The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-10

he tried hard to swear away me Nouns
mans life. In this he failed, but Alexis
was sent a convict 10 Siberia. where now.
at this moment. he works in a salt mine
Think OF that, you villain. You villain
now, now. at this very momen Alexis, q
man whose name YOU are not worthy to
speak, works and lives like a slave, and
yet have your HE in my hands, and !
let YOU co.
You were always a noble woman,
Anna said the old man, putting at his
cigarct.
She had risen, but she fell back again
with a little cry of pain.
Il must finish" She said. "When my
term was over l set myself to get the
diary and letters which, ii sent to the
russian government, would procure my
friends release. j knew that my husband
had come TO England. After months OF
searching l discovered where he was. l
knew that he still had the diary, for when
L was in Siberia l had a letter from him
once. reproaching me and quoting some
passages from its pages. Yet l was sure
that, with his revengeful nature, he would
never give it to me of his own free will.
| must get it for myself. With this object
engaged an agent from a private de-
tectiVe firm. who entered my husbands
house as a secretary-it was your second
secretary, Sergius, the one who left you
so hurriedly. He found that papers were
Kept In the cupboard, and he got an I'm
preston of the key. He would not go
farther. He furnished me with a plan
OF the house, and he told me that in the
1orenoon the study was always empty, as
the secretary was employed up here. So
at last l took my courage in both hands,
and L came down to get the papers myself.
L s~ucceeded; but at what a cost!
Il had just taken the papers and was
locking the cupboard, when the young
man seized mo had Saap hin, ,1ra,1x,
mat morning. He had met me on the
road. and l had asked him to tell me
where Professor Coram lived, not know
ing that he was in his employ
Exactly! exactly" said Holmes. The
secretary came back. and told his en-
in his last breath. he tried to send a mes
sage that 1t was she-the She whom he
mad just discussed with him"
You must let me speak, said the wom-
an, IN an imperative voice, and her face
contracted as if in pain. '.When he had
fallen l rushed from the room, chose the
wrong door, and found myself in my hus-
bands room. He spoke of giving me up.
L showed him that If he did so, his life
was in my hands. If he gave me to the
law, l could give him to the brotherhood.
1t was not that l wished 10 live for my
own sake, but it was that l desired to ac-
compltsh my purpose. He knew that L
would do what l %said-that his own fate
was involved in mine. For that reason.
and for no other, he shielded me. He
thrust me into that dark hiding-place-a
relic of old days, known only to himself.
He took his meals in his own room. and.
so was able to give me part of his food.
1t was agreed that when the police left
the house l should slip away by night and
come back no more. But in some way
you have read our plans" She tore from.
the bosom of her dress a small packet.
These are my last Words" said She:
here is the packet which will save Alexis.
l confide it to your honor and to your
love of Justice. Take it. You will deliver
done my duty, and
Stop herr cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room, and had
wrenched a small phial from her hand.
Too late!" she said, sinking back on the
bed. Too late. i took the poison before
I left my htding-plaee. My head swin,s!
I am going, 1 charge you. sir, to- re-
member the packet
"A simple case, and yet, in some ways,
an Instructive one Holmes remarked, as
we travelled back to town. 1T hinged
from the outset upon the pince-nez. But
for the fortunate chance of the dying man
having seized these. I am not sltre that
we could ever have reached our solution.
1t was clear to me. from the length of the
glasses, that the wearer must have been
very BLING and helpless when deprived of
them. When you asked me to believe that
she walked along a narrow strip of grass
without once making a false step, I re-
marked. as you may remember. that it
was a noteworthy performance. In
my mind 1 set it down as an
impossible performance, save in the
unlikely case that she had a second
pair of glasses. l was forced, therefore,
to seriously consider the hypothesis that
she remained within the house. On per-
\ ceiving the similarity of the two corri-
doris, 1T became clear that she nigh very
easily have made such a mistake, and, in
that case, it was evident that she must
nave. entered the professors room. was
keenly on the alerts therefore, for what
ever would bear out this supposition, and
1 examined the room narrowly for any
thing In the shape of a hiding-place. The
carpet seemed continuous and firmly
nailed, SO l dismissed the idea Of a trap
door. There might well be a recess be-
hind the books. As you are aware, such
devices are common in old libraries. /
' observed that books were piled on the floor
at all other Joints, but that one bookcase
was lett clear. This, then, might be the
the door. l could see no marks to guide
me, but the carpet was of a dun color
which lends itself very we'll to
ton. l therefore smoked q great number
of those excellent cigarcts, and l dropped
the ash all over the space in front OF
the suspected bookcase. 1t was a simple
trick, but exceedingly effective. L ther
went d:Wa s:s5,rs, aid I ascTytalned, j.
your presence, Watson, Without youf pcF
ceiving the drift of my remarks, that Pro.
fessor Coram's consumption of food hae
| increased-as one would expect when he
is supplying a second person. We then as
cended to the room again, when, by up
| setting the cisaret box, l obtained a yer,
+ excellent view of the floor. and was abb,
!, to see quite clearly, from the traces upol
the cigaret ash, that the prisoner had il
our absence come out from her retreat
!, Well, Hopkins, here we are at Charins
!, Cross, and / congratulate you on having
brought your case to Il successful con
clusion. You are going to headquarters
, no doubt. | think. Watson, you and I will
!, drive together to the Russian embassy"
r xl.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
MISSING THREE -QUARTER.
3 WXY t 70 G rsest3 'a' Weird ds fe'ss1am
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