Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-11
q gulped twice before she could

Inc gulped twice before she could
speak.
"You are mad, Mr.. Holmes-you are
mad she cried at last.
He drew Z small piece Of cardboard
from his pocket. 1t was the face of a
woman cut out Of a portrait.
II have carried this because
thought it might be useful" said he.
THE policeman has recognized it."
She gave q gasp, and her head drop
ped back in the chair.
Come, Lady Hilda. You have the
letter. The matter may still be ad-
justed. l have no desire to bring trou-
bic to you. My duty ends when have
returned the lost letter to your hus-
band. Take my advice and be frank
with NE. 1t is your only chance"
Her courage was admirable. Even
now she would not own defeat.
II 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 I Y best for you. 1 can see
tnat II is all i'll Valn.'
He rang the bell. The butler entered.
us Mr.. Trelawney Hope at home?'
H will be home. sir, at a quarter
to l."
Holmes glanced at his watch.
Still a quarter of an hour" said he.
VERY good; l shall wait"
The butler had hardly closed the door
behind him when Lady Hilda was
down on her knees at Holmes feet,
her hands outstretched, her beautiful
face upturned and wet with her tears.
"Oh, spare me, MI. Holiness. Spare
mew she pleaded in a frenzy of sup
plication. For heavens sake, don't
tell him! 1 love him so. I would not
bring n shadow on his life, and this
I know woul break his noble heart"
Holmes raised the lady. 81 am
thankful, madam, that you have come
to YOU senses yer at this last mo-
ment. There is not al instant to lose.
Where is the letter."
She jarted across to a writing desk,
unlocked it and drew out a long blue
envelope.
Here it is, Mr.. Holmes. Would to
heaven 1 had never seen it,
How can we return it," Holmes
muttered. "Quick, quick, we must
think of some way. Where is the
dispatch box?"
Still in his bedroom"
What a stroke Of luck. Quick.
madam, bring it here"
a moment later she had appeared
with a red, fiat box in her hand.
How did you open it before? You
have a duplicate key: Yes, of course
you have. Open it,"
From out of her bosom Lady lIilGa
had drawn a small key. The box 1e -,
open. 1t was stuffed with papers.
Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep
down into the heart of them. between
the leaves of some other document.
The box was shut, locked and returned
to the bedroom.
"Now we are ready for him." said
Holmes. I'VE have still ten minutes.
l am going far to screen YOU, Lady
Hilda. In return you will spend the
time in telling me frankly the real
meaning of this extraordinary affair"
Mr.. Holiness l will tell you every
thing cried the lady. "Oh, Mr..
Holmes. l would cut off my right hand
before l gave him a moment Of sor-
row. There is no woman in all Lon
don who loves her husband as l do,
and yet if he knew how l have acted
how T Eoyo 1>ao, oo.,,,l1o1 10 ,4 L.
would never forgive me, for his own
honor stands SO high that he could not
forget or pardon a lapse in another.
Help me, Mr.. Holmes. My happiness,
his happiness, our very lives, are at
stake"
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 impulsive, loving girl. l meant no
harm. and yet he would have thought
it criminal. Had he read that letter
his confidence would have been forever
destroyed. 1t is years since l wrote
1t. l had thought that the whole mat
ter was forgotten. Then at last
heard from .hiS man Lucas that it had
passed into his hands and hat he
would lay it before my husband. I
implorcd his mercy. He said that he
would return my letter If l would bring
him Il certain document which he de
scribcd in my husbands dispatch 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 posi-
ton, Mr.. Holmes! What was to do?''
"Take your husband into your conf
dence."
Il could not, Mr.. Holmes, / could
not! On the n side seemed certain
ruin; on the other, terrible as it seem.
ed, to take my husbands paper; still In
a matter Of politics l could not un-
derstand the consequences, while in a
matter Of love and trust they were on.
ly too clear to me. l did it, Mr..
Holmes! / took an impression Of his
key. This man Lucas furnished a
duplicate. 1 opened his dispatch box
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