Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-09-21
II think 1t very probable.-
.eThen. sir. prepare for war

Consider the facts. sir. 1t Is incon-
ceivable that 1T was taken after eleven
thirty at night, since 4 understand that
Mr.. Hope and his wife were both In the
room from that % until he loss was
found out. 1t was taken, then. yester-
day evening between seven-thirty and
eleven-thirty. probably near the earlier
hour, since whoever took 1t evidently
knew 1t was there. n would naturally
ecure it as early as possible. Now,
sir, if a document of this Importance
was taken at that hour, where can 1t be
now? No N has any reason to retain it.
1t has been passed rapidly on to those
who need it. What chance have we
now TO overtake or even trace it? 1t is
beyond our reach"
The prime minister arose from the
settee.
What you say is perfectly logical.
Mr.. Holmes. l feel that the matter is
indeed out Of u hands,"
Let us presume, for arguments sake.
that the document was taken by the
maid or by the VALET"
They are both old and tried serv-
ants"
II understand you to say that your
room is on the second floor, that there
is 10 entrance from without, and that
from within no one could go up unob-
served. 1t must, then, be somebody in
Allt ilpuHC III llClo n H. ~ ~
would the thief take it? To one of sew
eral international spies and secret
agents, whose names are tolerably IA
miliar tc me. There are three who
may be said to be the heads of their
profession. | will begin my research
by going round and finding if each of
them is at his post. If one is missing
especially if he has disappeared since
last might've will have some indica-
ton as TO where thu document has
gone"
why should he be missing?" asked
the European secretary. He would
take the letter to an embassy in Lon
don. as likel as not"
Il fancy not. These agents work in
de%pendently, and their relations with
the embassies are often strained"
The prime ministc- nodded his &C
quiescence.
Il believe you are right, Mr.. Holmes.
He would take so valuable a prize to
headquarters with his own hands. l
think tina your course of action is an
excellent one Meanwhile. Hope, we
cannot neglect all our other duties on
account of this one misfortune Should
there be n fresh developments dur
ing the day we shall communicate with
you, and you will no doubt let us know
the results Of you own inquiries"
The two statesmen bowed II walked
gravely from the room.
When our illustrious visitors had de-
parted Holmes lii his pipe in silence,
and sat for some time lost in the deep
est thought. | had opened the MORN
ing paper and was immersed in n SEN
sational crime which had occurred in
London the night before, when my
friend gave an exclamation, sprang to
his feet, and laid his pipe down upon
the mantelpiece.
Yes" said he, there is no better
way Of approaching it. The situation
is desperate, but not hopeless. Even
now, if we could be sure which OF them
has taken it, it is just possible that it
has not yet passed out of his hands.
After all, it is a question of money with
these fellows, and l have he British
treasury behind me. If it's on the mar
ket I'll buy tiff it means another
penny on the income tax. 1t is con-
ceivable that the fellow might hold it
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 a game
there are Oberstein, La Rothiere and
Eduardo Lucas. l will see eaci. Of
them"
/ glanced at my morning paper.
rs that Eduardo Lucas of Godolphin
street,"
Yes"
you will not see him"
why not?"
He was murdered in his house last
night"
My friend has so often astonished
me in the course of our adventures that
it was with a eanse of exultation that
l realized how completely l had aston
ished him. He stared in amazement,
and then snatched the paper from my
hands. This was the paragraph which
l had been engaged in reading when he
rose from his chair:
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.
A crime Of mysterious character was
committed last night at 16 Godolphin
street, one of the old fashioned and Sc
cluded row of eighteenth century
houses which lie between the river and
the Abbey, almost in the shadow of the
great tower of the houses of parlia-
ment. This small but select mansion
has been inhabited for some years by
Eduardo Lucas, we'll known in society
circles both on account of his charming
personality and because he has the we'll
deserved reputation of being one of the
best amateur tenor in the country.
Mr.. Lucas is an unmarried man, "a
years of age, and his establishment
consists of Mrs. Pringle, an elderly
housekeeper, 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 a friend
at Hammersmith. From 10 o'clock on
ward Mr.. Lucas had the house to him.
self.
Continued Next Week.)