Rock Island Argus., 1905-07-01

months of searching discovered where
he was. I knew that he still had the
diary. for when 1 was in Siberia / had
letter from him once reproaching me
and quoting some passages from its
pages. Yet / was sure that. with his
revengeful nature, he would never give
il to me of his own free will. l must
get it for myself. With this object l
engaged an agent from a private de-
tective firm, who entered my husbands
house as secretary. 1t was your sec
ond secretary, SergiuS-the one who
left you so hurriedly. He found that
papers were kept in the cupboard, and
he got an impression OF the key. He
would not 90 further. He furnished
me with a plan of the house, and he
told me that in the forenoon the study
WAS always empty, as the secretary
was employed up here. So at last
took my courage in both hands, and
came down to get the papers for my
self l succeeded, but at what cost!
Il had just taken the papers and
was locking the cupboard when the
young man seized me. l had seen him
already that morning. lie had met me
ON the road. and l had asked him to
tell me where Professor Coram lived,
not knowing that he was in his en-
ploy."
Exactly. Exactly said Holmes.
THE secretary came back and told his
employer of the woman he had met.
Then in his last breath he tried to send
message that it was she-the she
whom he had just discussed with HIM"
You must let me speak," said the
woman il an imperative voice, and
her face contracted as if in pain.
when he had fallen 1 rushed from the
room, chose the wrong door and found
myself in my husbands room. He
spoke of giving me up. / showed him
that if he did so his life was in my
hands. If he gave me to the law, l
could give him to the Brotherhood. 1t
was not that l wished to live for my
own sake, but it was that l desired
to accomplish my purpose. He knew
that 1 would do what l said-that his
own fate was involved in mine. For
that reason, and for no other, he shield
ed me. He thrust me into that dark
hiding place-a relic of old days,
known only to himself. He took his
meals in his own room, and so was
able to give me part of his food. 1t
was agreed that when the police left
the house l should slip away by night
and come back no more. But in some
way you have read our plans She
tore from the bosom of her dress a
small packet. These are my last
words" said she. Here is the packet
which will save Alexis. l cOnfide il TO
your honor and to your love of justice.
Take it! You will deliver it at the
Russian embassy. Now, l have done
my duty, and'-
stop her. cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room and had
wrenched small vial from her hand.
Too latel" she said, sinking back on
the bed. TOO late! l took the poison
before 1 left my hiding place. My
head swims. l am going! l charge
you. sir, 20 remember the packet"
"A simple case, and yet in some
ways an instructive one" Holmes re-
marked as we Travelled back to town.
1T hinged from the outset upon the
pince-nez. But for the fortunate chance
of the dying man having seized these
am not sure that we could ever have
reached our solution. 1t was clear to
IIlt, lIOlD JiiC SllGliSllI VI lLIC EitlSNtSs
that the wearer must have been very
blind and helpless when deprived of
them. When you asked me to believe
that she walked along a narrow strip
of grass without once making a false
step | remarked, as you may remem-
ber that it was a noteworthy perform
ance. In my mind l set it down as an
impossible performance save in the I'm
likely case that she had a second pair
of glasses. i was forced, therefore, to
seriously consider the hypothesis that
she had remained within the house. On
perceiving the similarity of the two
corridors it became clear that she might
very easily have made such a mistake,
and in that case it was evident that
she must have entered the professors
room. l was keenly on the alert, there
fore, for whatever would bear out this
suppOstion, and | examined the room
narrowly for anything in the shape of
a hiding place. The carpet seemed con-
tinuous and firmly nailed, so / dismiss
ed the idea of a trapdoor. There might
well be a recess behind the books. AS
you are aware, such devices are com
mon in old libraries. / observed that
other points, but that one bookcase
was left clear. This, then. might be
the door ! could see no marks to
guide me, but the carpet was of a
dun color, which lends itself very we'll
TO examination. | therefore smoked a
great number of tho& excellent ciga-
rcttes, and I dropped the ash all over
the space in front of the suspected
bookcase. 1t was a simple trick, but
exceedingly effective. / then went
downstairs, and | ascertained in your
presence, Watson. without your per
ceivlng the drift of my remarks, that
Professor Coram's consumption of food
had increased-as one would expect
when he Is supplying a second person.
We then ascended 10 the room again.
when. by upsetting the cigarette box. /
NIx.vaN -.