The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-22

IKE Grange to be the last
Ns1s Of those expNits OF my
ENm1gSAV friend Mr. Sherlock
t9Y YeS%h Holmes, which l should
ever communicate to the
public This resolution of mine was
not due to any lack OF material, since
/ have notes OF many hundreds of cases
tc which l have never alluded. nor was
il caused by any waning interest on
the part Of my readers in the singular
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 rec
ords of his successes were of some
practical value TO him, but since he has
definitely retired from London and be-
taken himself to study and bee farm
ing on the Sussex downs notoriety has
become hateful to him, and he has per-
emptorily 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 published when the times
were ripe and pointing out to him that
il 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
handle that / at last succeeded in OBJ
tanning his consent that a carefully
guarded account of the incident should
at last he laid before the public.
1t was, then, in year, even in dec
ade that shall benameless, 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, austere, high nosed,
eagle eyed and dominsnt, was none 9th
er than the illustrious Lord Belliuger,
twice premier Of Britain. The other,
dark, clean cut and elegant, hardly yet
Of middle age and endowed with ev-
cry beauty OF body and of mind, was
the Right Hon. Trelawney Hope, sec
retary for European affairs and the
most rising statesman in the country,
They sat side by side upon our paper
Uttered settee, and 1t was easy TO sec
from their worn and anxious faces that
il was business of the most pressing
Importance which had brought them
The premier's thin blue Velned hands
veze clesped tightly over the ivory
head OF his umbrella, and his gaunt
ascetic face looked gi0omily from
Holmes to me. The European secre
tary pulled nervously at his mustache
and fidgeted with the seals Of bis
watch chain.
when | discovered my loss, Mr.
Holmes, which was at o'clock this
morning. az once informed the prime
minister. II was at his suggestion tina
we have both come to you"
"Haye you Informed the policeT
'No. sir" said the prime minister
with the quick, decisive manner To-
which he was famous. I'VE have no
done so, nor is It possible that w
should do so. To inform the polio,
must, in the long run. mean TO inform
the public. This is what we particular
ly desire TO avoid"
"And why. sirT
Because the document in question
Is OF such immense Importance that II
publication might very easiIy-I Nigh
almost say probably-lead TO European
complications OF the utmost moment
Ii is not too much TO say that peace o
war may hang upon the issue. Unles
its recovery can be attended with tn
utmost secrecy then il may as well no
be recovered at all. for all that is ain
ed at by those who have taken II /
that its contents should be genernll
known"
II understand. Now, Mr.. TreIawne
Hope, / should be much obliged II yo
would tell me exactly the circun
stances under which this cocumer
disappeared"
"That can be done in a very fe'
words. Mr. Holmes. The letter-for
was a letter from foreign potentate-
was received six days ago. II was {
such Importance that have never lei
II in my safe, but I have taken
across each evening TO my house
Whitehall terrace and kept it IN N
bedroom in a locked dispatch box.
was there last night or that l a.
certain. I actually opened the be
while / was dressing for dinner an
saw he document inside. This NOR
ing Il was gone. The dispatch box hs
stood beside the glass upon my dres
ing table all night / am light slee
er. and so is my wife. We are bot
prepared 10 swear that no 0ne cou
have entered the room during Il
night and yet l repeat that the pap
Is gone"
"What time did you diner
"Half past z"
How long was 1t before you wei
20 bedY'
my wife had gone to the theater.
waited up for her. II was half past
before we went 20 our room"
s'Then for four hours the dispat'
box had lain unguardedT'
mo one Il ever permitted 10 ent
that room save the h0usemaid in Il
morning and my valet or my wife
maid during ne rest OF the day. TIT
are both trusty servants and have be-
with as for some time. Besides, Meth
OF them could possibly have know
that there was anything more volu
bic than the ordinary department
papers In my dispatch box"
.'afho did know OF the existence
that IetterF"
mo one IN the house"
"Surely your wife knewT
NO. SIR / had said nothing 70 0
wife until / missed the paper Il