The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-24

your Malesty's plan.
1T is true. And yet Well, T
wish she had been OF my own s,.-
ton, What a queen she would have
made. He relapsed INTO a moody
silence. which was not broken until
We drew up in Serpentine avenue.
h door OF Briony Lodge VS. an
en-. and an elderly woman stood upon
the steps. She watched US with 4 sar-
donic eye as We stepped from the
brougham.
MIR. Sherlock Holmes. | believer
said she.
Il am Mr.. Holmes" answered my
companion. looking at her with a
questioning and rather startled gaze.
Indeed. My mistress told me that
you were likely TO cali. She left his
morning With her husband hy the h:l5
train from Charing Cross for the Con-
t~inent."
What" Sherlock Holmes stag
sered back. white with chagrin and
surprise. DO you mean tina she has
left England ."
Never 10 return"
And the papers" asked the King.
hoarsely. All is lost"
We shall see" lie pushed past
the servant and rushed into the draw
Ing-room, followed by the King and
myself. The furniture was scattered
ABOUT in every direction, with disman-
tied shelves and open drawers. as il
ne lady had hurriedlv ransacked
them before her flight. Holmes
rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a
small sliding shutter. and. plunginG
IN his hand. pulled out a photograph
and a letter. The photograph was OF
irene Adler herself in evening dress.
the letter was superseded TO 'Sher-
lock Holmes, ESQ. To be left till
called for" My friend tore it open.
and we all three read it together. It
was dated at midnight of the proceed
ing night, and ran in this way:
My Dear Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
You really did it very well. You took
me in completely. Until after the
alarm of fire, ! had not a suspicion.
But then, when l found how | had be
tCayed myself. | began TO think /
had been warned against you months
ago. | had been told that. if the
hing employed an agent. it would
certainly be you. And your address
had been given me. Yet, with all
this. you made me reveal what YOU
wanted to know. Even after l be-
came suspicious, I found it hard to
think evil of such a dear, kind old
clergyman. But, you know, l have
been trained as an actress myself.
Male costume is nothing new to me.
| often take advantage of the free
dom which it gives. I sent John. the
~ yodp a up
stairs, got into my walking clothes.
as / call them. and came down Just
AZ you departed.
Well, l followed you to your door.
and 50 made sure that l was really
an object Of interest to the celebrated
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes. Then l, ratE-
er imprudentiy, wished you good
night, and started for the Temple TO
see my husband.
1--WE both thnJ1oht the hest -
SQUIRE was flight when pursued by SO
formidable an antagonist: so you will
find the nest empty when you call
tomorrow. AS to the photograph,
your client may rest in peace. l love
and am loved by a better man than
he. The King may do h he will
tho hindrance from one whom
he has cruelty ~wronged. | keep it
only to safeguard myself, and to pre-
serve a weapon which will always Sc
cure me from any steps which lie
might take in the future. ] leave a
photograph which he might are to
possess; and | remain, dear Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes, very truly yours.
CREME NORTON, nee ADLER"
What a woman-Oh, what a wom-
an" cried the King Of Bohemia, when
We had all three read this epistle.
Did I not tell you how quick and
resolute she was? Would she not
nave HistOc al dDiS QdCcA 10
it not a pity that she was not on my
IeYel?"
From what l have seen of the lady
she seems indeed to be on a very diff
ferent level to your Majesty said
Holmes, coIdly. Il am sorry that /
have not been able to bring your
Majesty's business to a more success
full conclusion"
"On the contrary. my dear sir"
cried the King: nothing could be
more successful. / know that her
word is inviolate. The photograph is
now as safe as if it were in the fire
II am glad TO hear your Majesty
say so"
Il am immensely indebted to you.
Pray tell me in What way ! can re-
ward You. This ring He slipped
an emerald snake ring from his I'm
ger and held it out upon the palm OF