The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-10-04

."W,NA Type1ed after .ssa. IS like some
fearful dream. I have a vision OF a dark.
frantic face, of a woman's voice, which
screamed in French. My waiting is not
in vain. At last, at last, I have found you
with herr There was a savage struggle.
[ saw him with a chair in his hand, a
knife cleaned in hers. 1 rushed from the
horrible scene. ran from the house, and
only next morning in the paper did l learn
the dreadful result. That night l was
happy, for I had my letter, and / had
not seen yet what the future would bring.
at was the next morning that l realized
that I had only exchanged one trouble for
mother My husbands anguish at the
loss OF his paper went to my heart. l
could hardly prevent myself from there
and then knecling down at his feet ana
telling him what L had done. But tina.
again would mean a confession of the
past. l came to you that morning in
order to understand the full enormitv OF
my offence. From the instant that |
graspcd it my whole IN nd was turned to
the one thought of get ing back my hus-
bands paper. II must still be where
Lucas had placed It, for it was concealed
before this dreadful woman entered the
room. 1t it had not been for her COM
! ing, 1 should not have known where his
/ AIAplIla DjdNS H. iloN NoS 4 W ~ 4iiNS
| the room? For two days l watched the
| place, but the door was never left open.
Last night l made a last attempt. What
| did and how / succeeded. you have al
ready learned. / brought the paper back
with nc. and thought of destroying it.
since l could see no way of returning t
without confessing my guilt to my hus-
band. Heavens, l hear his step upon the
START"
The European secretary burst eScitedly
into the room.
Any news, Mr.. Holmes, any news?" he
cried.
u have some hopes"
All, thank heavent' His face became
radiant. The prime minister is lunch
ing with me. May he share your hopes?
de has nerves OF steel, and yet l know
that he has hardly slept since this ter
rible event. Jacobs, Will you ask the
prime minister co come up? AS to you,
dear, / fear that this is q matter of poll
tics. We will join you in a few minutes
in the dinirgroom."
The primo minister's manner was SUBJ
dued, but I could see by the CLEAN of his
eyes and the twitch:ngs of his bony hands
that he shared the excitement Of his
young colleague.
II understand that you have something
to report, Mr.. Holiness"
Purely negative as yet my friend an
swercd. ~ have inquired at every point
where it might be, and I am sure that
there is no danger to be apprehended."
But that is not enough, Mr.. Holmes.
We can not live forever on such a vol
cano. We must a somthing definite.'
Il am in hopes of getting It.. That is
why l. am here. The moro ] think of the
matter the more convinced I am tha tho
letter has never left this house."
NH. Ho!mcs!'
ssJP - 1As1 a -.a,,1 .
public by now"
but why should anyone take it in or
der to keep it in this house?'
Il am not convinced that anyone did
take it,"
Then how could it leave the despatcl-
boX?"
II am not convinced that it ever did
leave tho despatch-boE."
Mr.. Holmes, this joking is very ILL
timed. You havc my assurance th9t 1t
left the box!
Have you examined the box since Tues
day moraing?"
no. 1t was not necessary"
You may conceivably lave overlooked
Impossible, I say"
Blu l am not convinced of it. 1 have
known such things to happen. l presume
there are other papers there. We'll, it
may have got mixed with them"
1T was on the top"
someone may have shaken the box and
displaced it."
NO, no. I had everything ont"
Surely it is easily decided, Hone" said
the premier. Let us have the despatch
box brought in
The secretary rang the bell.
Jacobs, bring down my despatch-box.
This is a ~farcical waste Of time, but still.
II nothing else VIII satisfy you, it shall
ta RI rr,N rINao,,1r. - ~ - .l
l have always had the key on my watch
chain. Here are the papers, you see. Let
ter from Lord Morrow, report from Sir
Hardy. memorandum from Bel
grade, note on the E~usso-Gcrman grain
taxes, letter from Madrid, note from Lord
Flowers Good heavens! What is this?
Lord Bcllinger. Lord Bcllinger!"
The premier snatclcd the blue cuye1opo
from his hand.
Yes, 1t is it-and the letter is intact.
Hope, I congratulate YOU"
THANK you! Thank you! What a
weight from my heart. But this is in
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Mr.. Holmes, you
are a wizard, a sorcerer! How did YOU
know it was there?"
Because I knew il was nowhere else"
II can not believe my eyes!" He ran
wildly to the door. Where is my wife?
I must tell her that all is wefi. Fiida:
Htlda!' we heard his voice on the stairs.
Inc premier looked at Holmes with
twinkling eyes.
Como, sir,'' said he. There is more
IN this than meets the eye. How came
the letter back in the box?
Holmes turned away smiling from the
keen scrutiny of those wonderful eyes.
w also have our diplomatic secrets"
said he and. picking up his hat. he turned
to the door.
TILE END.
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BOTH GENTLEMEN STAGGERED.