The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-10-04
BY A. CONAN Y
Copyright. 1905.
BY Mcclure. Phillips q Co.

'AN itNtS sIJlSiliS " ~ ICEh' 'tN4i -
color all dashed in an instant from he
beautiful face. Her eyes glazcd-she tot
tereG-I thought that she would faint
Then with q grand effort she rallied from
the shock. and q supreme astonishmen
and indignation chased every other express
sion from her features.
"You-you insult me, Mr.. Holmes
Come, come, madam. it is useless. Give
up the letter"
She dartcd to the bell.
The butler shall show you out"
DO not ring, Lady Hilda. If you do
then all Iny earnest efforts to avoid s
scandal Will be frustrated. Give up Tho
letter and all will be set right. If you vii
work with me / can arrange everything
If You work against me 1 must expose
YOU"
She stood srandly defiant, a queenly fig
ure, her ~ fixed upon his as ii she would
fead his very soul. Her hand was on the
bell, but She had forborne to ring it.
You are trying to brighten me. 1t is
not a very manly thing. Mr.. Holmes, to
come here and browbeat a woman. You
say that you know something. What is
1T that YOU Know"
Pray sit down, madam. You will hurt
yourself there if YOU fall. / will not speak
until you sit down. Thank YOU"
II give you five minutes, MIR. Holmes"
One is enough, Lady Hil1a. l know of
your visit to Eduardo Lucas, Of our Civ
ing 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 4 small piece of cardboard from
his pocket. 1t was the face of a woman
cut out of a portrait.
Il have carried this because I thought
it might be useful" said he. The police
maj recognized it."
She gave a gasp and her head dropped
back in the chair.
Come, Lady Hilda. You have the let
ter. The matter may still be adjusted. l
have no desire 10 bring trouble to you. My
duty ends when L have returned the lost
letter to our husband. Take my advice
and be frank with me. 1t is your only
chance"
Her courage was admirable. Even HOW
she would not w defeat.
Il tell you again. Mr.. Holmes, that you
are under some ABSURD Illusion"
Holmes rose from his chair.
II am sorry for you, Lady Hilda. I have
done my best for you. 1 can see that it
is all in vain"
He rang the bell. Tho butler entered.
NNA. IiSli"lley IlOpc DIT tlOIHC E.
FL will be home, sir, at a quarter to
one."
Holmes glanced at his watch.
Still a quarter of ar hour said he.
Very good. l shall wat"
The butler had hardly closed the door
behind him when Lady Hilda was down
on her knees at Holmes feet. her hands
oufstretched Yer beautiful face upturned
and wet with her tears.
ooh snare mo Mr. IJp1p,nci Cr,ro ,o.t,p
she pleaded. in a frenzy Of supplica ton.
For heavens sake. don't tell him! + love
him so! l would not bring one shadow
on his life, and this l know would break
his noble heart
Holmes raised the lady. ct am thank
ful, madam, that you have come 10 your
senses even at this last mon1ent! There
is not an instant to lose. Where is the
letter."
She darted across to a writing desk,
unlocked it, and drew out a long blue
envelope.
Here 1t is, MIR. Holmes. Would to
heaven I had never seen it,"
How can we return it?" Holmes NUT
tered. "Quick, quick, we must think of
way! Where is the despatch-box??"
Still in his bedroom"
VIVA a stroke Of luck! Quick, madam,
bring 1t here. Q
A moment later she had appeared with
a red fiat box in her hand.
How did vol open it before? You have
a duplicate key? Yes. of course you have,
Open it,"
From OFT of her bosom Lady Hilda
had drawn a 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
other document. The box was shut.
locked. and returned to the bedroom.
NOW we are ready for him." said
holmes. w nave still ten rainutes. L
am going far 10 screen YOU. Lady Hi!da.
IN return you will spend the time in tell
ing me frankly the real meaning of this
extraordinary affair.""
MIR. Holmes, I will tell you everything"
cried the lady. "Oh, Mr.. Holmes. I would
cut of my right hand before / gave him
a momen of sorrow! There is no woman
IN all London who loves her husband as
4 do, and yet if he knew how I 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 a lapse iii another. Help
me, MT. Holmes. My happiness, his happi-
ness, our very lives are 1T stalker"
Quick, madam. the time grows short!!"
1t was a letter of mine, Mr.. Holmes,
an indiscreet letter written before my
marriage-a foolish letter, a letter of an
s.epnlssve, loving girl. + meant no harm.
and yet he woulG have thought 1t crimi-
nal. Had he read that letter his conf
dence would have been forever destroyed.
1t - years since / wrote it. l had thought
hat the Whole matter was forgotten.
Then at last I heard from this man,
Lucas, that it had passed into hts hands,
and that he would lay 1t before my hus-
band. / tmplored his mercy. He said that
he would return my letter If I would bring
him a certain document which he describ-
ed In my husbands despatch-box. He had
some spy in the office who had told him
OF It's existence. He assured me that no
harm could come to my husband. Put
yourself in my position. Mr.. Holmes!
What was ! to do?"
Take your husband into your conf
dence.
Il could not. Mr.. Holmes, / could not!
On the me sid seemed certain ruin. on
the other. terrible as It seemed to take
nay husbands paper. 9still in a. matter OF
politics / could not understand the con-
sequences, while in a matter of love and
trust they were only too clear to mo.
7 did II, Mr.. Holmes! I took an .mpress1on
of his key. This man, Lucas. furnished
a duplicate. I opcned his despatch-box
took the paper. n conveyed it to Godol-
.phin street
What happened there, madam?s
II tappsd at the door as agreed. Lucas
opened III followed him Into his room.
leaving the hall doo aJar behind me. for
= feared to be alone with the man. Ere
membe that there was a woman outside