The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-09-20
Co7ydsht. 1898.
By Mcclure. Phillips a Co

mo. Mr.. Holmes. she could not have
Ruessed-nor could anyone have guess
ed"
Have y-u lost any documents be-
fo-e."
mo, sir"
Who Il there In England who did
know Of the existence OF this letter."
Each member OF he cabinet
was Informed OF II 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 n few hours
I should myself have lost ~" His
handsome face was distorted with n
spnsm OF despair. and his hands tore ut
his hair. For n ome we caught n
Elampse OF the natural n ifnpul-
sivc. ardent. k.crly sensitive. The next
the urlstocratic mask was replaced. n
the gentle voice had returned. Be
sI.cs the members OF the cabinet there
are two. ur possibly three. departmental
officials who know 81 The letter. No
one else in England. Afr. Holmes. as
sure you"
"But abroad"
II believe that no ono abroad has
seen II saw the man who wrote u. l
ann well convinced that has 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 this document Is. and
why It's disappearance should have
such mcmcntous consequenCesg"
the two statesmen exchanged n
quick glance. and the prcmier's shaggy
eyebrows gathered In n frown.
mir. Holmes. tho envelope In n long.
Thin one or pale blue color. There IL q
seal of rcd wax stamped with a crouch
Ing lion. II Is addressed In large. bold
handwriting to
II fea-. SIR" said Holmes. that in-
tercstirg and indeed essential ms these
deinils are. my inquiries must so more
To the root Of things. What was he
letter.
THAT is a state secret of the utmost
Importance. and I fear that | cannot
tell you. nor do I see that IL In ncccs-
sary. II by the aid of the powers
which you nre said TO possess you can
Ind such an envelope Rs ! describe
w.:h Its Enclosure you Will have de-
served well OF your country. and earned
n reward which IL lies In our power To
bestow."
Sherlock Holmes rose with n smile.
You are two OF the most busy lei
In the country" said he. and In my
own small way I have also a good
~ 'aNA HA'AA NV u Nkh ~
ingly that I annot help you In this
matter. and any continuation OF this
interview would be a waste OF time"
The premier sprang TO his fec with
that quick. fierce CLEAN OF his deep set
eyes before which n cabinet has cow
cred. Il am not accustomed. SIR" he
began. hut mastered his anger and re-
stunned his seat. For n minute or o
we all sat I'm silence. Then the old
statesman shrugged his shoulders.
We II accept you terms, Mr..
Holmes. No doubt you are right. and
II In unreasonable for us to expect you
to act unless we Civ you our entire
confidence"
Il agree with you" said the younger
statesman.
Then I viii tell you. relying entirely
upon your honor and that OF your COL
league. Or. Watson. I may appeal TO
your patriotism also. for I could not
imagine a greater misfortune for the
country than hat this affair should
come out"
your honor and that OF your colleague.
DIR. Watson. | may appeal To your pat
riotism also, for ! could not magtn
a greater misfortune for the country
than that this affair should come
out"
You may safely trust US"
The lctte-. then. IL from Il certain
foreign potcutate who has been RULED
by some recent colonial Developments
OF this country. II has been written
hurricdly n upon his own RESPONSE
bility entirely. Inquiries have shown that
his ministers know nothing OF the mat
ter. At the same time IL is couChcd In
80 unfortunate n manner n certain
phrases In IL arc Of so provocative n
character. that lts publication would
undoubtedly lead TO "A most dangerous
49, - TL-Nu4w A.. VAE. ..V.4 NwEa-.
would be such a ferment. sir. that I do
not hesitate to say that within n week
OF the publication OF hat letter this
country would be involved In n great
war"
Holmes wrote name upon n slip OF
paper and handed ~ To the premier.
Exactly. IL was he. And IL In this
lettc--this letter which may well mean
the expenditure OF u thousand millions
and the lives or "A hundred thousand
mcn-whiCh has become lost I'm this
unnccountablc fashion"
Have you informed the sender"
Yes, sir. a cipher telegram n been
dispatched"
Perhaps he desires the publication
Of the letter"
NO. sir. We have strong reason 10
believe that he already understands
that has has acted In an lndiscrcct and
hot headed M II would be "A
greater blow TO him and TO his coun-
try than to- Us II his letter were TO
come out"
III his lis so. whose Interest is Il that
the letter should come out? why
should anyone desire TO steal IL or To
publish it,"
There. Mr.. Holmes. you take me into
regions OF high international politics.
But II you consider the European situ-
alton you will have no difficulty In per-
cciying the motive. The whole OF Eu-
rope is uu armed camp. There IL n
double league which makes a fair bal
nee OF military power. Great Brit
ain holds the scales. III Britain were
driven into wal with one ~confederucy
IL would assure the supremacy OF the
other confcderacy. whether they Joined
In the war or not. DO you follow ?"
Very clearly. IL IL then the interest
OF the enemies OF this p~otontate to Sc
cure and publish this letter. so ms 10
make "a breach between his country
and oursF'
Yes. sir"
And To whom would this document
be- sent II IL fell n the and OF an
enemy?"
ITO any OF the great c~hanceliorIes OF
Europe. IL In probably speeding on It's
way thither at the present instant as
fast NJ steam can take a."
Mr.. TTclawney Hope dropped his
head on his chest nnd groaned aloud.
The premier placed his hand kindly
upon his shoulder.
1T IL your misfortune. my dear fell
low. No one can blame you. There Is
no precaution which you have neglect
- 49, A. T. A-Na