Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-09-21
BY A. CONAN Y
Copyright. l9os.
by Mcclure. Phillips q Co.

breathed n word TO my wire upon
this matter"
Gould she have guessed"
mo. Mr.. Holmes, she could not have
guessed-nor could anyone have guess
ed"
Have you lost any documents be-
fo-e?''
mo. sir
who is there in England who did
know Of the existence OF this letter."
Each member Of the cabinet
was informed of it yesterday.
but the pledge of secrecy which attends
every cabinet meeting was increased
by the solemn warning which was Civ
en- by the prime minister. Good heav-
ems, to think hat within a few hours
/ should myself have lost it," His
handsome. face was distorted with a
spasm Of despair, and his hands tore at
his hair. For q ome we caught a
glampse Of the natural man, impul-
sive, ardent, keenly sensitive. The next
the aristocratic mask was replaced, and
the gentle voice had returned. Be
sizes the members.of the cabinet there
are two, on possibly three, departmental
officials who know of the letter. No
one else in England, Mr.. Holmes, as
sure you"
Blu abroad?"
81 believe that no one abroad has
seen it save the man who wrote it.
am we'll convinced hat his ministers
that the usual official channels have
not been employed"
Holmes considered for some little
time.
Nov, sir. I must ask you more par
ticularly what this document is, and
why it's disappearance should have
such momentous consequences"
EShe two statesmen exchanged a
quick glance, and the premier's shaggy
eyebrows gathered in a frown.
"Mr. Holmes, the envelope is a long,
thin one of pale blue color. There is a
seal of red wax stamped with a crouch
ing lion. 1t is addressed in large, bold
handwriting to-"
Il fear, sir" said Holmes, that in
teresting and indeed essential as these
details are, my inquiries must go more
to the root of things. What was the
letter."
THAT is a state secret of the utmost
Importance, and l fear that | cannot
tell you, nor do l see that it is neces-
sary. If by the aid of the powers
which you are said TO possess you can
find such an envelope as / describe
with its Enclosure o will ave de-
served we'll of your country, and earned
a reward which it lies in our power TO
bestow."
Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile.
You are two of the most busy men
in the country" said he. and in my
own small way I have also a good
many calls upon me. | regret exceed
ingly that l cannot help you in this
matter, and any continuation of this
interview would be a waste of time"
The premier sprang to his feet with
that quick, fierce CLEAN of his deep set
eyes before which a cabinet has cow
cred. Il am not accustomed, sir" he
began, but mastered his anger and re-
sumed his seat. For a minute or more
we all sat in silence. Then the old
statesman shrugged his shoulders.
W must accept you terms, Mr..
Holmes. No doubt you are right, and
it is unreasonable for us to expect you
to act unless we give you our entire
confidence"
Il agree with you," said the younger
statesman.
Then I will tell you, relying entirely
upon your honor and that of your COL
your patriotism also, for l could not
imagine a greater misfortune for the
country h that this affair should
come out"
your honor and that of your colleague,
DR.. Watson, l may appeal to your pat
riotism also, for l could not imagine
a greater misfortune for the country
than that this affair should come
out"
you may safely trust u.s.
The letter, then, is from a certain
foreign p~otentate who has been rufIied
by some recent colonial developments
of this country. 1t has been written
hurriedly and upon his Owl RESPONSE
bility entirely. Inquiries nave shown that
his ministers know nothing of the mat
ter. At the same TIM II is couched in
so unfortunate a manner, and certain
phrases in 1t are Of so provocative a
character, that its publication would
undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous
state Of feeling in this country. There
would be UGH a ferment, sir, that / do
not hesitate to say that within a week
of the publication of that letter this
country would be involved in a great
war"
Holmes wrote name upon a slip of
paper and handed it to the premier.
Exactly. 1t was he. And it is his
letter-this letter which may well mean
the expenditure of a thousand millions
n the lives of a hundred thousand
men-which has become lost in this
u~naccountable fashion"
Have you informed the sender?"
Yes, sir, a cipher telegram has been
dispatched"
Perhaps he desires the publication
of the letter."
mo, sir, we have strong reason to
believe that he already Understands
that has has acted in ar indiscreet and
hot headed manne 1t would be a
greater blow to him and to his coun-
try than to US if this letter were to
come out"
IF this is so, whose interest is it that
the letter should come out? WHY
should anyone desire to steal 1t or to
publish it2"
There, Mr.. Holmes, you take me into
regions of high international politics.
But If you consider the European stu
alton you will have no difficulty In per-
ceiving the motive. The whole of Eu-
rope is an armed camp. There Is a
double league which makes a fair bal
ance of military power. Great Brit
ain holds the scales. If Britain were
driven into war with one c~onfederacy
1t would assure the supremacy of the
other confederacy, whether they Joined
In the war or not. Do you follow"
Very clearly. 1t is her the interest
OF the enemies of this potentate to Sc
cure and publish this letter, so as to
make a breach between his country
and ours?"
Yes. sir"
And to whom would this document
be sent IL 1t fell into the hands of an
enemy"
TO any of the great chancellories of
Europe. II is probably speeding on its
way thither at the present instant as
fast as steam can take it,"
Mr.. Trelawney Hope dropped his
4 hAnd an hts ,l~A. 49, -