Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-30
The Adventure of
the Second Stain
No. Is of the Series

SAAN 0NNO41N 0S0Xxk
No. l3 of the Series
Copyright 1905, BY II. Conan Doyle, Coliers Wsekl
ond Mcclure. Phillip q Co..
Very good" said Holmes. "Come
Watson, think that we have more i'm,
portant work elsewhere"
As we left the house Lestrade re.
NAMED in the front room, while the re-
pentant constable opened the door tc
let us out. Holmes turned on the step
and held up something In his hand. The
constable stared intently.
Good Lord, sir!" he cried, with
amazement on his face. Holmes pu,
his finger on his lips, replaced his hand
In his breast pocket and burst out
laughing as we turned down the street
Excellent" said he. "Come. Friend
Watson, the curtain rings up for the
last act. You will be relieved to hea.
that there will be no war, that the
Right Hon. Trelawney Hope will suf.
fer no setback In his brilliant career,
that the indiscreet sovereign will re.
ceiye no punishment for his indiscre-
ton, that the prime minister will have
no European complication to deal with
and that with little tact and manage.
ment upon our part nobody will be q
penny the worse for what might have
been very ugly incident"
My mind filed with admiration for
this extraordinary man.
you have solved it2' l cried.
Hardly that, Watson. There are
some points which are as dark as ever,
But we have so much that it will be
our own fault If we cannot get the
rest. We will go straight to White
hall terrace and bring the matter to a
head"
When we arrived at the residence of
the European secretary it was for
Lady Hllda Trelawney Hope that Sher-
lock Holmes inquired. We were shown
Into the morning room.
Mr.. Holiness" said the lady, and her
face was pink with her indignation,
"thls is surely most unfair and ungen-
erous upon your part. l desired, as 1
have explained, to keep my visit to
you secret lest my husband should
think that 1 was intruding into his af-
fairs, and yet you compromise me by
coming here and SO showing that there
are business relations between U.S."
Unfortunately, madam, l had no
possible alternative. I have been COM
missioned to recover this immensely
Important paper. must therefore
ask you, madam, to be kind enough to
place it in my hands,"
The lady sprang to her feet, with
the color all dashed in an instant from
her beautiful face. Her eyes glazed.
She tottered. l thought that she would
faint. Then, with grand effort, she
rallied from the shock, and a supreme
astonishment and indignation chased
every other expression from her fea-
lures.
"lou-you insult me, Mr.. Holiness"
Come, come, madam. 1t is useless.
Give up the letter.
She darted to the bell.
1.-THE butler shall show you out"
DO not ring, Lady Hilda. If you
do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid
u scandal will be frustrated. Give up
the letter and all will be set right. If
you Will work with me /. can arrange
everything. If you worK against me l
must expose you"
She stood grandly defiant, queenly
figure, her eyes fixed upon his as If
she would read his very soul. Her
hand was on the bell, but she had for
borne to ring it.
You are trying to brighten me. 1t
Is not very manly thing, Mr.. Holmes.
to come here and browbeat woman.
You say that you know something.
What is it that you know?"
Pray sit down, madam. You will
hurt yourself there If you fall. will
not speak until you sit down. Thank
you"
81 give you five minutes, Mr..
Holiness"
zone is enough, Lady Hilda. know
Of your visit to Eduardo, Lucas, of
your giving him this document, Of your
ingenious return to the room last night
and of the manner In which you took
the letter from the hiding place under
the carpet"
She stared at him with an ashen face
and gulped twice before she could
speak.
"You are mad, Mr.. Holmes-you are
mad!" she cried at last.
He drew small piece Of cardboard
from his pocket. 1t was the face Of a
woman cut out of portrait.
II have carried this because /
thought it might be useful" said he.
1.-THE policeman has recognized it."
She gave gasp, and her head drop.
ped back in the chair.
"Come, Lady Hilda. You have the
letter. The matter may still be ad.
justed. I have no desire to bring trou.
BILE to you. My duty ends when have
returned the lost letter to your hus.
band. Take my advice and be frank
with me. 1t is your only chance"
Her courage was admirable. Even
now she would not own defeat.
II tell you again., Mr.. Holmes, tina,
you are under some absurd illusion"
Holmes rose from his chair.
II am sorry for you, Lady Hilda. ]
have done my best for you. can see
that it Is all in vain"
He rang the bell. The butler entered
SIS Mr.. Trelawney Hope at homer
HE will be home, sir, at quartz,
to L."
Holmes glanced at his watch.