The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-08-11
She darted to the bell.

you VIII WOrk WltQ me L can arrange
everything. If you work against me l
must expose you"
She stood grandly defiant a queenly
figure, her eyes fixed upon his as If
she would read his very soul. Her
hand was on the bell, but she had for
borne to ring it.
You are trying to brighten me. 1t
is not very manly thing, Mr. Holmes,
to come here and browbeat woman
You say that you know something
What is it that you know"
Pray sit down. madam. You will
hurt yourself there if you fall. | will
not speak until you sit down. Thank
you"
81 give you five minutes, Mr..
Holmes"
zone is enough, Lady Hilda. know
OF your visit to Eduardo Lucas. of
/ your giving him this document. of your
ingenious return to the room last night
and of the manner in which you took
the letter from the hiding place under
the carpet
She stared at him with an ashen face
and gulped twice before she could
speak.
You are mad, Mr. Holmes-you are
mad"' she cried at last
He drew small piece of cardboard
from his pocket. 1t was the face Of a
woman cut out of portrait
Il have carried this because
thought it might be useful" said he.
1.-THE policeman has recognized it."
She gave a gasp and her head drop
ped back in the chair.
Come, Lady Hilda. You have the
! letter. The matter may still be adj
! justed. l have no desire to bring trou-
Bile to you. My duty ends when l have
returned the lost letter to your hus-
band. Take my advice and be frank
with me. 1t is your only chance"
Her courage was admirable. Even
now she would not own defeat
Il tell you again, Mr.. Holmes, that
you are under some absurd illusion"
Holmes rose from his chair.
81 am sorry for you, Lady EIilda. l
have done my best for you. l can see
that it is all in vain"
He rang the bell. The butler entered.
rs Mr. Trelawney Hope at homer
"He will be home, sir, at quarter
to l.
Holmes glanced at his watch.
Still quarter of an hour" said he.
VERY good l shall wait"
The butler had hardly closed the door
behind him when Lady Hilda was
down on her knees at Holmes feet,
her hands Outstretched, her beautiful
face upturned and wet with her tears.
'Oh. spare me. Mr. Holmes! Spare
me!' she pleaded in a frenzy of sup
plication. For heavens sake. don't
tell him. l love him so. | would not
bring one shadow on his life, and this
I know would break his noble heart"
Holmes raised the lady. Il am
thankful madam, that you have come
TO your senses even at this last mo-
ment! There is not an instant to lose.
Where is the letter."
She darted across to a writing desk,
unlocked it and drew out long blue
envelope
Here it is, Mr.. Holmes. Would to
heaven | had never seen it,"
How can we return it," Holmes
muttered. "Quick, quick, we must
think of some way! Where is the
dispatch box"
"Still in his bedroom"
What a stroke of luck! Quick,
madam, bring it here"
A moment later she had appeared
with red, fiat box in her hand.
How did you open it before? You
hav" a duplicate key? Yes, of course
you have. Open it,"
From out of her bosom Lady Hilda
had drawn a small key. The box flew
open 1t was stuffed with papers.
Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep
the leaves of some other document.
The box was shut, locked and returned
to the bedroom
Now we are ready for him." said
Holmes. 1--WE have still ten minutes
| am going far to screen you, Lady
Hilda. In return you will spend the
time in telling me frankly the real
meaning of this extraordinary affair.
"Mr. Holmes, | will tell you every
thing" cried the lady. "Oh, Mr.
Holmes, | would cut off my right hand
before l gave him moment of sor-
;s, in oil L ON.
don who loves her husband as l do,
and yet if he knew how have acted
how | have been compelled to act-he
would never forgive me, for his own
honor stands so high that he could not
forget or pardon lapse in another
Help me, Mr.. Holmes! My happiness
his happiness, our very lives, are at
stalker
"Quick, madam; the time grows
short"
1T was letter of mine, Mr.. Holmes,
an indiscreet letter written before my
marriage-a foolish letter, letter of
an impulsive, loving girl. l meant nc
harm, and yet he would have thought
it criminal. Had he read that letter
his confidence would have been forever
destroyed. 1t is years since | wrote
it. had thought that the whole mat,
ter was forgotten. Then at last
heard from this man Lucas that it had
passed into his hands and that he
would lay it before my husband.
implored his mercy. He said that be
would return my letter If l would bring
him n certain document which he de.