
The secretary rang the bell.
Jacobs, bring down my dispatch
box. This Is fareical waste of time,
but still, IL nothing else will satisfy
you, 1t shall be done. Thank You, ia
/, cobs; put 1t here. have always had
the key on my watch chain. Here are
the papers, you see-letter from Lord
Morrow, report from Sir Charles Har-
dy, memorandum from Belgrade, note
ON thes njlssQ- German grain taxes, let.
ter from Madrid, note from Lord Flow
ers- Good heavens! What is this /!
Lord He!linser! Lord Bellinger!'
The premier snatched the blue en-
vclope from his hand.
eyes, It is it-and the letter Is in
tact. Hope, l congratulate you"
THANK you! Thank you! What a
weight from fpy heart! But this is In
conceivable impossible. Mr.. Holmes
you are wizard, Q sorcerer! How did
you know 1t was .there?"
Because knew 1t was nowhere
else"
! II cannot believe MY eyesw He ran
wildly to the door. Where is my
wife? must tell her that all is we'll.
Hilda! Elilda" we heard his voice
I on the stair2-
The premier looked at Holmes with
| twinkling eyes.
Come. SIR" said be. 4 There Is more
in this than meets ths eye. How came
the letter back in The bos?'
!! Holmes turned away smiling from
the keen scrutiny oil those wonderful
eyes.
i I'VE also have our. diplomatic Sc.
crels," said ,hs.Iand. picking up his hat
he turned to ahSloor.
THE ESD.