Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-04

thing, and Yet it may prove essential.
Hello, What have We here:"
Mrs. Hudson had appeared with Il
lady's caro- upon her salver. Holmes
glanced at it. raised his eyebrows and
handed it over to me.
Ask Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope If
she will be kind enough to step up,"
said he.
A n later our modest apart
ment, already so distinguished that
morning. was further honored by the
entrance of the most lovely woman in
London. l had often heard Of the
beauty Of the youngest daughter Of the
Duke of Bellninster. but no description
of it had prepared me for the sub
tie, delicate charm and the beauti-
fuf coloring Of that exquisite head. And
yet as we saw it that autumn morning
it was not its beauty which would be
the first thing to impress the observer.
h cheek vas lovely, but it was paled
with emotion; the eyes were bright, but
it was the brightness of fever; the SEN
s1tive mouth was tight and drawn in.
an effort after self command. Terror
not beauty-was what sprang first to
the eye.
"Has my husband been here, Mr..
HolmeST'
Eyes. madam, he has been here"
MIR. Holmes, I implore you not to
tell him that l came here" Holmes
bowed and motioned her to a chair.
Your ladyship places me in a very
delicate position. l beg hat you will
sit down and tell me what You desire.
but l fear that l cannot make any un-
conditional promise"
She swept across the room and seated
herself with her back to the window.
1t was a queenly p~resence-tall. grace
full and intensely womanly.
MI Holiness she said. and her
white gloved hands clasped and IN
clasped as she spoke. Il 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 n is politics. On this
his lips are sealed. He tells me moth
AAS. -No"- L GILL tlldl llltlc DIS
a most d%eplorable occurrence in our
house last night. l know that a D
has disappeared. But because the mat
ter is political my husband refuses to
take me into his complete confidence.
Now it is essential-eSsential. | say
that l should thoroughly understand it..
You are the only other person, save
only these politicians, who knows the
true facts. l 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 l
assure you that his interests. if he
would only see it, would be best served
by taking me into his complete con-
hdence. What was this paper which
was s%tolen:"
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 fit to
keep you in the dark over his 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 1t. 1t
is him whom you must ask"
II have asked him. l come to YOU
as a last But without your
telling me anything definite. Mr..
Holmes, You may do a great service
If you would enligbten me on one
point"
What is ii. MADAME"
as my husbands political career
likely to suffer through this incident?"
We'll, madam, unless it is set right
1t may certainly have a very unfortu-
nate effect"
"Ah" She drew in her breath sharp
ly, as one whose doubts are resolved.
Zone more question, Mr.. Holmes.
From an expression which my hrs-
band dropped in the first shock of
this disaster l understood that terrible
public consequences might arise from
the loss of this document"
IF he said so / certainly cannot deny
it."
vi what nature are they?"
Nay, madam; there again you ask
me more thar / can possibly answer
Then viii take up no more Of your
time. | cannot blame you, MI. Holmes,
for having refused to speak more free.
~, and you on your side will not, |
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
She locked back at US from the door
ana | had a 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 q
smile, when the d%windling 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