Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-11-16

-----~E -@'r- - - go 49, G. i-4-
cigarette.
She had risen. but she fell back again
with g !!tte cry Of pain.
y must finish" she said. When ny
term was over l set myself to get the
Garv and letters which, If sent to the
Russian government. would procure
ny friends release. ! knew that my
husband had come 10 England. After
months Of searching l discovered where
he was. l knew that he still had the
diary, for when l was in Siberia | had
q letter from him once ~reproachiag me
4 quoting some passages from its
pages. Yet l was sure that, with his
r~evengeful nature, he would never give
it to Inc of his own free will. l must
get il for myself. With this object |
engaged an agent from a private de
tective firm. who entered my husbands
house as a secretary. 1t was you sec
ond secretary, Sergius-the one who
left you SO hurriedly. BE found that
papers We're kept in the cupboard, and
he got an impression of the key. He
would not go further. He furnished
NE 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 |
took my courage in both hands, and l
came down to get the papers for my
self. | succeeded. but at what a cost,
II had just taken the papers and
was locking the cupboard when the
young man seized me. l had G 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."
Exactly. Exactly" said Holmes.
1.-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 if in pain.
When he had fallen 1 rushed from the
room, chose the wrong door and found
myself in my husbands room. He
SR|N' ~ i'1lS LAC Ul. 1 Su IlIll
that If he did so his life was in nv
hands. If he gave me to the law, 1
could give him to the Brotherhood. 1t
was not that l wished to live for my
" sake, but it was that I desired
to accomplish my purpose. He knew
that l would do what l said-that his
" 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 a
small packet. These are my last
words" said she. Here is the packet
which will save Alexis. l confide it to
your honor and to your love Of justice.
Take it. You will deliver it at the
Russian embassy. Now, l have done
! 10Y duty. and
Stop her." cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room and had
Wrenched a small vial from her hand.
Too late" She said. sinking back on
the bed. TOO late. I took the poison
before l left my hiding place. My
head sW'ims. l am going. l 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
! pincc-ncZ. But for the fortunate chance
of the dying man having seized these
l 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 a false
step | remarked, as you may remcnl-
Der, that It was a noteworthy perform
ancc, In my mind l set it down as an
impossible performance save in the un-
likely case that she had a second pair
OF glasses. | was forced, therefore. to
seriously consider the hypothesis that
she had remained within the house. On
perceiving the similarity Of the two
corridors it became clear that she nigh
very easily have made such a mistake.
n in that case it was evident that
she must have entered the professors
room. | was Eeenly OF the alert, there
fore, for whatever would bear out this
suppositiOn, and | examined the room
narrowly for anything in the shape Of
a hiding place. The CARPET seemed con
tlnuouS and firmly nailed. 50 / dismiss
ed the idea Of a trapdoor. There might
well be q recess behind the books. AS
you are aware. such devices are ON.
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. | cOull acc no marks 10
guidc me, but the carp", was OF n
dun color. Which lends Itself very well
10 examination. therefore smoked II
great number Of those excellent cIon.
rctt"s, and I dropped the ash all over