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

yssssS sSss II ssrsSSss; STs sss..%.M was 1T caused by
ElSSif. s:sSsSSswsass - ~ any waning inter
Els:s,s:sss%T e 6. s..ss: ~. est on the part of
tssA9fsss ~ e 49,: = .ssgIr::F,s my readers in the
iSISsa@sH3S ~ Wstss sS,,S singular person
s.s IN Ken 3. SSSSsst:s sas.SS ality and unique
SS$StIyss{A Il ~ 49, gasSt methods of this
ESsissE &xSass,:S,ls Ea' remarkable man.
kGai!.E s1:.Gi; ~ The real reason
~ 4 sssssSasT nsas 49, lay in the reluct-
5WaaAFs " 1919 SSfsSsE. ~ .sa.;as ance which Mr..
KS s1sslg sss AZ ss.. 81 ~ Holmes has shown
to the cc-tinued
publication of his experiences. So long
as he was in actual professional prac-
tice the records of his successes were
of some practical value to him, but
since he has definitely retired from
London and betaken himself to study
and bee farming on the Sussex Downs,
notoriety has become hateful to him,
and he has peremptorily requested that
his wishes in this matter should be
strictly observed. 1t was only upon
my representing to him that I had given
Second Stain" should be published
when the times were ripe, and pointed
out to him that 1t is only appropriate
thai this long series of episodes should
.cullninate in the most important inter-
national case which he ever had
been called upon to handle. that
I at last succeeded in obtain
ing HIS consent that a carefully
guarded account of the incident should
at last be laid before the public. If in
telling the story I seem to be some
what vague in certain Details, the pub
lie will readily understand that there is
an excellent reason for my r%etfcence.
1t was. then. in a year, and even in a
decade, that shall be nameless, that
upon Tuesday morning in autumn
we found two visitors Of European
fame within the walls of our humble
room in Baker street. The one. austere,
high nosed, eagle eyed. and dominant,
was none other than the illustrious
Lord Bellinger, twice premier of Brit
elegant. hardly yet of middle age. and
endowed with every beauty of body and
aof mind. was the Right Honorable
Trelawney Hope, secretary for Eu-
ropean affairs, and the most rising
statesman in the country. They sat
side by side upon our paper Uttered
i%settee, and it was easy to see from
their worn md anxious faces that it
was business of the most pressing i'm
portance which had brought them.
The premier's thin, blue veined hands
We're clasped tightly over the ivory
head of his umbrella. and his gaunt,
ascetic fac looked gloomily from
Holmes to me. The European secre-
-tary pulled ~hervously at his moustache
and hdgeted with the seals of his watch
chain.
when I discovered my loss, Mr..
Holmes, which was at s O'Clock this
morning. I at once informed the prime
minister. 1t was at his suggestion that
we have both come to YOU"
'Have you Informed the police?"
NO, SIR said the prime minister,
which he was famous. we have not
lone so, nor 1t 1T possible that we should
dc SO. To inform the police must, in
the long. run, mean to inform the pub
lie. This is what we particularly de
sire to avoid"
"And why. sir?"
because the document in question
is of such immense Importance that its
publication might very easily-I might
almost say probahly-lead to European
complications Of the utmost moment.
1t is not too much to say that peace
or wal may hang upon the issue. I'm
less its recover can be attended with
the utmost secrecy. then it may as well
not be recovered at all. for all that is
aimed at by those who have taken It
is that its contents should be generally
known"
II understand. Now. Mr.. Trelawney
Hope. 1 should be much obliged if you
would tell me exactly the circumstances
under which this document disappear
ed"
"That can be done in a very few
was a letter from n foreign potentate-
was received six days ago. 1t was OF
uch Importance that I had never left
1t in my safe, but had aiken it across
each evening to my hous in Whitehall
Terrace. and kept it in my bedroom
last night. OF that I am certain. I ac-
tually opened the box while I was
dressing for dinner. ard saw the docu-
ment inside. This morning it was
gone. The despatch box q stood be.
side h glass upon my dressing table
all night. I am 4 light sleeper, and sc
is my wife. We are both prepared tc
swear that no n could have entered
that room during the night. And yet
repeat that the paper is COVE"
What time did you dine?"
Half-past seven"
"sHow long was it before you went tt
bedo"
MY wife had gone to the theate-
1 waited up for her. 1t was half-pas'
eleven before we went to our room.''
Then for four hours the despatch
box had lain ~unguarded?"
No one is ever permitted to ente1
that room save the housemaid in the
morning, n my valet, or my wife's
maid, during the rest of the day. The,
dtC OOl11 liuSly SGISdIllS WuO nave OGGl
with us for some time. Besides, neither
OF them could possibly hav known tina
there was anything more valuable thar
the ordinary departmental papers il
my despatch-box."
who did NOW Of the existence O
thai letter."
NO one in the house
Surely your wife knew"
mo. sir, I had said nothing to m,
wife until I missed the paper thi:
morning"
The premier nodded %approvingly.
Il have long known, sir, how high Il
your sense of public duty" said he
Il am convinced hat in the case of {
secret Of this importance it would rise
superior to the most intimate domes.
tic ties"
The European secretary bowed.
You do me no more than justice, SIR
Until this morning I have never