The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-18
CHATTER XIV.
on the Trail.

AT the same moment Williams came
softly in. There was grin OF satisfac-
tion on his face.
'The brute is fast asleep" he said.
''Tye just been In his room. He left
the lamp burning. and there is lump
on one side of his head as big as an os-
tIich egg. But he didn't mean to go TO
sleep he hasn't taken off any of his
clothes. On the whole, sir. wouldn't 1t
be better to wake our man UP and get
HIM away?"
David was OF the same opinion. Van
Sneck was lying on the bed, looking va
captly about him. He seemed older
and more worn. perhaps. because his
beard and moustacfEe were growing
ragged and dirty on his face. He
pressed his hand to his head in a con-
fused kind of way
II tell you can't find 1t" he said;
''the thing slipped out of my hand--a
small thing like that easily might.
What's the good making fuss about a
ring not worth EGO? Search my pock-
cts, IL you like. What murderous
looking log you are when you're out OF
temper"
All this in a vague. rambling way, IN
a slightly-foreign accent. Steel touched
him on the shoulder.
Wont you come back with me TO
Brighton" he said.
Certainly" was the ready response;
''you look a good sort OF chap. I'll go
anywhere you please Not that I've
got q penny of money left. What a
spree II has been. Who are you2"
my name Is Steel. / am David Steel,
the novelist"
A peculiarly-cunning look came over
Van Sneck's face.
II got your letter" he said, And I
came. 1t was after had had that row
with Henson. Henson is bigger
scoundrel than / am, though you may
not think It."
Il accept your statement implicitly"
David said. drily.
"well. he Is. And / got your letter.
And called. :. And you nearly killed
ne. And dropped il down in the corr
ner of the conservatory
Dropped what?" David asked. sharp
ly.
Nothing" said Van Sneck. What
do you mean by talking about DROP
ping things? / never dropped anything
In my life. / make others do that, en-.
Ell, But / cant remember anything.
II just comes back to me and then there
is wheel goes round In my head. 49,.
Who are your"
David gave the matter up as hopeless.
This was, emphatically, case for Bell.
Once LED him get Van Sneck back TO
Brighton and Bell could do the rest
WED better CO." he said to Enid.
"we are merely wasting time here
II suppose So" Enid said, thoughtful
w. "All the same. l should greatly
like to know what 1t is that our friend,
Van Sneck, dropped"
1t was a long and tedious journey
back to Brighton again, for the patient
seemed to tire easily and evinced q
marked prediction for sitting by the
roadside and singing. II was very late
before David reached his house. Bell
beamed his satisfaction. Van Sneek,
with hall CLEAN OF recognition of his
surroundings, and with statement
that ne had been there before, lapsed
into silence. Bell produced small
phial In chemists wrapper, and
poured the contents into glass. With
a curt command to drink, he passed the
glass over to Van Sneck.
The latter drank the small dose. and
Bell carried him more or less TO small
ground floor bed room behind the din
ing, room. There he speedily undressed
his patient and got him into bed. Van
Sneck was practically fast asleep be-
fore his head had touched the pillow.
II went out and got that dose with 8
view TO eventualities," Bell explained
''I know pretty we'll what il the matter
with Van Sneck, and propose to OPP
crate upon him, with the help OF Herr
tage. have put him in my bed and
Hooked the door. / shall sleep in the BID
arm CHAIR
David lung himself into a big deck
lounge and lighted a cigarette.
My word thal this has been DIT OF
business" he said Pour me on. a lit.
re whisky in one OF the long glasses
ard M Y up with soda. Oh. that,
better. never felt 80 thirsty In M,
nfe' ! got Van sneck away withou