The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-08

debt-Bank of England notes, the num-
bers OF which, need hardly say, are in
my possession. The money is produced
from the case yonder, which case we
know was sold to the injured man by
Mr. wallen."
Marley made long and significant
pause. Steel nodded
There seems to be no way out OF it."
he said
II can see one" Marley suggested
"Of course. II would simplify matters
enormously II you merely told me. in
confidence, whence came those notes.
You see. as have the numbers, could
verify your statement beyond question,
| and
Marley paused again and shrugged
his shoulders. Despite his cold, official
manner. he was obviously prompted by
a desire to serve his companion. And
| yet, simple as the suggestion seemed. It
/ was the very last thing with which
Steel could comply.
The novelist turned the matter over
| rapidly in his mind. His quick percep-
| lions flashed along the whole logical
| line instantaneously. He was like
| man who suddenly sees a midnight
landscape by the glare OF a dazzling
fash OF light.
IT am sorry" he said, slowly, every
| sorry TO disappoint you. Were our stu
| ations reversed. I should take up your
| position exactly. But Is so happens
| that I cannot. dare not, tell you where
/ got those notes from. So far as am
concerned they came honestly into my
hands In payment for special services
rendered. 1t was part of my contract
that I should reveal the secret to no
body. II I told you the story, you
would decline to believe it, you would
say that II was a brilliant effort OF n
novelist's imagination to get out of a
dangerous position"
"I don't know that should" Marley
replied. II have long since ceased TO
wonder at anything that happens in or
Is connected with Brighton"
"All the same. can't tell you. Mar
ley" Steel said as ne rose. MY lips
are absolutely sealed. The point Is:
what are you going TO do?"
For the present. nothing" Marley
replied. $50 long as the man in the
hospital remains unconscious. can do
no more than pursue what Beaconsheld
called "a policy OF mastery inactivity
have told you rood deal more than l
had any right to do, but I did so in the
hope that you coulc assist me. Perhaps
in a dav or two yod will think better of
H. Meanwhile"
Meanwhile I am in a tight place.
Yes. I see that perfectly well. 1t is
just possible that I may scheme some
way out OF the difficulty. and, II so.
shall be only tor pleased to let you
know. Good night, Marley, and many
thanks to you"
But with all his Ingenuity and fer
tility OF Imagination David could see no
way out of the trouble. He sat up far
into the night scheming: there was no
flavor in his tobacco: his pictures and
flowers his silver and china, Jared
upon him. He wished, with all his
heart, that he had let everything go. II
need only have been a temporary mat
ter and there were other Cellini tank
ards and intaglios, and line engravings
in the world for the man with money In
his purse.
He could see no way out OF IL at all.
Was II not possible that the whole
thing had been deliberately planned so
as 70 land him and his brains into the
hands OF some clever gang OF swind
lers? Had he been tricked and fooled
so that he might become the tool of 9TH
ers? It seemed hard 10 think so, when
he recalled the sweet voice In the dark
ness and its passionate plea for help.
And yet the very cigar case that he had
been told was the one he admired AT
Lockhart's had proved beyond question
to be one purchased from Walen's!
TT he decided to violate his promise
end tell the whole story, nobody would
believe him. The thing was altogether
too wild and improbable for that. And
yet. ne reflected. things almost as Inn
possible happen In Brighton every day.
And what proof had he to offer?
Well. there was one thing certain. At
least three-quarters of those bank notes
the portion he had collected at the
house with the crimson blind-could not
possibly be traced to the injured man.
And, again, II was no fault of Steefs
that Marley had obtained possession OF
the numbers OF the notes IF the de-
| tective chose to ferret out facts for him
self no blame could attach to Steel. II
tho sc people hal only chosen to leave
out of the question that COMPOUNDED
| cigar easel
David's train OF thought was broken
as an idea came to him. II was not so
/ iDUk SlHSt ne ndu u IdC-SlUllie cigar case
| in his hand at Lockhart's. in North
street Somebody connected with the
mystery must have seen bin admiring
II and reluctantly declining the pur-
chase. because the voice from the tele-
| phone told him that the case was a
present and that II had come from the
| famous North street establishment.
by Jove" David cried. "I'll go TO
! Lockhart's tomorrow and see IL the
case is stilI there. II so. may be able
to trace IT,"
Fairly early the next morning David
! was in North street. For the time be-
! ing he had put his work aside altogeth-
er. He could not have written a dozen
| consecutive lines to save the situation.
| The mere effort to preserve a cheerful
| face before his mother was a torture.
| And at any time he might find himself
forced TO meet criminal charge.
| The gentlemaniy assistant at Lock-
| hart's remembered Steel and the cigar
| case perfectly Well; but ne was afraid
| that the article had been sold. Ne
doubt II would be possible to obtain a
fac-simile I'm the course of a few days.
"only required that particular one."
steel said. "Can you tell Sne when II
was sold. and who purchased it,"
A junior partner did, and could give
some kind Of Information. Several peo-