The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-21

"Your ladyship places me in very
delicate position. l beg that you will
sit down and tell me what you desire,
but fear that cannot make any I'M
conditional promise"
She swept across the room and seated
herself with her back to the window.
1t was queenly presence-tall, grace
full and intensely womanly.
MIR Holiness" she said, and her
white gloved hands clasped and I'M
clasped as she spoke. II will speak
frankly to you in the hopes that it may
induce you to speak frankly in return.
There is complete confidence between
my husband and me on all matters
save one. That one is politics. On this
his lips are sealed. He tells me moth
Ing. Now, I am aware that there was
most deplorable occurrence in our
house last night. know that paper
has disappeared. But because the mat
ter is political my husband refuses to
take me into bis complete confidence.
Now it is essential-e essential, say
that should thoroughly understand it.
You are the only other person, save
only these politicians, who knows the
true facts. beg you then, Mr.. Holmes,
to tell exactly what has happened and
what it will lead to. Tell me all, Mr..
Holmes. Let no regard for your
clients interests keep you silent, for
assure you that his interests, If he
would only see 1t, would be best served
by taking me into his complete con-
fidence. What was this paper which
was stolen?"
Madam, what you ask me is really
impossible"
She groaned and sank her face in her
hands.
you must see that this is so, mad
am. If your husband thinks At to
keep you in the dark over this matter,
is it for me, who have only learned the
true facts under the pledge of profess
sionel secrecy, to tell what he has
withheld? 1t is not fair to ask it. 1t
Is him whom you must ask"
II have asked him. come to you
as last resource. But without your
telling me anything definite, Mr..
Holmes, you may do great service
II you would enlighten me on one
point"
What is 1t, MADAME"
SIS my husbands political career
likely to suffer. through this incident?
well, madam, unless it Is set right
it may certainly have very unfortu-
nate effect
"Ahw She drew In her breath sharp.
~, as one whose doubts are resolved.
"One more question, Mr.. Holmes.
From an expression which my hus-
band dropped in the first shock of
this disaster understood that terrible
public consequences might arise from
the loss of this document"
III he said SO certainly cannot deny
it,
"Of what nature are they?"
NAY, madam; there again you ask
me more than can possibly answer
'sThen will take up no more of your
time. cannot blame you, Mr.. Holmes,
for having refused to speak more free
ly, and you on your side will not, I
am sure, think the worse Of me be-
cause desire, even against his will,
to share my husbands anxieties. Once
more beg that you will say nothing
Of my visit"
1 She looked back at US from the door,
and | had last impression Of that
beautiful, haunted face, the startled
eyes and the drawn mouth. Then she
was gone.
Nov, Watson, the fair sex is your
department, said Holmes, with a
smile, when the dwindling froufrou of
skirts had ended in the slam Of the
| front door. What was the fair lady's
game? What did she really want?"
Surely her own statement is clear
and her anxiety very natural"
Hum! Think of her appearance,
Watson-her manner, her suppressed
excitement, her restlessness, her tenac-
lily III asking questions. Remember that
she comes of caste who do not lightly
J show emotion"
She was certainly much moved"
Remember also the curious earnest
ness with which she assured us that II
was best for her husband that she
} should know all. What did she mean
by that? And you must have observed,
Watson, how she unanswered to have
the light at her back. She did not wish
us to read her expression"
Yes. she chose the one chair in the
ROOM"
"And yet the motives Of women are
SO inscrutable. You remember the wo.
man at Margate whom l suspected for
, the same reason. No powder on her
nose-that proved to be the correct 50.
, luton. How can you build on such 8
, quicksand? Their most trivial action
may mean volumes, or their most ex.
traordinary conduct may depend upon
hairpin or curling tongs. Good
morning, Watson"
you are Off"
Yes, will while away the morning
at Godolphin street with our friends OF
| <hA