Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-03
gimes- 5leh1irI Nlaralaltuiptt amua, an1g ;. 1905

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 n cost
Il had just taken the papers and
was locking the cupboard when the
young man seized me- had seen him
already that morning. He had met me
on the road. and had asked him to
! tell me where Professor Coram lived
not knowing that he was in his EN-
ploy.'
.Exactly! Exactly" said Holmes.
1.-THE secretary came back and told bis
employer of the woman he had met
Then in his last breath he tried to send
a message that it was she--the she
whom he had Just discussed with him
"You must let me speak, said the
woman III an imperative voice, and
her face contracted as if in pam
when he had fallen rushed from the
room chose the wrong door and found
myself in my husbands room. dc
| that IL he did so Ills life was in my
hands. If he gave ne to the law,
| could give him to the Brotherhood. 1t
| was not that 1 wished to live for my
own sake, but it was that | desired
| to accomplish my purpose. He knew
that | would do what | 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 | should slip away by night
and come back no more. But in some
way yon have read our plaus.' She
tore from the bosom of her dress
small packet These are my last
Words said she. Here is the packet
which will save Alexis. conlde 1t 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 herr" cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room and had
wrenched II small vial from her hand.
TOO late. she said, sinking back OH
the bed TOO late. took the poison
before left my hiding place. My
head swims! L am going! charge
you, sir, to 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
I am not sure that we could ever have
reached our solution. 1t was clear to
me, from the strength of the glasses,
! 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 false
step remarked, as you may remem-
Der, that it was a noteworthy perform
ance In my mind set it down as an
impossible performance save In the I'M
likely case that she had 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 ii became clear that she might
| very easily have made such mistake.
| and In that case it was evident that
she must have entered the professors
| room. I was keenly OH the alert, there
fore, for whatever would bear out this
superstition, and l examined the room
narrowly for anything in the shape OF
hiding place. The carpet seemed con
tinuous and firmly nailed, SO dismiss
ed the idea Of a trapdoor There might
| we'll be recess behind the books. As
| you are aware, such devices are COM
mon in old libraries. observed that
books were piled on the floor at all
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
dun color, which lends itself very well
to examination | therefore smoked
great number of those excellent ciga-
rcttes, and I dropped the ash all over
the space in front OF the suspected
bookcase 1t was simple trick, but
exceedingly effective. then went
downstairs, and ascertained in your
presence, Watson, without your per-
ceiving the drift of my remarks, that
Professor Coram's consumption Of food
had increased-as one would expect
when he is supplying second person.
We then assembled to the room again,
when. by upsetting the cigarette box. l
obtained very excellent view Of the
| floor and was able to see quite clearly
from the traces upon the cigarette ash
that the prisoner had in our absence
come out from her retreat. Well, Hop.
kins. here we are Mt Charing Cross, and