Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10

DO you follow1'
Every clearly. 1t Is then the interest
Of the enemies Of this potentate to se
cure and publish this letter, 30 a. to
make Q breach between his country
and ours?"
"Yes, sir"
"And to whom would this document
be sent X II fell into the hands Of an
enemy?"
ITO any Of the great chanceileries OF
Europe. II Ia probably speeding on its
way thlther at the present instant as
fast 40 steam can take IT, Now, Mr..
Holmes. you are In full possession Of
the facts. What course do you recon.
mend3"
Holmes shook his head mournfuliy,
"fou think, cir. that unless this doc.
ument ID recovered there will be war;"
II think II is very probable"
Then, sir. prepare for war"
"That 10 q hard saying, MFR. Holmes"
"Consider the facts, sir. It ID incon.
ceivabie that 1t was taken after II 80
at night, since I understand that Mr..
Hope and bis wife were both In the
room from that hour until the loss was
found out. II was taken. then, yester.
day evening between 7:30 and II 80.
probably near the earlier hour, since
whoever took Il evidently knew that Il
was there, and would naturally secure
II as early 40 possible. Now, sir. IL a
document Of this Importance were TAX
en- at that hour. whore can II be now?
No one has any reason to retain 1t. 1t
has been passed rapidly OH to those
who need II. What chance have we
now to overtake or even to trace Il?
1t is beyond our reach"
"What you say is perfectly logical,
Mr.. Holmes feel that the matter Is
indeed out Of our hands,"
"1et US presume. for arguments
sake. that the document was taken by
the maid or by the valet
"They are both old and tried serv.
ants"
Il understand you to say that your
room IL on the second floor, that there
is no entrance from without and that
from withir no one could 60 up unob.
served. 1t must. then. be somebody In
the house who has taken II. To whom
would the thief take it? To one of sew.
eral international spies and secret
agents whose names are tolerably ia.
miliar to ME There are three who may
be said to he the heads Of their profes.
sion. will begin my research by 60
ing round and finding II each OF them
is at his post. II one is missing-espe.
CHILLY II he has disappeared since last
might've will have some indication ms
to where the document has gone"
why should he be missing?" asked
the European secretary. He would
take the letter to an embassy in Lon
don. ms likely MS not"
II fancy not These agents work in
dependently. and their relations with
the embassies are often strained"
The prime minister nodded his ac-
Quiescence.
Il believe You are right. Mr. Holmes.
He would take 40 valuable a prize to
headquarters with his own hands. I
think that your course Of action is an
excellent one. Meanwhile, Hope. we
sannot neglect all our other duties on
account Of this one misfortune. Should
there be any fresh developments dur
ing the day we shall communicate with
you, and You Will no doubt let us
know the results OF your own in
Quirles."
The two statesmen bowed and walk.
ed gravely from the room.
When our illustrious visitors had de.
parted Holmes lit hi< pipe In silence
and sat for some time lost In the deep
est thought was reading the morn.
Ing paper when my friend gave nm OK.
clamation. sprang to his feet and laid
bis pipe down upon the mantelpiece.
YES" said he. there Is no better
way Of approaching 1t. The situation
ia desperate, but not hopeless. Even
now. II we could be sure which Of them
has taken II. it is just possible that 1t
has not yet passed out Of his hands
After all. 1t is question OF money
with these fellows. and I have the
British treasury behind me. 1t Is con
ceivable that the fellow might hold
It back to see what bids come from
this side before he tries his luck on
the other. There are only those three
capable of playing so bold a game
there are Ohcrstein. La Rothiere and
Eduardo Lucas. will see each OF
them"
glanced at my morning paper.
rs that Eduardo Lucas of Godol-
phin street"
YES"
You will not sec him."
"Why not?"
HE was murdered in his house last
night"
My friend has so often astonished me
In the course of our adventures that It
was with q sense Of exultation that
realized how completely I had aston
ished him. He stared in amnzement
and then snatched the paper from my
hands. This was the paragraph which
had been engaged In reading when he
rose from his chair:
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.
crime OF mysterious character was
committed last night at l6 Godolphn
street. one OF the old fashioned and Sc
cluded rows OF eighteenth century houses
which lie between the river and the alb
hey. almost In the shadow OF the great
tower OF the houses Of parliament. This
small but select mansion has been inhabit- |
ed for some years by Mr.. Eduardo Lucas.
we'll known In society circles both on ac-
count Of his charming personality and be-