The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-01-01
THE MAN WHO VANISHED.
BY FERGUS HUME.
CHAPTER V-CoNriNUEn

door softly after him. ..Pshaw! of
course mott would be a clever per-
son who could find the soul OF Adrian
Lancaster in the body of Michael
Roversmire."
He made a very good breakfast and
was about to devote himself to the
task of looking over Roversmire's
private papers. when he suddenly
recollected his hat cloak and stick,
not wishing to leave them about lest
the keen eyes of Dentham should see
them and an awkward explanation
might ensue. Although he searched
the sitting-room yet he could not find
them; then suddenly recollected that
he might have taken them down with
him to the secret chamber. In order
to be certain of this and set his mind
at rest he lighted a candle. touched
The spring: and having replaced the
fireplace to its normal condition so as
to obviate discovery oy Dentham. de-
cended into the vault, turned on the
electric light and looked around.
The sight of his former body lying
80 still and deathlike gave him a
momentary pang. and he could not
help contrasting Its handsome face
and fine figure with his present un-
couth exterior: for owing to the
ordeals to which it had been sub ect.
ed, the body of DR.. Roversmire wa,
IN a rather battered condition. Adr. an
saw that his own frame was still
wrapped in the ulster. and the hat Law
beside the couch on the floor. but al
though he hunted in every corner of
the vault be could not find the stick.
With a thrill ofterror he extinguished
the electric light and then in the
darkness feebly lighted by the glim-
merlng taper, he seemed to feel the
spiritual presence of the old fakir,
who had doubtless returned to see
how the occupant of his body was get
ting on. A cold breath of air seemed
to break suddenly into the warm at
%mosphere of the vault and Adrian
hall thought he saw a luminous cloud
lowering lear him. The half vision
however soon vanished. and the young
man pat it down to the excited state
OF his m nd. Still, the vault seemed
TO Dc occupied by some strange pres
ence, and he hurriedly left this neither
apartment and returned hurriedly to
The upper room. which he luc xiv
found untenanted.
"lhank heaven that informal SER
want didn't discover M absence" he
thought blowing out the candle. 81
don't trust him in any way. and the
ola doctor was more easily gulled
than should have thought possible
II he believed in a man with such a
-::rcachcrous face.
At this moment the SUBJECT of his
reflections entered the room and pro.
ceeded to clear away the breakfast
Things. at the same time handing the
DAILY Telegraph of the day to his
master.
BY the way, Dentham. you did not
Q a Walking-stick lying about here
an oak stick with a gold band round
UP asked Adrian unfolding the pa
per.
mo. sir. Z did not" replied Dent
aam, telling the lie without moving a
muscle OF his pale face, was it u
sirp"
Yes! | carried it yesterday and
left it lying about the room
! did not know you were out yes
terday, sir"
You don't know a good many
things, sad Adrian tartly, smooth
ing out the newspaper. you a go"
Dentham withdrew without a word
and smiled subtly to himself when saf ia
outside.
Says its his own stick" he NUT
tered under his breath. "Oh. yes. I
dare say-but your name don't begin
with "A. LIP DR.. Observation-Disclosures
something queer about all this; | be-
liaYa he the head Of a nnnn -