The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-09-20
.1 think /, very probable.-

81 think It very probable"
Then, sir, prepare for war;
THAT is a lard saying, Mr.. Holmes"
"Consider the facts, sir. 1t is incon-
ceiyable that 1t was taken after eleven
thirty at night, since [ understand that
Mr.. Hope and his wife were both in the
room from that hour until the loss was
found out. 1t was taken, then, yester-
day evening between seven-thirty and
eleven-thirty, probably near the earlier
hour, sine whoever o it evidently
knew it was there, n would naturally
secure it as early as possible. Now,
sir, if a document of this Importance
was taken at that hour, where can it be
now? No one has any reason to retain it.
1t has been passed rapidly on to those
who need it. What chance have we
now to overtaSe or even trace it? 1t is
beyond Jul reach"
The prime minister arose from the
settee.
what YOU say is perfectly logical,
Mr.. Holmes. I feel that the matter is
indeed out of Il hands,
Let us presume. for arguments sake,
that the document was taken by the
maid or by the VALET
They are both old and tried serv-
ants"
II understand YOU to say that your
room IS on the second floor, that there
is no entrance from without. and that
from within 10 one could so up unob-
served. 1t must, then, be somebody in
the house who has taken it. To whom
would the thief take it? To n Of sew
eral international spies and secret
agents, whose names are tolerably ia
mi!iar tc me. There are three who
may be said to be the heads of their
profession. I will begin my research
by going round and finding il each of
ln,, &c n ! l;r ,N@r+ : Vac = -,s-~,,
especially if he has disappeared since
last might've will have some indica-
ton as to where tn document has
gone"
why should he be missing?" asked
the European secretary. Fl would
take the letter to an embassy in Lon
don, as ikel as not"
Il fancy not. These agents work in
~dependently, and their relations with
the embassies are often strained"
The prime minister nodded his &C
quiescence.
Il believe you are right. Mr.. Holrnes.
He would take so valuable a prize to
headquarters with his own hands. I
think that our course of action is an
excellent one Meanwhile. Hope, we
cannot neglect all u other duties on
account of this m misfortune Should
there be n fresh developments dur
ing the day we shall communicate with
you, n you will no doubt let us know
the results Of your own inquiries"
The two statesmen bowed and walked
Gravely from the room.
When our illustrious visitors had de-
parted Holmes lit his pipe in silence,
and sat for some time lost in the deep
est thought. l had opened the morn
ing paper and was immersed in a SEN
sational crime which had occurred in
London the night before, when my
frsn,,l o~ ~. -. wa 49, L.
his feet, and laid his pipe down upon
the mantelpiece.
Yes" said he, there is no better
way of approaching it. The situation
is desperate, but not hopeless. Even
now, if we could be sure which OF them
has taken it, it is just possible that it
has not yet passed out Of his hands.
these fellows, and I have The British
treasury behind me. If it's on the mar
ket I'll buy tiff it means another
penny on the income tax. It is con-
ceivable that the fellow might hold 1t
back to see what bids come from this
side before he tries his luck on the
other. There are only those three
capable of playing so bold a game
there are Oberstein, La Rothiere and
Eduardo Lucas. 1 will see each Of
them"
I glanced at my morning paper.
us that Eduardo Lucas of G%odolphin
street?"
Yes
you will not see him."
why not?"
HE was murdered in his house last
My friend has so often astonished
me in the course of our adventures that
it was with a sense of exultation that
| realized how completely I had aston
shed him. He stared in amazement,
and then snatched the paper from my
hands. This was the paragraph which
| had been engaged in reading when he
rose from his chair:
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.
A crime of mysterious character was
committed last night at 16 Godolphin
one Of the old fashioned and Sc
rows of eighteenth century
houses which lie between the river and
the Abbey, almost in the shadow of the
great Of the houses of parIia-
This small but select mansion
has been inhabited for some years by
Lucas, we'll known in society
both on account of his charming
personality and because he has the we'll
deserved reputation of being one Of the
best amateur tenor in the country.
Mr.. Lucas Is an unmarried man, 81
years OF age, and his establishment
consists of Mrs. Pringle, an elderly
h~ousekeeper, and of Milton, his valet.
Inc former retires early and sleeps at
the top OF the house. The valet was
out for the evening, visiting a friend
Hammersmith. From 10 o'clock on
ard Mr.. Lucas had the house to him.
self.
Continued Next Week.)