Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-10
XxIIr.
IDaisereffOn.

The expression on Henson's usually
benign co~Intenance would have startled
such Of his friends and admirers as re-
garded him as a shining light and bright
example. The SNUG satisfaction, the
unctious sweetness OF the expansive
blue eyes were gone. A murderous
CLEAN shone there instead. His lips
We're set and rigid, the strong hand
seemed to be strangling the bed clothes.
1t wanted no effort Of imagination to
picture Henson as the murderer stoop-
ing over his prey. The man had dis
carded his mask altogether.
"Oh!" he said, between his teeth. ''you
are a clever fellow. You would ha We
made an excellent detective. And so
you have found out where Van Sneck
is?"
"I have already told you," Littimer
said, doggedly.
How many days have you been
hanging about Brighton"
1.-TWO or three. I came when I heard
that Chris was i'll. I didn't care to come
near the house, at least, not too near,
for fear of being seen. But / pumped
the doctor. Then he told me that Chris
was dead. and I risked 1t all to see the
last of her.
Eyes, yes" Henson said, testify; "but
what has this to do with Van Sneck?"
II WIS looking for Van Sneck. / found
hat he had been here. / discovered
that he had left his rooms and had not
re turned to them. Then 1t occurred to
me to try the hospital. I pretended that
I was In search Of some missing rela-
tive, and they showed me three cases Of
bad accidents, the victims of which had
not been identified. And the third was
Van Sneck."
Littimer told his story with just the
suggestion of triumph in his voice. Hen
son was watching him with the keenest
possible interest.
"Do you know how Van Sneck got
there?" he asked.
Littimer nodded. Evidently he had
heard most OF the story. Henson was
| silent for some little time. He was
working out something in his mind.
His smile was not a pleasant one; it
was nothing like his bland platform
smile. for instance.
Give me that black book" he said.
do you know how to work a tele-
| phone?"
IT daresay I could learn. 1t doesn't
look hard"
'well. that IS an extension telephone
on Thu table yonder, worked in onnec
ton with the main instrument in the IL
hrary. I like to have my own tele-
phone. as It IS of the greatest assistance
TO me. Turn that handle two or three
times and put that receiver to your ear.
When the exchange answers tell them
to put you on 0,017 Gerard"
Littimer obeyed, mechanically, but
though he rang and rang. M answer
came. With a snarlipg curse Henson
dragged himself out of bed and crossed
the room with limbs that shook under
him.
He twirlcd the handle around pas
~sionately.
you always were a fooll" he growled,
land you always will be-" +
Still no reply came. Henson whirled
again, but could elicit no response. He
picked the instrument over and danced
around 1t impotently. Littimer had new
er seen him in such a re ging fury be-
fore. The language OF the man was an
outrage, filthy, revolving, profane. Nc
yelling, drunken Hooligan could have
been more fluent. more luridly offens.
i've.
"Go on" Littimer said. bitterly. II
like to hear you. I like to hear the
SNUG, plausible Pharisee. the friend OF