The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-04
5as Crimson
By Fred M. Ohhe AHn0
By Fred M. Ohae
CHAPTER xL.
A Useful Discovery.

Waiting with the eagerness of the
greyhound In leash. David Steel was
more annoyed and vexed over the dis
appearance OF the wounded Van Sneck
than he cared to admit. He had an
uneasy feeling that the unseen foe had
checkmated MIN again. And he had
built up so many hopes upon this
strangely unlimited guest of his. IL
that man spoke he could tell the truth
And both Cross and Bell had declared
that he would not die.
David found Cross In a frame OF
mind something like his own. 1t was
late in the afternoon before 1t trans
pired that Van sneck was gone, and.
unfortunately. David did not know
whhere TO find Bell just at the moment.
Cross had very little to say.
"a most unpleasant incident" he re-
m9rked. but these things will hap
pen, you know. We have been so busy
lately. and our vigilance has been
slightly relaxed. oh, II Is impossible
TO guard against everything. but he is
certain to be found"
You don't think" David suggested,
shat anybody secretly connected with
the mans past
mo. / don'tl" Cross snapped; that
would be impossible. The man had
something on his mind and, so far as
bodily condition was concerned, he was
getting quite strong again. In his
dazed state he got up and dressed him
self and went away. He seems to have
ga fnr dy
thing for days. We are certain to have
Elm again before long"
With this poor consolation David re-
turned home again. He was restless
and DESTROYS Of human companionship.
He even resented II, as kind of af-
front, that his mother had chosen at
this time TO go to Hassocks to stay
with an old friend for a couple of days.
That Mrs. Steel knew practically Moth
ing of her sons trouble counted for
naught. Therefore 1t was with some
thing akin TO pleasure that David
found Ruth Gates waiting in the draw
sng room for him when he came in
from his walk on the following after
noon. Nothing had been heard of Van
Sneck In the meantime. but. thanks to
Chris telephone message late the pre-
vious nigat, he had got in touch with
BELL. who was coming south without
delay !.
There was look Of shy pleasure I'm
Ruth's eyes and a deep carmine flush
on her cheeks.
You 1on't think that this is very
bold OF me?" she asked.
II am pretty Bohemian In any case"
David laughed, as he looked down,
fondly. into the shy. sweet eyes. And
I'm too overjoyed TO see you to think
about anything else. wish my mother
was, at home. No. don't because ]
have you all to myself"
David On an occasion like this you
ought to be the pink OF propriety. Do
you know, believe I have made
great discovery"
Indeed. little grill And what have
you found out?"
well. you must tell me something
before my discovery seems valuable.
David. you are close student of hu-
man nature. Is II possible for men OF
phenomenal cunning to make careless
mistakes? Do the most clever crimi-
mails ever make childish blunders?''
my dear child, II they didn't the po-
flee would have very little chance.
qTor instance, have discovered how
those enemies Of ours got hold OF the
5ote paper that lured Van Sneck here.
They sent a messenger TO Carriers. In
East street. presumingly knowing that
my dies were there, and ordered quar-
ter or a ream OF paper and envelopes,
These were sent TO an address at East
Grinstead in a hurry. Now. that was
very clever anu smart. but here comes
the folly. These people. in the stress OF
business, actually forgot TO ascertain
the cost and pay for the paper, so that
At was down yesterday In my last quar-
ter's bill. Oh. yes, / assure you, the
most brilliant criminals do the most
incredibly foolish things"
. Ruth looked relieved. Her pretty
features relaxed into a smile.
"Then fancy Reginald Henson has
Gone So" she said. II fancy have
solved the mystery of the cigar case--I
mean, the mystery of the one bought"
And which was changed for the one
purchased at Walen's, hence these
tears But Lockhart's say that our case
was really purchased by an American
Eyes, know. And I fancy that the
manager honestly thought so. But
think can explain that"
1t was David's turn to look up. ca
gerly.
$40 you mean it?" ne exclaimed.
''It will make a wonderful difference IL
you can. That has been one OF the
most bewildering knots Of the whols
puzzle. II we could only trace the num-
bers Of those notes, ! suppose changed
at the same time as the cigar case
Indeed, they were not" Ruth cried.
''I have aseertaine6 that the case was
changed by Henson, as you and have
already decided Henson made the ex-
change. not at the time we thought"
mot when you left the package on
The table for him TO see?"
mo: at least can't say. He had
the other case then, probably, passed
on to him by Van Sneck. Or perhaps
he merely ascertained what had pur-
chased. That was sufficient for his pur-
pose OF course. he must have found
out all about our scheme. After had
laid myscigar case on your doorstep a
man quietly changed II for the one pur-
chased at Walen's. But this is the al
ternate theory only. Anyway. I am
absolutely certain that you got exactly
the same notes that we had placed In
The original CASE
That might be-" Steel said. thou0frx.
fully. but that does not explain the
-