The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28

1ore my husband i implored his
mercy He said that he would return
my letter II 1 would bring him a GER
tain document which he described IN
my husbands dispatch box He had
some spy in the ofice who had told him
OF its existence He assured me that no
harm could come TO my husband Put
yourself in my position. Mr.. Holmes.
What was / TO do?"
Take your husband into your con-
fdence''
Il could not, Mr.. Holmes, could not!
On the one side seemed certain ruin. on
the other, terrible as il seemed to take
my husbands paper. still in a matter
or politics I could not understand the
consequences. while in matter of love
and trust ley were only too clear 10 me-
i did it, Mr.. Holmes. I took an i'm
preston OF the key. This man. Lucas.
furnished a duplicate I opened his
dispatch box. took the paper. and con-
veyed IL to GodoIphin street"
What happened there. madam
Il tapped at the door a. agreed.
Lucas opened II. followed him into
his room. leaving the hall door aJar
behind me. for I feared to be alone
was woman outside as entered Our
business was soon done He had my
letter on his desk. I handed him the
document He gave me the letter. At
this instant there was q sound at the
door. There were steps IN the passage
Lucas quickly turned back the drugget.
thrust the document into some hiding
place there and covered IL over.
What happened after that IS Ike
some fearful dream I have vision
OF dark. frantic face. OF a woman ;
voice, which screamed IN French, Ny
waiting IS not IN vain. At last. at last
/ have found you with her! There was
savage struggle. / saw him with a
chair IN his hand, a knife CLEANED In
hers. I rushed from the horrible scene,
ran from the house. and only next
morning in the paper didaI learn the
dreadful result That n-xhf was
happy. for I had my letter, and I had
not seen yet what the future would
bring.
1T was the next morning that I real
lied that I had only exchanged one
trouble for another. My husbands
I anguish at the loss OF his paper went
to my heart I could hardly prevent
myself from then and there kneeling
down at his feet and telling him
what had done. But that again
would mean a confession OF the past. I
came to you that morning in order 20
understand the full enormity OF my Of
fense. From the instant that grasped
II my whole mind was turned to the
one thought OF getting back my hus-
bands paper. II must still be where
I Lucas had placed IL. for II was con-
cealed before this dreadful woman en-
tered the room II il had not been FOR
her coming I should not have known
where his hiding place was How wa :
10 get into the room? For two DAYS I
watched the place, but the door was
never left open Last night I made a
last attempt What I did and how 7
succeeded. you have already learned. !
brought the paper back with me and
tnougnt OF destroying 1t. since I could
see no way OF returning itNwithout con-
Tossing my guilt TO my husband. Heav-
ems. hear his step upon the stair.''
The European secretary burst excitedIv
into the room
Amy news. Mr.. Holmes. any news2''
he cried
Il have some hopes"
All. thank heavenr' His face became
radiant The Prime Minister IS Iunchtns
with me- May he share your hopes2 He
has nerves Of steel. and yet know thai
he has hardly slept since this terribI.
event Jacobs. will you ask the Prim.
Minister to come up? As TO you. dear.
fear that this Is matter OF politics. We
will join you In few minutes IN the
dining-room."
dued. but I could see by the gEeam OF
his eyes and the twIlchings OF his bony
hands that he shared the excitement OF
his young colleague.
II understand that you have something
TO report. Mr.. Holmes"
Purely negative as yet." my friend
answered II have inquired NJ avery
point where Il might be. and am sure
that there is no danger to be appre-
. hended''
But that IS not enough. Mr.. Holmes
sSWe cannot live forever on such q vol
%cano. We must have something definite. /"
3 II am In hopes OF getting IT. That 1.
Zmatter the more convinced i am that the
Zletter has never left this house"
q Mr.. Holiness
3 III it had 1t would certainly have been
&public by now
& But why should any one take Il In or
Xder to keep it IN this house?"
g II am not convinced that any ons did
Ztake it."
6 Then how could Il. leave ths dispatch
q ...Doxg"
II am not convinced that It ever dic
leave the dispatch box
Mr.. Holmes. this joking IN very III
timed. You have my assurance that 4,
left the box"
Have you examined the box since
Tuesday morning?"
mo. It was not necessary"
Ait"
Impossible, say"
But am not convinced OF T. have
. known such things to happen I presume
there are other papers there Well 4,
I may have got mixed with them"
1T was on the top"
Some one may have shaken thu boz
and displaced it-''
NO. no, had everything out"
Surely II Is easily decided. Hope" said
the Premier. Let Us have the dispatch
box brought In
The secretary rang the bell
u Jacobs. bring down my dispatch box
This Is a farctcal waste Of time but still
IL nothing else win satisfy you Il shall
be done. Thank you. Jacobs. put It here
have always had the key on my watch
chain Here are papers, you see Letter
( from Lord Morrow. report from Sh
! Z Charles Hardy. memorandum from Bel
grade. note on the Russo-Garman grair
taxes. letter from Madrid. note from
Lord F1owers-Good heavensi what Il
this? Lord Bellinger. Lord Bellingerrs
The Premier snatchcd the blue envelop,
from his hand
Yes IL fs ft-and fha leffer fw sr+,