The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-09
conservatory. and his woufd-be CT
sassin was Reginald Henson!"

II was never more astounded In my
life!" gasped Heritage. Il have al
ways looked upon Henson as the soul
of honor and integrity. And he has
always been kind to me-"
"For his own purposes. no doubt.
You say that he found you a home
after your misfortunes came upon you.
He came to see you frequently. And
yet he always harped upon that un.
happy halfucination of yours. Why?
Because you were the Carfax doctor
for q time, and at any moment you
might have given valuable information
concerning the suicide of Claire Car
fax. Tell Heritage the story of Prince
Rupert's ring. Steel"
David proceeded to do so at some
length. Heritage appeared to be deep
ly interested. And, gradually. many
longforgotten things came back TO
him.
Il recollect il all perfectly well, he
said. Miss Carfax and myself were
friends. Like most people with bad
Unbalanced intellects. she had her
brilliant moments. Why, she showed
me the ring with a great deal of pride,
but she did not tell me it's history. She
was very strange In her manner that
morning: indeed. | warned her father
that she wanted to be most carefully
looked after"
Did she say how she got the ring?"
Steel asked.
Heritage did not answer for a mo-
ment
''Oh, yes" he said, presently. "She
said it. was present from good boy,
and that Reginald Henson had given
ii to her in an envelope. I met Hen
sen close by, but l didn't mention the
ring"
And there you have the whole
thing in a NUTSHELL" Bell exclaimed.
Nothing of this came out at the in
guest, because the ring story was
hushed up, and Heritage was not
called, because he had nothing to do
with the suicide. But Henson prob
ably saw poor Claire Carfax show you
the ring, and got bit frightened; and
he kept an eye upon you afterwards.
When you broke down he looked after
you, and he took precious good care 20
keep your hallucination always before
your eyes. Whenever he came to see
you he always did that"
You are quite right there" Her
itage admitted. HE mentioned it this
afternoon, when said was going to
take part in the operation on Van
Sneck. He asked me if | thought IL
wise to try my nerves so soon again
with the electric light"
And / hope you told him he was
talking nonsense" Bell said, hastily.
There, let US change the subject. The
mere mention of that mans name sti-
fies me-"
Morning brought long letter from
Chris Henson TO David, giving him In
detail the result of her recent inter
view with John Rawlins. There was a
postscript to the letter, which David
showed to Bell with a certain mali
cious glee.
"A nasty one for our friend enson,"
he said. What a sweet surprise 1t
will be for that picturesque gentleman
the next time he goes Matchmaking to
Longdean Grange"
Bell chuckled in his turn. The net
was drawing close about Henson.
How is Van Sneck to-day?" David
asked.
Much better" Bell replied. 'T pro-
pose to operate tonight I'm glad to
hear that your mother is going to be
away for day or two longer"
Heritage appeared to be ready and
eager for the work before him. A
specially powerful electric light had
been rugged up in connection with the
study lamp, and an operating table i'm
provised from the kitchen. More than
once Bell looked eagerly at Heritage,
but the latter stood the scrutiny brave
ly. Once the operation was success
fully through, Heritage would never
suffer from Authorizations again.
Il fancy everything is ready now"
Bell said, at length. After dinner to-
night and this thing will be done.
Then the story will be told"
Mr. Reginald Henson to see you,
sir"
A servant looked In with this in
formation and card on a tray. There
was a slight commotion outside, the
vision of a partially-wrecked bicycle
on the path and dusty figure in the
hall with his head in his hand.
THE gentleman has met with an ac-
cident, sir" the parlor maid said.
Henson seemed to be knocked about a
great deal. He was riding down the
terrace, he said, when suddenly he
ran over dog and"
What sort of dog?' Bell snapped
out. What color and siZe?"
Henson was suddenly taken aback
by the suddenness of the question.
EIe gasped and stammered. He could
not have told Bell more plainly that
the accident" was an artistic fake.
'"You must stay here until you feel
all right again." David suggested.
Stay for the night" Bell growled,
soto voce. Stay here till tomorrow
morning and hear something from Van
Sneck's lips that will finish his inter
esting career for some time. Medical
treatment be hanged. A clothes brush
and some soap and water are all the
physic he requires"
Presently Henson professed himself
to be better. His superficial injuries
he bore with manly fortitude quite
worthy Of his high reputation. He
could afford to smile at them. But he
feared that there was something in.
ternal of sufficiently serious nature.
Every time he moved he suffered ex.
quisite agony. He smiled in a faint
kind Of way. Bell watched him as a
cat watches a mouse, and he could
read a deeper purpose behind that
soft, caressing manner. What 1t was
he did not know, but he meant to find
out before the day was passed.
Hadn't we better send him to the
hospital?" David suggested.
What for?" was Bells brutal re-
Spouse. There's nothing whatever the
matter with the man f"