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

q matter Of politics I could not un
derstand the consequences, while In a
matter Of love and trust they were on
~ too clear 10 me. I did It. Mr.
Holmes! I took an impression Of his
key. This man Lucas furnished a
duplicate. I opened his dispatch box
took the paper and conveyed It Il
0odolphin street"
what happened there, madam"
II tapped at the door a. agreed. Iu
cas- opened II. I followed him into hia
room, leaving the hall door ajar behind
me. for I feared to be alone with the
man. remember that there was q
woman outside a. I entered. Our bust
ness vas soon done. He had my let
ter on bis desk. handed him the doc
ument. He gave me the letter. At this
instant there was q sound at the door
There were steps In the passage. Lu.
cas- quickly turned back the drugget,
thrust the document into some hiding
place there and covered II over
what happened after that Ia like
some fearful dream. I have q vision OF
dark. frantic face, Of a woman's
voice, which screamed in French: My
waiting u not in vain. At last, at last,
I have found you with herr There was
a savage struggle. ! saw him with a
chair In his hand; q knife cleaned in
hers. I rushed from the horrible scene.
ran from the house, and only next
morning In the paper did I learn the
dreadful result That night was
happy, for had my letter. and I had
not seen vet what the future would
bring.
1T was the next morning that real.
lied that had only exchanged one
trouble for another. My husbands an.
guish at the loss Of his paper went to
my heart. I could hardly prevent my.
self from there and then kneeling down
at his feet and telling him what I had
done. But that again would mean a
confession Of the past. I came to you
that morning In order to understand
the full enormity Of my o6ense. From
the instant that grasped It my whole
mind was turned to the one thought Of
getting back my husbands paper. It
must still be where Lucas had placed
1t. for 1t was concealed before this
dreadful woman entered the room. II
II had not been for her coming. I
sh omld not have known where his hid
ing place was. How was I TO get into
the room? For two days I watched the
place. but the door was never left
OPEN Last night I made last attempt.
What did and how succeeded Won
have already learned. brought the
paper back with me and thought Of de-
stroying It, since I could see no way OF
returning 1t without contrasting my
guilt to my husband. Heavens, I hear
his step upon the stair
The European secretary burst excit.
eddy into the room.
Amy news. Mr.. Holmes, any news?"
he cried.
Il have some hopes"
"Ah. thank heaven" His face be.
came radiant. THE prime minister Is
lunching with me. May he share your
hopes! He has nerves Of steel. and yet
I know that he has hardly slept since
this terrible event. Jacobs. will you
ask the prime minister to come up: As
to you. dear. fear that This is a matter
OF politics. We will join you in few
minutes in the dining ROOM
The prime minister's manner was
subdued. but I could see by the CLEAN
OF his eyes and the twitchings Of his
bony hands that he shared the excite.
ment Of his young colleague.
Il understand that you have some.
thing to report. Mr.. Holiness"
Purely negative as yet" my friend
answered. II have inquired at every
point where 1t might be. and I am sure
that there is no danger to he appre.
hendcd."
But that is not enough. Mr.. Holmes.
We cannot live forever on such vol.
cano. We must have something def.
mite"
II am in hopes Of getting it. That is
why am here. The more I think of
the matter the more convinced I am
that the letter has never left this
house"
"Mr. Holmes"
III 1t had it would certainly have
been public by now"
But why should any one take it In
order to keep 1t in this house,"
II am not convinced that any one
did take it,"
Then how could it leave the dis
patch boX|'
II am not convinced that It ever did
leave the dispatch box"
"Mr. Holmes. this joking IS very Ill
timed. You have my assurance that II
left the box"
Have you examined the box since
mOrning?"
mo. 1t was not necessary"
You may conceivably have overlook.
I'd it."
Impossible. I say"
but ] am not convinced Of Il. /
have known such things to happen. l.
presume there are other papers there.
Well, it may have got mixed with
Them"
1T was on the top"
"Somc 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"
The secretary rang the bell.
Jacobs, bring down INV dispatcb
box. This Is a farcical waste OF time.