Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-11-24
By A. CONAN DOYLE.


armed. Mortified by what she had
done, she rushed wildly away from the
scene of the tragedy. Unfortunately
for her, she had lost her glasses in the
scufde, and as she was extremely
short sighted she was really helpless
without them. She ran down corri-
dor which she imagined to be that by
which she had come-both were lined
with cocoanut matting-and it was
only when it was too late that she I'M
derstood that she had taken the wrong
passage and that her retreat was cut
OF behind her. What was she to do?
She could not go back. She could not
remain where she was. She must go
on. She went on. She mounted
stair, pushed open door and found
herself In your room"
The old man sat with his mouth open.
staring wildly at Holmes. Amazement
and fear We're stamped upon his ex-
pressive features. Now with an effort
he shrugged his shoulders and burst
into insincere laughter.
"All very fne, Mr.. Holiness" said he,
''but there is one little flaw in your
splendid theory. was myself in my
room, and never left it during the
day"
II am aware of that, Professor Co
ram"
"And you mean to say that I could
lie upon that bed and not be aware
that woman had entered my room? 2"
II never said SO. You were aware of
It. You spoke with her. You recog-
nized her. You aided her to escape"
Again the professor burst into high
keyed laughter. He had risen to his
feet, and his eyes glowed like embers.
you are madv he cried. you are
talking insanely. l helped her to es-
cape? Where is she now"
'She is there" said Holmes. and he
pointed to high bookcase in the
corner of the room.
saw the old man throw up his arms;
4 terrible CONFUSION passed over his
grim face, and he fell back in his
chair. At the same instant the book
case at which Holmes pointed swung
round upon hinge and woman
rushed out into the room. "You are
right!' she cried in strange foreign
voice. you are right! / am here"
She was brown with the dust and
draped with the cobwebs, which had
come from the walls Of her hiding
place. Her face, too, was streaked
with CRIME, and at the best she could
never have been handsome, for she had
the exact physical characteristics
which Holmes had OWNED, with, in
addition, long and obstinate chin.
What with her natural blindness. and
what with the change from dark to
Light, she stood as one dazed, blinking
about her to see where and who we
were. And yet in spite Of all these
disadvantages, there was certain no.
bility In the woman's bearing, gal
lantry in the defiant chin and In the
appraised head, which compelled some
thing Of respect and admiration.
Stanley Hopkins had laid his hand
upon her arm and claimed her as his
prisoner. but she waved him aside
gently and yet with an oyermastering
dignity which compelled obedience.
The old man lay back in his chair
with twitching face and stared at
her with brooding eyes.
Eyes. sir, I am your prisoner" she
said. From where stood could hear
everything, and know that you have
learned the truth. I confess 1t all. 1t
was who killed the young man. But
you are right-you who say 1t was an
accident. did not even know that 1t
was knife which I held in my hand,
for in my despair / snatched anything
from the table and struck at him to
make him let me 60. 1t Is the truth
that tell"
Madam" said Holmes, II am sure
that It is the truth. fear that you are
far from WELL"
She had turned dreadful color, the
more CHASTITY under the dark dust
streaks upon her face. She seated her.
self on the side Of the bed; then she re-
sumed.
IT have only little time here" she
said, ''but would have you to know
the whole truth. am this mans wife.
He is not an Engllshman. He is a Rus
sian. His name will not tell
For the first time the old man stirred.
'God bless you, Annav' he cried. God
bless your
She cast look of the deepest disdain
in his direction. why should you cling
% hard to that wretched life Of yours,
6ergius" said she. ut has done harm
to many and good to none, not even
yourself, However. 1t Is not for me to
before Gods time. I have enough al
ready upon my soul since crossed the
threshold of this cursed. house. But 1
must speak or shall be too late.
II have said. gentlemen, that am
this mans wife. He was fifty and a
foolish girl OF twenty when we mar
rted. 1t was in city Of Russia, a uni
versity-I will not name the place."
"God bless you, Annav' murmured
the old man again.
1--WE were reformers, revolutionists.
nihilists, you understandable and I
and many more. Then there came a
time Of trouble. A police officer was
killed, many We're arrested, evidence
was wanted, and in order to save his
own life and earn a great reward my
husband betrayed his own wife and his
companions. Yes, we were all arrested
! upon his confession. Some Of us found
our way to the gallows and some to 81
IBERIA. I was among these last. but my
term was not for life. My husband
came to England with his Ill gotten
gains and has lived in quiet ever since.
knowing well that If the Brotherhood
knew where he was not a week would
pass before justice would be DONE"