Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-30
what a stroke Of luck! Quick,
madam, bring it hereP'

II
with red, fiat box in her hand.
"How did you open it before? You
have duplicate key? Yes, of course
you have. Open it,"
From out of her bosom Lady Hilda
had drawn small key. The box flew
open. 1t was stuffed with papers.
Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep
down into the heart of them, between
the leaves of some other document.
The box was shut, locked and returned
to the bedroom.
"Now we are ready for him." said
Holmes. 1--WE have still ten minutes.
am going far to screen you, Lady
Hilda. In return you will spend the
time in telling me frankly the real
meaning of this extraordinary affair"
"Mr. Holmes, will tell you every
thing" cried the lady. ooh, Mr..
Holmes. would cut of my right hand
before I gave him moment Of sor-
rowl There Is no woman In all Lon
don who loves her husband as I do.
and yet If he knew how have acted
how have been compelled to act-he
would never forgive me, for his own
honor stands SO high that he could not
forget or pardon lapse in another.
Help me, Mr.. Holmes! My happiness,
his happiness, our very lives, are at
stalker
"Quick. madam; the time grows
shortv'
ut was letter Of mine, Mr.. Holmes,
1 nm lnHioC,>oof Jo%ka, rr,vJxtn,, 1,opar, 49,,
MARRIAGE foolish letter, letter Of
an impulslve, loving girl. meant no
harm, and yet he would have thought
1t criminal. Had he read that letter
his confidence would have been forever
destroyed. 1t is years since wrote
1t. had thought that the whole mat
ter was forgotten. Then at last /
heard from this man Lucas that it had
passed into his hands and that he
would lay it before my husband. 1
implored his mercy. He said that he
would return my letter If would bring
him certain document which he de-
scribed In my husbands dispatch box.
BE had some spy in the Office who had
told him Of its existence. He assured
me that no harm could come to my
husband. Put yourself in my posi-
ton. Mr.. Holmesl What was to dor"
"Take your husband into your conf
dence."
II could not, Mr.. Holmes, could
not! On the one side seemed certain
ruin; on the other, terrible as It SEEM
Cd, to take my husbands paper; stu In
matter Of politics could not un-
derstand the consequences, while In a
matter of love and trust they were on
" too clear to me. did it, Mr..
Holmes! took an impression Of his
key. This man Lucas furnished q
duplicate. I opened his dispatch box,
took the paper and conveyed 1t to
Godolphin street."
What happened there, MADAME
Il tapped at the door as agreed. Luz
cas- opened it. I followed him into his
room, leaving the hall door ajar behind
me, for feared to be alone with the
man. remember that there was a
woman outside as entered Our bust
ness was soon done. He had my let
ter on his desk. handed him the doc
uhent. He gave me the letter At this
instant there was q sound at the door.
There were steps In the passage. Lu-
/ cas- quickly tnrnad- hank tho StIugget,
| thrust the document into some hiding
place there and covered itsover.
What happened after that is like
some fearful dream. have vision Of
dark, frantic face, Of woman's
voice, which screamed In French: MY
| waiting is not in vain. At last, at last,
have found you with herr There was
savage struggle. I saw him with a
chair in his hand; knife cleaned in
hers. I rushed from the horrible scene,
ran from the house, and only next
morning III the paper did learn the
dreadful result. That night was
happy, for I had my letter. and 1 had
not seen yet what the future would
bring.
1T was the next morning that real
lied that l had only exchanged one
trouble for another. My husbands an
guish at the loss of hts paper went to
my heart. I could hardly prevent N.Y.
self from there and then kneeling down
at his feet and telling him what I had
done. But that again would mean a
confession Of the past came to you
that morning In order to Understand
the full enormiH Of my ofense. From
the instant that grasped it my whole
mind was turned to the one thought OF
getting back my husbands papeE. It
must still be where Lucas had placed
It for 1t was concealed before this
dreadful woman entered the room. II
1t had not been for her coming, !
should not have known where his hid
Ing place was. How was to get into
the room? For two days I watched the
place, but the door was never left
open. Last night made a dast attempt.
What did and how I succeeded you
have already learned. I brought the
paper back with me and thought Of de-
sroying 1t, since could see no way Of
returning 1t without confessing my
guilt to my husband. Heavens, hear
his step upon the statri"
The European secretary burst excit-
ediy into the room.
sAny news, Mr.. Holmes, .anysnews7''
he cried.
II have some hopes"
] "Ah, thank heavent'' H1st face be.
came radiant. 1.-THE prime minister Il
mnching with me. May he share your
hopes? He has nerves Of aksel, and yet
know that he has hardly slept since
this terrible event. Jacobs will you