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


ever dissuading US from such course.
These letters would have saved him.
So would my diary, in which from day
to day | had entered both my feelings
toward him and the view which each
of us had taken. My husband found
and kept both diary and letters He
hid them, and he tried hard to swear
away the young mans life In this he
failed, but Alexis was sent convict
to Siberia, where now at this moment
he works in salt mine Think of
that, you villain, you villain-now, now,
at this very moment, Alexis, man
whose name you are not worthy to
speak, works and lives like slave.
and yet l have your life in my hands,
and let you goE'
"You Were always noble woman,
Anna" said the old man, putting at his
cigarette.
She had risen, but she fell back again
with little cry Of pain.
Il must finfsh," she said. when my
term was over 1 set myself to get the
diary and letters which, If sent to the
Russian government, would procure
my friends release. l knew that my
husband had come to England. After
months of searching discovered where
he was. l knew that he still had the
diary, for when l was in Siberia had
a letter from him once reproaching me
and quoting some passages from its
pages. Yet 1 was sure that, with his
revengeful nature, he would never give
1t to me Of his own free will. I must
get it for myself. With this object
engaged an agent from private de-
tective firm, who entered my husbands
house as q 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 go 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 I
took my courage in both hands, and
came down to get the papers for my
self. succeeded, but at what costl
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 l had asked him to
tell me where Professor Coram lived,
not knowing that he was in his en-
ploy."
"Exactlyl ExactlyI' 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
a message that it was she-the she
whom he had just discussed with him."
"You must let me speak," said the
woman in an imperative voice, and
her face contracted as IL in pain.
when he had fallen 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. I
could give him to the Brotherhood. 1t
was not that 1 wished to live for my
own sake, but it was that I desired
to accomplish my purpose. He knew
that would do what / said-that bis
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 I 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 q
small packet. "These are my last
words" said she. Here is the packet
which will save Alexis. confide It to
your honor and to your love Of justice.
Take it! You will deliver 1t at the
Russian embassy. Now, have done
my duty, and"-
"Stop her!. cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room and had
wrenched small vial from her hand.
"Too later she said, sinking back on
the bed. "Too late! took the poison
before left my hiding place. My
head swims! am going! I charge
you, sir, to remember the packet"
"a simple case, and yet in some
ways an instructive one" Holmes re-
marked Us we travelled back to town
ut hinged from the outset upon the
pince-nez. But for the fortunate chance
of the dying man having seized these
q no hot on,,1a k1oE We
reached our solution. 1t was clear t.
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 narrow strip
of grass without once making false
step l remarked, as you may remem
Der, that it was noteworthy perform
ance. In my mind set it down as ar
impossible performance save in the un
likely case that she had second pail
Of glasses. I was forced, therefore, t.
seriously consider the hypothesis tina,
she had remained within the house. Or
perceiving the similarity Of the two
corridors it became clear that she nigh
very easily have made such a mistake
and in that case it was evident thai
she must have entered the professors
room. was keenly on the alert, there
fore, for whatever would bear out thi!
supposition, and examined the room
narrowly for anything in the shape O.
hiding place. The carpet seemed con
tinuous and firmly nailed so dismiss
ed the idea of trapdoor. There nigh
we'll be recess behind the books. Al
you are aware, such devices are com
mon in old Libraries. / observed tina
books were piled on the floor at al
othar ,,oi,<e I,,1& +I,o% nnay.ono