The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-07

X6N his ItSDiullbii o. nine
was not due to any lack of
material, since I have notes
of many hundreds of cases
to which | have never alluded. nor
was 1t caused by any waning interest
on the part of my readers in the sin
gular personality and unique methods
of this remarkable man. The real
reason lay in the reluctance which Mr.
Holmes has shown to the continued
publication of his experiences So
long as he was in actual professional
practice the records of his successes
were of some practical value to him,
but since he has definitely retired from
London and betaken himself to study
and bee-farming on the Sussex Downs,
notoriety has become hateful to him,
and he has peremptorily requested
that his wishes in this matter should
be strictly observed. II was only upon
my representing to him that | had
given a promise that THE Adventure
of the Second Stain" SHOULD be pub
lished when the times We're ripe and
pointing out to him that 1t is only
appropriate that this long series of
episodes should eliminate in the most
important International case which
he has ever been called upon to han
die that | at last succeeded in obtain
ing his consent that a carefully guard
ed account of the incident should at
last be laid before the public. II in
telling the story / seem to be some
what vague In certain details, the pub
lie will readily understand that there
is an excellent reason for my reticence.
1t was, then, in a year, and even tn
a decade, that shall be nameless, that
upon one Tuesday morning in autumn
we found two visitors Of European
fame within the walls of our humble
room in Baker street. The one, aus
tere, hghsnosed, eagle-eyed, and dom
inant was none other than the Illus
trious Lord Bellinger. twice Premier
of Britain The other, dark, clear
cut, and elegant, hardly yet of middle
age. and endowed with every beauty
of body and of mind. was the Right
Honorable Treawney Hope, Seere-
tary for European Affairs. and the
NEST rising statesman in the country.
They sat side by side upon our paper
Uttered settee and it was easy to see
from their worn and anxious faces
that ii was business of the most press
ing Importance which had brought
them. The Premier's thin, blue-veined
hands were clasped tightly over the
ivory head of. his umbrella, and his
gaunt aseete face looked gloomily
from Holmes TO me. The European
Secretary pulled nervously at his
moustache and fidgeted with the seals
of his watch-chain.
when | discovered my loss Mr..
Holmes, which was at eight o'clock
this morning | at once Informed the
Prime Minister 1t was at mis- sugges-
ton that we have both come to you"
Have you informed the police?''
mo sir" said the Prime Minister,
with. the quick, decisive manner for
which he was famous. I'VE have not
done so. nor Is it possible that we
should do so. To inform the police
must in the long run, mean to in
form the public This is what we par
ticularly desire to avoid"
And why sir2'
Because the document in question
is of such immense importance that
its publication might very easily
might almost say probaby-lead to
European complications of the ut
most moment 1t is not too much to
say that peace or war may hang upon
the issue. Unless It's recovery can be
attended with the utmost secrecy,
then 1t may as well not be recovered
at all for all that is aimed at by those
who have taken 1t is that it's contents
should be generally known
Il understand, Now, Mr.. Trelawney
Hope. / should be much obliged If you
would tell me exactly the cireum-
stances under which this document
disappeared
THAT can be done in a very few
words. Mr. Holmes. The letter-for 1t
was a letter from a foreign potentate
was received six days ago. 1t was
of such Importance that | have never
left it In my safe, but | have taken it
~, in
Whitehall Terrace, and kept IL in my
bedroom in a locked despatch box. 1t
was there last night. OF that | am
certain. | actually opened The box
while | was dressing for dinner and
saw the document inside This morn
ing 1t was gone. The despatch-boX
had stood beside the glass upon my
dressing table all night. / am light
sleeper, and SO is my wife. We are
both prepared to swear that no one
could have entered the room during
the night. And yet / repeat that the
paper is gone
What time did you dine?'
'Half-past seven
How long was it before you went
to bed?"
my wife had gone to the theatre.
| waited for her. 1t was half-past
eleven before We went to our room.
Then for four hours the despatch
box had lain unguarded?'
NO one is ever permitted to enter
that room save the housemaid In the
morning. and my valet, or my wife's
maid during the rest of the day.
They are both trusty servants who
have been with us for some time.
Besides. neither of them could possi-
bly, have known that there was any
thing more valuable than the ordinary
departmental papers in my despatch
box"
who did know of the existence Of
that letter?P
mo one in the house.
surely your wife knew"
mo, sir. | had said nothing to my
wife until l missed the paper this
morning"
The Premier nodded approvingly.
II have long known, sir. how high
is your sense of public duty" said he.
Il am convinced that in a case of
a secret of this Importance it would
rise superior to the most intimate
domestic ties.
The European Secretary bowed.
You do me no more than justice,
sir. Until this morning | have never
breathed one word to my wife upon
this matter
Gould she have guessed?"
mo, Mr.. Holmes, she could not have
guessed-nor could anyone have
guessed"
'Iiave you lost any documents be-
fore?"
NO sir"
WHO is there In England who did
know of the existence of this letter.
Each member of the Cabinet was
informed of 1t yesterday. but the
pledge Of secrecy which attends every
Cabinet meeting was increased by
the solemn warning which was given
by the Prime Minister. Good heaN-
ems. TO think that within a few hours
l shnnld myself haNa lost il Lis