The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-21

hreathed one word to my wife upon
this matter"
Gould she have guessed"
NO.. Mr.. Holmes, she could not have
Suessed-nor could anyone have guess
ed"
HAY o lost any documents be-
NO, sir"
know OF the existence of This ietter?"
Each member of the cabinet
was Informed of it yesterday.
but the pledge of secrecy which attends
every cabinet meeting was increased
by the solemn warning which was Civ
en- by the prime minister. Good heav-
ems, to think that within a few hours
1 should myself have lost it," His
handsome face was distorted with a
spasm OF despair, and his hands tore at
his hair. For a III we caught a
glanlpse of the natural man. inlpul-
sive, ardent, keenly sensitive. The next
the aristocratic mask vas replaced. and
the gentle voice had returned. Be
sizes the members of the cabinet there
are two, or possibly three, departmental
officials who know of the letter. No
one else in England, Mr.. Holmes, l as
sure you
But abroad?"
-" believe that no one abroad has
SSSll II save lile Iud WHO NIOle II. i
am we'll convinced that his ministers
that the usual official channels have
not been employed"
Holmes considered for some little
time.
Now, sir, I must ask you more par
ticularly what his document is, II
why it's disappearance should have
such m%omentous consequences"
.Nhe two statesmen exchanged a
quick glance, and the premier's shaggy
eyebrows gathered in a frown.
MI. Holmes. the envelope is a long.
thin n of pale blue color. There is a
seal of red wax stamped with a crouch
ing lion. 1t is addressed in large, bold
handwriting to-"
II fear, sir" said Holmes, that in
teresting and indeed essential as these
details are, my inquiries must go more
to the root of things. What was the
letter."
THAT is a state secret of the utmost
Importance. and l fear that I cannot
tell you. nor do l see that it is neces-
sary. If by the aid of the powers
which you are said to possess you a
find such an envelope as l describe
with it's Enclosure you will have de-
served we'll of your country, and earned
a reward which it lies in our power to
bestow.'
Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile.
LOU dle TWO OI lite IlOSl busy men
in the country" said he, and in my
own small way 1 have also a good
many calls upon me. l regret exceed
ingly that I cannot help you in this
matter, n any continuation of this
interview would be a waste of time"
The premier sprang to his feet with
that quick, fierce CLEAN of his deep set
eyes before which a cabinet has cow
cred. II am not accustomed. SIR" he
hap nr hI1f r4lnCtnra6 hic M n md NO
sunled his seat. Fol- a minute or more
VIC all sat in silence. Then the old
statesman shrugged his shoulders.
w must accept you terms, Mr..
Holmes. No doubt you are right, and
it is unreasonable for us to expect you
to act unless we give you III entire
II agree with you," said the younger
statesman.
Then 1 will tell you, relying entirely
upon your honor and that of YOU coll
league, DR.. Watson. I nay appeal to
YOU patriotism also, for I could not
imagine a greater misfortune for the
country than that this affair should
come out"
your honor and that of your colleague,
DR.. Watson, I may appeal to your pat
riotism also, for I could not imagine
a greater misfortune for the n
than hat this affair should come
out"
You may safely trust u.s."
THE letter, then, is from a certain
foreign %potentate who has been ruff1ed
by some recent colonial developments
of this country. 1t has been written
hurriedly and upon his own RESPONSE
bility entirely. Inquiries have shown that
his ministers know nothing of the mat
ter. At the same time 1T is couched in
so unfortunate a manner, and certain
rhroSo0 in ~ oro nP CO tive n
character, that its publication would
undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous
state Of feeling in this country. There
would be such a ferment, sir, that 1 do
not hesitate to say that within a week
of the publication of that letter this
country would be involved in a great
war"
Holmes wrote name upon a slip of
paper and handed it to the premier.
Exactly. 1t was he. And it is this
lette.-this letter which may we'll mean
the expenditure Of a thousand millions
and the liYese of a hundred thousand
men-Which has become lost in this
unaccountable fashion"
Have you informed the sender?"
Yes, sir, a cipher telegram has been
dispatched"
Perhaps he desires the publication
Of the letter."
mo, sir, we have strong reason to
believe that he already understands
that has has acted in an indiscreet and
hot headed I'M 1t would be a
greater blow to HIM and to his coun-
try than to us if this letter We're to
come out"
IF this is so, whose interest is it tina.
the letter should come out? Why
should anyone desire to steal it or to
publish itY'
There, Mr.. Holmes, you take me into
regions of high international politics.
But If you consider the European stu
alton you will have no difficulty in per-
ceiving the motive. The whole Of Eu-
rope is an armed camp. There is a
double league which makes a fair bal
ance of military power. Great Brit
ain holds the scales. If Britain were
driven into war with one confederacy
it would assure the supremacy of the
other confederacy, whether they Joined
in the war or not. Do you follow"
Very clearly. 1t is then the interest
Of the enemies of this potentate to Sc
cure and publish this letter, so as tc
make a breach between his country
and ours?"
Yes, sir"
"And to whom would this documen,
be sent If it fell into the hands Of ar
enemy?"
ITO any of h great chancellories OF