Morris tribune., 1905-10-28

stroying it, since could see no way Of
returning it without confessing nv
guilt to my husband. Heavens, I hear
his step upon the stair"
The European secretary burst excit-
eddy into the room.
"Any news, Mr. Holmes, any news?"
he cried.
IT have some hopes"
"Ah, thank heavenw His face BEL
came radiant. 1.-THE prime minister is
lunching with me. May he share, your
hopes? He has nerves Of steel, and vet
/ know thar 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 will join you in few
minutes in the dining room"
The prime minister's manner was
subdued, but l could see by the CLEAN
of his eyes and the twitchings Of his
bonyl hands that he shared the excite
ment of his young colleague
81 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 am sure
that there is no danger to be appre-
hended."
"But that is not enough, Mr.. Holmes
We cannot live forever on such a vol
cano. We must have something def
mite"
II am in hopes of getting it. That is
why I am here. The more l think Of
the matter the more convinced | am
that the letter has never left this
house,
"Mr Hoimesw
eff it had it would certainly have
been public by now"
"But why should any one take it in
order to keep it in this house?"
81 am not convinced that any one
did take it."
''Then how could it leave the dis
patch box"'
81 am not convinced that it ever did
leave the dispatch box"
"AIr Holmes, this joking is very III
timed. You have my assurance that it
left the box
'Have you examined the box since
Tuesday morning.
mo. 1t was not necessary"
"You may conceivably have overlook
ed it."
impossible, say"
"But ] am not convinced Of it. I
have known such things to happen.
presume there are other papers there.
Well. it may have got mixed with
Them
at was on the top"
"Some one may have shaken the box
and displaced it,"
mo. no; had everything OUT
"Surely it is easily decided, Hope
said the premier. Let us have the
dispatch box brought in .E
The secretary rang the bell
"Jacobs. bring down my dispatch
box. This is a farcical waste of time,
but still, if nothing else will satisfy
you, it shall be done. Thank you, ia
cobs; put it 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 the Russo-German- grain taxes, let
ter from Madrid, note from Lord Flow
ers- Good heavens! What is this?
Lord Bellinger! Lord Bellingerr'
The premier snatched the blue en-
velope from his hand
eyes, it is it-and the letter is in
tact. Hope l congratulate you"
THANK Won. Thank you. What
weight from ny heart! But this is in
impossible Mr.. Holmes,
you a"e Il ,Z-..,.ard. 4 so"cerer! How did
you Know It VS. E.cre?''
because l kew it was nowhere
else"
Il cannot believe my eyes," He ran
wildly to the door, ''Where is my
wife? l must tell her that all is we'll.
Hilda! Hildaw we heard his voice
on the stairs.
The premier looked at Holmes with
twinkling eyes.
"Come, sir" said he. 'There is more
In this than meets the eye. How came
the letter back in the box?''
Holmes turned away smiling from
the keen scrutiny Of those wonderful
eyes.
eve also have our diplomatic Sc
orets,' said he, and, picking up his hat,
le turned to the door,
THE END