The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-23
5asCrin1son
| By Fred M. G)hhe AEENH


she was.
What does II all mean? David
asked. what will Longdean village
say?"
What does Longdean village know"
Chris retorted. They are vaguely
aware that somebody was taken away
from the house short time ago to be
buried; but that is all their know
ledge. And there is no more need for
disguise, Lord Littimer says. He
knows pretty well everything. He has
been very restless and uneasy for the
past day or two. and yesterday he left.
saying that he had business in Lon
don. Early to-day | had a character
istic telegram from him saying that he
was at Longdean and that was neces-
sary to his comfort there. | was to
come. clotherd in my right mind, and |
was to bring Mr.. Steel and DR.. Bell
along"
at cant be managed" said Bell.
We've got Van Sneck here"
And had forgotten all about him"
said Chris. WAS the operation sue
cessful?"
Bell told his budget of good news
down to the story of the ring and the
mysterious manner in which II had dis
appeared again. David had followed
Ruth into the conservatory, where she
stood with her dainty head buried over
a rose.
She looked up, with a warm, shy
smile on her face.
81 hope you are satisfied" she said.
you are safe now"
II was never very much alarmed,
dearest" Steel said. "If this thing had
never happened | might never have
met you. And as soon as this bust
ness is definitely settled | shall come
and see your uncle. am q very impa.
tient man, Ruth"
''And you shall see my uncle when
you please. dear" she said. "You will
find him quite as charming as you say
Say? That you are the dearest and
sweetest girl in the world, and that |
am lucky fellow. But you are not
going OF already"
Indeed, We must. We have a cab at
the door. And / am going to brave the
horrors of Longdean Grange and spend
the night there. Only | fancy that the
horrors have gone forever. / shall be
very disappointed IL you don't come to-
morrow"
Behind a friendly palm David bent
and kissed the shy lips, with vow
that he would see Longdean Grange on
the morrow. Then Chris caught UP
Ruth with whirl, and they were gone.
1t was after ten that Bell and Steel
managed to convey Van Sneck to the
conservatory. The place was filed
with brightness and scent and color
and the afterglow of the sunshine. The
artistic eye of the Dutchman lighted
up with genuine pleasure.
They say you islanders are crude
and cold and have no sense of the beau
tiful," he said. But there are no
houses anywhere to compare with
those of the better-class Englishman.
look at those colors blending"
Hang those colors!" said Bell, Wig
orously. Steel, there is nothing like
moisture to bring out the full fragrance
of flowers. Turn on your hose, and
give your plants good watering"
Its the proper time" David replied.
Turn on the tap for me-"
A cooling stream played on the flow
ers; plants dropped their heads, filed
with the diamond moisture. Then the
air seemed laden with the mingled
scent.
II can smell the soil!" Van Sneck
cried. How good 1t is to smell any
thing again! And can just catch a
suggestion OF the perfume of some.
thing familiar. What's that red bloom %
He pointed to a creeper growing up
the wall. David broke off a spray.
That's kind of Japanese passion
flower" he said. at has lovely, full
favored scent, like a mixture of vio-
let's and almonds. Smell it."
Van Sneck placed the wet, dripping
spray to his nose. Just for an instant
1t conveyed nothing to him. Then he
rose. with half-triumphat cry.
Steady, there!" said Bell. i'You
mustn't get up, you know. / see you
are excited. Has 1t come back to you
again."
That's the scent" Van Sneck cried.
The air was full of that as | fell back
wards. And Henson stood over me
exactly by that cracked tile where Mr..
Steel now Is. Give nae a moment, and
l shall be able to tell yo ueverything.
oh, yes; the first time slipped on
purpose. / told you stumbled. But
that was ruse. And as fell took
the ring from my waistcoat pocket.
Let me have another sniff at that
bloom. Yes; I've got it now, quite
clear!"
you know where the ring is?" Da-
vid asked, eagerly.
We'll, not quite that. took IL from
my waistcoat pocket and pitched II
away from me. saw it fall on pot
covered with moss. but can't say
which pot or In which corner. / only
know that I threw 1t over my shout
der, and that it dropped into the thick
moss that lies on the top of all the
pots. laughed to myself as 1t fell,
and re1oiced to see that Henson knew
nothing of It."
"And It is still there?" Bell demand.
ed.
Van Sneck nodded, solemnly.
Il swear It," he said. Prince Ru-
pert's ring Is in this conservatory"
CHAPTER Nv.