The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-09-20
Il think II very probable
Then. SIR, prepare for war;

Il think II very probable
Then. SIR. prepare for war"
That II n hard saying. MIR. Holmea."
Consider the facts. sir. IL In incon-
ccivable that u was taken after eleven
Thirty at night. since 4 understand that
AIR. Hope and his wife were both In the
room from that hour until the loss was
found out. IL was taken. then. yester-
day evening between scvcn-thirty n
cleven-thirty. probably near the earlier
hour. since whoever ook u evidently
KNEE IL was there. and would naturally
secure Il as early rs possible. Now,
sir. ~ n document OF this Importance
was taken at that hour. where can u be
now No one has any nj to retain IL.
II has been passed rapidly on TO those
who need a.. What han have we
now To overtnke or even truce IL? IL In
beyond u reach"
The prime minister arose from the
settec.
What you say Is perfectly logical.
Mr.. Holmes. I feel that the matter IL
indeed out OF our hands"
Let ua presume. for arguments sake.
h n the document was taken by the
maid or by the VALET"
They arc both old and tried serv-
ants"
II understand you 10 say nat our
room II or the second floor. that there
IL no entrance from without. and that
from within no one could go up unob-
served. II must. then, be somebody In
the house who has taken u. To whom
would the thief take II? To OF sew
erai international spies and secret
agents. whose anne are tolerably ia
mlilar &c me. There are three who
may be said To- be the heads OF their
profession. I viii begin my research
by foing round and finding II each OF
them IN nj his post. IL one Is missing
especially II he has disappeared since
last might've viii have some indica-
ton as To where I'll document has
gone"
why should he be missing" asked
the European secretary. He would
take the letter 10 an embassy I'm Lon
don. ms likcl ~ not
II fancy not. These agents work In
dependeutly. and their relations with
the embassies are often strained"
The prime ministC' nodded his ae-
duicSccnce.
II believe you are right. Mr.. Holmes.
He would take 30 valuable n prize To
headquarters with his own hands. I
think that your course OF action Is an
excellent one NJ anwhile. Hope. we
cannot neglect all our other duties on
account OF this one misfortune. Should
there he nny fresh developments dur
ing the day we shall communicate with
You. and you will no doubt let us know
the results Of your own inquiries"
The W. statesmen bowed and walked
gravely from the room.
When our iilustrious visitors had de-
parted Holmes ~ hts pipe In silence,
and sat for some time lost I'm the deep
est thought. l had opened he morn
Ing paper and was immersed In n son.
satIonnl crime which had occurred I'm
London the night before. whcn my
Tptas.I So a.. - g~aIaFnnNinn anrnny IN
his feet. and laid his pipe down upon
the mantelpicce.
Yea" said he. there In no better
way or approaching Il. The situation
is desperate. but not hopeless. Even
now. II we could be sure which OF them
has taken Il. IL IL just possible that u
has not yet passed out OF his hands.
After all. |. is n question OF money with
these fellows. and I have he British
treasury behind me. IL It's on the mar
ket I'll buy tiff II means another
penny on the income AK. IL In con-
ceivable that the fellow might hold Il
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 n game
there are Oberstcin. La Rothiere and
Eduardo Lucas. ! will see each OF
them
/ glanced Mt my morning paper.
lis that Eduardo Lucas OF Godolphin
street,"
Yes"
You will not see him"
why not7'
"He was murdered In his house last
night"
My friend has so often nstonished
me I'm the course OF our adventures that
IL was with "a sense OF exultation that
l realized how completely ] had aston
ishcd him. He stared I'm amusement.
and thcn snatched the paper from my
hands. This was the paragraph which
I had been engaged In reading when he
rose from his chair:
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.
Il crime OF mysterious character was
committed last night nj i6 G%odolphin
street. one OF the old fashioned and Sc
cluded rows OF eighteenth century
houses which lie between the river and
the Abbey. almost I'm the shadow OF the
great tower OF h houses OF parlia-
mcnt. This small but select mansion
has been inhabited for some years by
Eduardo Lucas, well known In society
circles both on account OF his charming
personality and because he has the WELL
deserved reputation OF being one or the
best amateur tcnorI I'm the country.
Mr.. Luca IN an unmarried man, "a
years OF age. and his establishment
consists OF Mrs. Pringle. an elderly
h~ousckecper. and OF Milton. his valet.
The former ~retires early and sleeps at
the top OF the house. The valet was
out for the evening. visiting n friend
ut Hammersmlth. From 10 o'clock on
ward Mr.. Lucas had the house TO him
SELF.
Continued Next Weekly