The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-25

farther on the way. That cigar-case
| Won saw in Van Snecks possession
passed to Mr.. Henson. BY him, or by
! somebody in his employ, IL was sub
stituted for precisely similar case, in
tended for present to Mr.. Steel. The
substitution has caused Mr.. Steel a
great deal of trouble"
Seeing as Van Sneck was found,
| half-dead, in Mr. Steels house, and
seeing as he claimed the cigar-case.
! what could be proved to be Van
Sneck's, I'm not surprised" Merritt
grinned.
Then you know all about it?'
Don't know anything about it"
he growled, doggedly. Il guessed that.
| When you said as the one case had
| been substituted for the other, IL don't
want a regiment of schoolmasters TO
| see where the pea lies. What you've
| got to do now is to find Mr.. Steels
| case"
81 have already found IL, as limited
! to you. II is at Rutter's in Moreton
| Wells. Ii was sold to them by the
| gentleman who had given up smoking.
| / want you to go into Moreton Wells
with me to-day and see If you can get
at the gentleman's identity"
Mr.. Merritt demurred. Ii was all
| very well for Chris, he pointed out in
| his picturesque language. She had her
| little lot of fish to fry, but, at the same
| time, he had to draw his money and
| be away before the police were down
upon him. II Miss Lee liked to start
at once"
81 am ready at any moment" Chris
said ''In any case, you will have TO
q otto Moreton Wells, and | can give
you a little more information on the
| way"
"You had better go along, Frank"
Littimer suggested, under his breath.
81 fervently hope now that the day is
not far distant when you can return
together; but for the present your
presence is dangerous. We must give
that rascal, Henson, no cause for sus-
picion."
"You are quite right" Frank replied.
"And I'd like to shake hands now,
dad"
Littimer put out his hand without a
word. The cool, cynical man of the
world would have found IL difficult to
utter a syllable just then. When he
looked up he was smiling.
go along" he said. You're lucky
fellow. That girls one in million"
The dog-cart, driven by Chris,
brought herself and her companion in
to Moreton Wells in an hour. Frank
had struck off across country In the
direction Of the nearest station. The
appearance of himself in Moreton
Wells on the front of dog-cart from
the castle would have caused a nine
days wonder.
Nov, what want to impress upon
you is this" said Chris. "Mr. Steers
cigar-case was stolen, and one belong
ing to Van Sneck substituted for IL.
The stolen one was returned to the
shop from which il was purchased al
most Immediately, so soon, indeed,
that the transaction was never even
entered on the books. We are pretty
certain that Reginald Henson did that,
and we know that he is at the bottom
Of the mystery. But, to prevent any
thing happening, and to prevent our
getting the case back again, Henson
had to go farther The case must be
beyond our reach. Therefore, l de-
cline to believe that II was a mere CO.
incidence that took a stranger into
Lockharts directly after Henson had
been there to look at some gun-metal
cigar-cases set in diamonds. The
stranger purchased the case, and asked
for it to be sent to the Metropole to
John Smith With the hundreds of
letters and visitors there, it would be
almost impossible to trace the case or
the man"
'Iockhart's might help you"
"They have, as far as they can. The
cigar-case was sold to a tall American.
Beyond that it is impossible to CO."
A meaning smile dawned on Mer-
ritt's face.
"They might have taken more no
tice Of the gentleman at Rutters," he
said, being a smaller shop. I'm going
to admire that case and pretend it be-
longed to friend of mine"
II want you to try and buy ii for
me-" Chris said, quietly.
Rutter's was reached at length, and,
after some preliminaries, the cigar
case was approached. Merritt took it
up, with a well-feigned cir of astonish-
ment.
why, this must have belonged to
my old friend, B" he exclaimed.
Its not new"
mo. sir" the assistant explained.
"We purchased 1t from gentleman
who stayed for day or two here at
the Lion, friend of Mr.. Reginald Hen
SON"
"a tall man?" said Merritt, tentat-
lively. Long, thin beard and slightly
marked with smallpox? Gave the
name of Rawlins?"
That's the gentleman, sir. Perhaps
you may like TO purchase the case?"
The purchase was made in due
course, and together Chris and her
queer companion left the shop.
'Rawlins is an American swindler
of the smartest type" said Merritt.
''If you get him In corner ask him
what he and Henson were doing in
America, some two years ago. Raw
Inns is in this little game for certain.
But you ought to trace him by means
Of the Lion people. oh, lor'!
Merritt slipped back into an entry as
little, cleanshaven man passed along
the street. His eyes had dark look
of fear in them.
They're after mel" he said, huski-
ly. THAT was one of Them Excuse
me, miss"
Merritt darted away and flung him