The Washington herald., 1912-04-14

a moment later she had appeared
with fiat red box in her hand
How did you open it before? You
have duplicate keyl Yes, Of course
you have. Open itp
From out Of her bosom Lady Hilda
had drawn small key The box few
open. IL 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
am going far to screen you, Lady
Hilda. In return you will spend the
time in telling me frankly the real mean
ing of this extraordinary affair"
Mr. Holmes, j will tell you every
thing" cried the lady. ooh, Mr.
Holmes, ] would cut off my right hand
before gave him moment of sorrowi
There IS no woman in all London who
loves her husband as / do, and yet il
he knew how | have acted-how have
been compelled TO aet-he would never
forgive me. For his own honor stands
so high that he could not forget or
pardon lapse in another. Help me,
Mr. Holmes My happiness, his happi-
ness, our very lives are at stake !"
Quick, madam, the time grows
short y
1T was letter Of mine, Mr.. Holmes,
an indiscreet letter written before my
marriage foolish letter, letter of an
impulsive, loving girl. ] meant no harm,
and yet he would have thought il
criminal. Had he read that letter his
confidence would have been forever de-
stroyed. 1t is years since | wrote il.
had thought that the whole matter was
forgotten. Then at last heard from
this man, Lucas, that it had passed into
his hands, and that he would lay it
before my husband. | implored his
mercy. He said that he would return
my letter if would bring him a GER
tain document which he described in
my husbands dispatch dox. He had
some spy in the Office who had told him
of its existence. He assured me that
no harm could come to my husband.
Put yourself in my position, Mr..
Holmes What was | to do"
Take your husband into your con-
81 could not Mr.. Holmes, could
not On the one side seemed certain
ruin, on the other, terrible as il seemed
to take my husbands paper, still in a
matter of politics ! could not under
stand the consequences, while in mat
ter of love and trust they were only
too clear to me. ] did il. Mr.. Holmes
took an impression OF his key This
man, Lucas, furnished a duplicate. i
opened his dispatch box, took the paper,
and conveyed il to Godolphin Street"
What happened there, madam"
Il tapped at the door as agreed.
Lucas opened it. followed him into
his room, leaving the hall door ajar be-
hind me, for feared to be alone with
the man. l remember that there was
a woman outside as | entered. Our
business was soon done. He had my
letter on his desk, i handed him the
document. He gave me the letter. At
this instant there was a sound at the
door. There were steps in the pas
sage. Lucas quickly turned back the
drugget, thrust the document into some
hiding place there. and covered il over.
What happened after that is like
some fearful dream. | have vision OF
a dark, frantic face, of womans voice,
which screamed in French, My waiting
is not IN vain At last, at last ! have
found you with herr There was saw
age struggle saw him with a chair
in his hand, knife CLEANED in hers |
IuSHCu IIOHl tnC nOITtDlc scene, Idll
from the house. and only next morning
in the paper did learn the dreadful
result. That night was happy, for /
had my letter, and | had not seen yet
what the future would bring.
1T was the next morning that l real
lied that ] had only exchanged one
trouble for another My husbands
anguish at the loss OF his paper went
to my heart, could hardly prevent
myself from there and then kneeing
down at his feet and telling him what
| had done But that again would mean
a confession of the past ! came to you
that morning in order TO understand the
full enormity Of my offense. From the
instant that grasped it my whole mind
was turned to the one thought of get
ting back my husbands paper. II must
still be where Lucas had placed il, for
il was concealed before this dreadful
woman entered the room. II II had not
been for her coming. ] should not have
known where his hiding place was How