Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15

features. Now, with an effort, he shrugged
his shoulders and burst into insincere
laughter.
"All very fine, Mr.. Holmes" said he.
But there is one little flaw in your splent
did theory. l was myself in my room, and
| never left 1t during the day"
i am aware Of that. Professor Coram."
And you mean to say that 1 could lie
upon that bed and not be aware that
woman had entered my room?"
I never said so. You were aware of it.
You spoke with her. You recognized her.
You aided her to escape.
Again the professor burst into high-keyed
laughter. He had risen to his feet and his
eyes glowed like embers.
You are madi' he cried. You are talk
Ing insanely. I helped her to escape?
Where is she now?'
'She is there" said Holmes, and he
pointed to a high bookcase in the corner
of the room.
I saw the old man throw up his arms. a
terrible CONFUSION passed over his grim
face, and he fell back in his chair. At the
same instant the bookcase at which Holmes
pointed swung round upon a hinge and q
| woman rushed out into the room. You
are right" she cried. in a strange. foreign
voice. You are right! 1 am here"
She was brown with the dust, and draped
with the cobwebs which had from
the walls of her hiding place. Her face,
too, was streaked with CRIME, and at the
best she could never have been handsome.
for she had the exact physical character
istics which Holmes had OWNED, with, in
addition, long and obstinate chin. What
with her natural blindness, and what with
the change from dark to light, she stood
as one dazed blinking about her to see
where and who we were. And yet, in spite
OF all these disadvantages, there was GER
tain nobility in the woman's bearing-a
gallantry in the defiant chin and in the up
raised head, which compelled something OF
respect and admiration.
Stanley Hopkins laid his hand upon her
arm and claimed her as his prisoner, but
oh we'd
an overmastering dignity which compelled
obedience.
The old man lay back In his chair with
a twitching face, and stared at her with
brooddng eyes.
Eyes, sir, 1 am your prisoner" she said.
From where l stood 1 could hear every
thing, and 1 know that you have learned
the truth I confess 1t all. 1t was who
killed the young man. But you are right
you who say 1t was an accident. I did not
even know that 1t was knife which
snatched anything from the table and
struck at him to make him let me go. It
Is the truth that tell
Madam" said Holmes, ct am sure that
from WELL
She had turned dreadful color, the more
CHASTITY under the dark dust streaks upon
her face. She seated herself on the side of
the bed; then she resumed.
Il have only little time here" she said.
but I would have you to know the whole
truth. 1 am this mans wife. He is not an
Engiishman... He is Russian His name
I will not tell
For the first time the old man stirred.
God bless you, ANNA! he cried GOD
bless your
She cast look of the deepest disdain In
his direction. "Why should you cling So
hard to that wretched life of yours, Ser
giusg' said she. ut has done harm to
many, and good to none-not even to your
SELF However, it is not for me to cause
the frail thread to be snapped before Gods
time. / have enough already upon my soul
since crossed the threshold of this cursed
house. But ] must speak or l shall be
too late
az have said. gentleman. that am this
mans wife, He was fifty and 1 a foolish
girl of twenty when we married. 1t was
in city of Russia, university will not
name the place..
God bless you, Annar' murmured the
old man again.
I'VE were Observation-Disclosures
lists, you understand. He and 1 and many
more. Then there came time of trouble,
police officer was killed, many were ar