Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-30

public. This resolution OF mine was
not due to any lack OF material, since
have notes Of many hundreds Of cases
to which have never alluded. nor was
IT caused 10y any waning interest on
the part OF my readers in the singular
personality and unique methods Of this
remarkable man. The real reason Law
in the reluctance which w.. sszses
has shown to the continued publication
of his experiences. so long as he was
in actual professional practice the rec
ords Of his successes were Of some
practical value to him. but since he has
definitely retired from London and be-
taken himself to study and bee farm
ing on the Sussex downs notoriety has
become hateful TO him. and he has per
emptorily requested that his wishes I'm
this matter should be strictly observed.
1t was only upon my representing TO
him that 1 had given a promise that
''The Adventure Of the Second Stain
should be published when the times
were ripe aud pointing out TO him that
it is only appropriate that this long
series OF episodes should eliminate in
the most important international case
which he has ever been called upon to
tanning his consent that a carefully
guarded account or the incident should
at last he laid before the public.
Ii was. then. in year, even in dec
ade that shall benameless. that upon one
Tuesday morning in autumn we found
two visitors OF European fame within
the walls Of our humble room I'm Baker
street. The one. austere, high nosed.
eagle eyed and dominant, was none 9th
er than the illustrlous Lord Belllnger.
twice premier OF Britain. The other.
dark. clean cut aud elegant. hardly yet
OF middle age and endowed with ev-
cry beauty OF body and OF mind. was
the Right Hon. Trelawney Hope. sec
rotary for European affairs and the
most rising statesman I'm the country
They sat side by side upon our paper
Uttered settce. and IL was easy to see
from their worn and anxious faces that
Ii was business OF the most pressing
Importance which had brought them.
The premier's thin, blue veined hands
were clasped tightly over the ivory
head of his umbrella. and his gaunt.
ascetic face looked gloomily from
Holmes 70 me. The European secre-
tary pulled nervously az his muStache
and fidgeted with the seals Of his
watch chain
when 1 discovered my loss. Mr..
Holmes. which was az : o'clock this
morning, l at once informed the prime
minister IL was at his suggestio that
we have both come TO YOU"
Have YOU Informed the policeg"
mo, sir" said the prime minister.
with the quick. decisive manner for
which he was famous. 1--WE have not
done SO. nor is it possible that we
should do so. To inform tie police
must, in the long run. mean 70 inform
the public. This is what we particular
ly desire 70 avoid"
And why, sir?"
Because the document in question
Is OF such immense importance that its
publication might very easily-I might
almost say probably-lead 20 European
complications OF the utmost moment
1t Is not too much 10 say that peace or
war may hang upon the issue. Unless
It's recovery can be attended with the
utmost secrecy then II may as well not
oe recovered at all. for all that Is aim
ed at by those who have taken II Is
that its contents should be generally
known"
understand. Now, Mr.. Trelayvnev
Hope. l should be much obliged If YOU
would tell me exactly the circum-
stances under which this document
disappeared"
THAT can be done in a very few
words, Mr.. Holmes. The letter-for il
was letter from foreign potentate-
was received six days ago. It was of
such importance that have never left
It in my safe, but l have taken il
across each evening 10 my house in
Whitehall terrace and kept Il in nv
bedroom in a locked dispatch box. It
was there last night or that | am
certain. actually opened the box
while l was dressing for dinner and
saw the document inside. This morn
ing IL was gone. The dispatch box had
stood beside the glass upon my dress
ing table all night / am a light sIeeD-
er' and so Is my wife. We are both
prepared TO swear that no one could
nave entered the room during the
night and yet repeat that the paper
is gone"
What time did you diner
Half past z"
How long was 1t before you went
TO bedT'
''My wife had gone to the theater. I
waited up for her. 1t was half past IL
before we went to our room"
Then for four hours the dispatch
box had lain unguardedT'
"NO one is ever permitted TO enter
that room save the housemaid in the
morning and my valet or my wifes
maid during the rest OF the day. They
are both trusty servants and have been
with us for some time. Besides. neither
of them could possibly have known
that there was anything more velua-
Die than the ordinary departmental
papers IN my dispatch box"
who aid know OF the existence Of
that letter.