Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-30

why SnOulu ne be miSSingfr asked
the European secretary. HE would
take the letter 10 an embassy in Lon
| don, as likely as not"
Il fancy not. These agents work in
dependently. and their relations with
the embassies are often strained"
The prime minister nodded his ac-
quiescence.
Il believe You are right. Mr.. Holmes
He would take so valuable a prize to
headquarters with his own hands. I
think that your course OF action is an
excellent one. Meanwhile. Hope. we
cannot neglect all our other duties on
account OF this one misfortune. Should
there be any fresh developments dur.
ing the day we shall communicate with
you, and you will no doubt let us
know the results Of your own in
quiries"
The two statesmen bowed and walk
ed gravely from the room.
When our illustrious visitors had de
parted Holmes lit his pipe in silence
and sat for some time lost in the deep
est thought. 1 was reading the morn
Ing paper when my friend gave an ex-
clamation, sprang 10 his feet and laid
bis pipe down upon the mantelplece.
Eyes" said he. "there is no better
way OF approaching IT, The situation
is desperate, but not hopeless. Even
now, If we could be sure which Of them
has taken it. il is just possible that il
has not yet passed out Of his hands.
After all. Il Is n question of money
coll
British treasury behind me- 1t is con
ceivable that the fellow might hold
it back to see what bids come from
this side before he tries his luck on
the other. There are only those three
capable Of playing so bold a game
there are Obcrstein, La Rothiere and
Eduardo Lucas. / Will see each of
them"
l glanced at my morning paper.
us that Eduardo Lucas of Godol-
phin street,"
Eyes"
You VIII not see him"
"Wby notT'
"He was murdered I'm his house last
night"
My friend has so often astonished me
in the course Of our adventures that il
was with a sense Of exultation that
realized how completely l had aston
ished him. He stared I'm amazement
and then snatched the paper from my
hands. This was the paragraph which
l had been engaged in reading when he
rose from his chair:
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.
A crime OF mysterious character was
committed last night at l6 Godolphin
street, one OF the old fashioned and Sc
cludcd rows OF eighteenth century houses
which lie between the river and the alb
hey. almost in the shadow OF the great
tower OF the houses OF parliament. This
small but select mansion has been inhabit-
Cd for some years by Mr.. Eduardo Lucas,
we'll known In society circles both on ac-
count OF his charming personality and be-
cause he has the well deserved reputation
OF being one OF the best amateur tenors
IN the country. Mr.. Lucas IS an unmar-
ried man thirty-four years Of age and
his establishment consists or Mrs. prin-
gle. an elderly housekeopcr. and OF Milton
his valet. The former rotires early and
sleeps at the top OF the house The valet
was out FOR the evening visiting n friend
at Hammcrsmith. From 10 o'clock onward
Mr.. Lucas had the house to himself
What occurred during that time has not
yet transpircd. but at a quarter 20 j
Police Constable Barrett passing along
Godolphin street, observed that the door
Of No. l6 was ajar. He knocked but re-
ceiVed no answer. q Percoiving n light in
the front room. he advanced into the pas
sage and again knocked. but without re-
ply. lie then pushed open the door and
entered. The room was in a state Of Wild
disorder, the furniture being all swept 10
one side and one chair lying on It's back
In the center. Beside this chair and stul
grasping one OF its legs lay the unfor-
tunate tenant OF the house He had been
stabbed 70 the heart and must have died
Instantly. The knife with which the crime
had been committed was a curved Indian
dagger, pluckcd down from a trophy OF
oriental arms which adorned one OF the
walls. Robbery does not appear TO have
been the motive Of the crime FOR there
had been no attempt TO remove the valu-
able contents or the room. Mr. Eduardo
Lucas was 50 well known and popular
that his violent and mysterious fate will
arouse painful interest and intense SYM
pathy In widespread circle OF friends.
"Well. Watson, what do YOU make OF
thisE' asked Holmes after long pause
1T is an amazing coincidence"
a coincidence! Here is one Of the
three men whom we had named as
possible actors In this drama. and he
meets violent death during the very
hours when we know that that drama
was being enacted. The odds are
enormous against its being coincidence.
No figures could express them. No.
my dear Watson, the two events we're
connected-must be connected. 1t Is
for us TO find the connection"
But now the official police must
know ALL"
Not at all. They know all they see
at Godolphin street They know-and
shall know-nothmg of Whitehall ter
race. Only we know both events and
can trace the relation between them.
There is one obvious point which
would in any case have turned my
suspicious toward Lucas. Godolphin
street, Westminster, Is only a few min
utes' walk from Whitehall terrace.
The other secret agents whom / have
named live in the extreme west end.
1t was easier. therefore. for Lucas than
for the others 10 establish a connection
or receive n message from the Euro
pean secretary's household "a small
thing, and yet it may prove essential.
Hello! What have we hereT'