The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-04
CHAPTER XII.
A Delicate Errnnd.


A Delicate Errand.
II looked like being a long dull even
ing for Steel If he were not going to the
theater, or anything of that kind. He
generally read until about IL O'Clock,
after which he sat UP for another cou-
lie of hours plotting out the days task
for tomorrow. Tonight he could only
wander restlessly about his conserva-
tory, shipping off dead leaf here and
there, and wondering where the whole
thing was going to end,
With a certain sense of relief David
heard the front door bell trill about II
o'clock. Somebody was coming to see
him, and 1t didn't matter much who, in
Steel's present frame of mind. But ne
swept in TO the study with feeling of
genuine pleasure as Hatherly Bell was
announced.
MY dear fellow, I'm delighted to see
| ;ou," he cried. Take the big arm
chair. Let me give you a cigar and a
| whisky and soda and make you COM
Portable. That's better"
I'm tired out" Bell said. I'm London
all day, and since with Cross. Can
! you put me up for the night?"
MY bachelor bed room is always
ready, Bell"
Thanks. I don't fancy you need be
u-.der any apprehension that anybody
has spirited Van Sneck away. In the
| first place, Henson, who seems to have
discovered what happened, is In ter
| rible state about il. He wanted, very
badly, to remain at Littimer, but when
| he heard that Van Sneck had left the
| hospital, he came down here; In fact,
! we Travelled together. OF course, he
| said, nothing whatever about Van
| Sneck, whom he is supposed to know
nothing about, but could see that he
was terribly disturbed. The worst of 1t
| Is that Cross was going to get me TO
| operate on Van Sneck; and Heritage,
who seems wonderfully better. was go
| iLg to assist"
rs your unfortunate friend up to
| that kind OF thing now?" David asked
| 1 fancy so. Do you know that Herr
! age used to have a fairly-good practice
near Littimer Castle? Lord Littimer
knows him well. want Heritage to
| come into this. / want TO get the rea-
son why Henson has been so confound-
eddy good to Heritage. For years he
has kept his eye upon him; for years
he has practically provided him with
| home at Palmer's. And when Heritage
mentions Henson's name he always does
with kind OF forced gratitude"
You think that Heritage Is going to
| be useful to us?"
IT fancy so. Mind you, II Is only my
idea-what call intuition, for want Of
better word. And what have you been
| doing lately?"
David proceeded to explain, giving the
events of the afternoon, In full detail.
| Bell followed the account with the
deepest interest. Then he proceeded o
tell his own story. David appeared to
be fascinated with the story of the man
| with the thumb mail.
80 Miss Chris hopes to hypnotic the
man with the thumb" he said. you
have seen more of her than have, Bell.
Does she strike you, as she strikes me.
girl OF wonderfully acute mind, al
lied to pluck and audacity absolutely
BRILLIANT"
"she is that and more" Bell said,
| warmly. Now that she is free to act,
she has developed wonderfully. Look
| how cleverly shs worked out that Rem
brandt business, how utterly she pug
| zied Henson. and how she helped to get
into Littimer's good books again with
out Henson even guessing at the rea-
| son. And now she has forced the con-
! fidence of that great rascal Merritt.
| She has saved him from a gaol into
which she might have thrown him at
any moment she has convinced him
that she is exceedingly brilliant in the
way of an adventures, with a great
/ oil NJ uh I'LL
Merritt, and a fine. hard-cutting tool
she win flnd him."
Where Is Henson at the present mo-
ment?" David asked.
ct left him In London this afterr ~or /"
Bell replied. but haven't the r~-t
doubt In the world that he has made
bis way to Brighton by this time In
| all probability he has gone to Long
DEAN
Bell paused as the telephone Bell
rang out shrilly. The mere sound OF II
| thrilled them both with excitement.
And what useful thing the telephone
had proved
Are you there?" came the quick.
small whisper. rs that you. Mr.. Steel7
am Enid Henson"
There was a long pause, during which
David was listening intently Bell
could see him growing rigid with the
prospect Of something keen, alert and
| vigorous.
BELL Is here with me at this mo-
mement," he said. lust wait minute
while tell him. Don't go away,
| please. Under the circumstances, II
might be dangerous for me to ring you.
$3.50. Just a moment. Here's pretty
| mess"
We'll" Bell aid, impatiently, I'm
| orly a mere man, after an
Henson Is at Longdean; he turned
up an hour ago. and at the present mo-
mCnt is having his supper in the II
brary before going to bed. But that Is
i rot the worst part of It. Williams heard
the dogs making great noise by the
gates, ana went to see what was
wrong. Some poor, demented fellow
had climbed over the wall and the dogs
| were holding him up. Fortunately. he
did not seem TO be conscious Of his dan
| ger, and as he stood still, the hounds
did him no harm. Williams was going
/ TO put the intruder into the road again.
when Miss Henson came up. And
I