Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-05-01
getting dark as David let himself into
Downend Terrace with his latch-key.

How good it was to be back again!
The eye of the artist rested fondly on
the beautiful things around. And, but
for the sport of chance. the whm of
fate, those had all passed from him by
this time. 1t was good to look across
the dining table over Venetian glass. to
see the pools of light cast by the shad-
ed electric. to note the feathery fall of
flowers. and to see that placid, gentle
face in its frame of white hair opposite
him. Mrs. Steels simple, unaffected
pride in her son was not the least graft
flying rart of David's success.
You have not suffered from the
shock mother?" he asked.
"Wer. no." Mrs Steel confessed. plac-
idly. You see. never had what peo-
pie call nerves. my dear. Aud. after all.
I saw nothing. Sull. am very sorry
for that poor young man. and have
sent to inquire after him several times"
He is no worse. or l should have
heard of it,"
mo: and no better. And Inspector
Marley has been here to see you twice
to-day"
David pitied himself as much as a
man could pity himself considering his
surroundings. 1t was rather annoying
that this should have happened at a
time when he was so busy. And Mar
ley would have all sorts of questions to
ask at all sorts OF inconvenient sea-
sons.
Steel passed into his study presently
and lighted cigarette. Despite his de-
termination to put the events of yester-
day from his mind. he found himself
constantly returning to them. What a
splendid dramatic story that would
make. And what a fascinating mys-
terry could be woven round that gun
metal cigar case!
BY the way, where was the cigar
case? On the whole, it would be just
as we'll to lock the cigar case away till
he could discover some reasonable eX-
cuse for its possession. His mother
would be pretty sure to ask where it
came from, and David could not pre-
varicatn. so far as she was concerned.
But the cigar case was not to be found.
and David was forced to the conclusion
that he ad left it in Mossa's Office.
A little annoyed with himself, he took
up the evening Argus. There was half
a column devoted to the strange case at
Downend Terrace. and just over it a
little advertisement to the effect that a
gun metal cigar case had been found,
and was in the hands of the police
awaiting an owner.
David slipped from the house and
caught bus in st. Georges Road.
At the police station he learned that
Inspector Marley was still on the prem
Uses. Marley came forward gravely.
He had a few questions to ask, but
nothing to tell.
"And now perhaps you can give me
some information?" David said. "You
are advertising in to-nights Argus
gun metal cigar case set with dia-
monds."
"Ah!" Marley said, eagerly, "can you
tell us anything about it?'
Nothing beyond the fat that hope
to satisfy you that the case is NINE"
Marley stared, open-mouthed at Da-
vid for moment, and then relapsed in
to his sapless official manner. He might
have been a detective cross-examinlng
suspected criminal.
"Why this mystery?" David asked.
1T have lost gun metal cigar case set
with diamonds. and I see similar art
icle is noted as found by the police.
lost it This morning. and I shrewdly
suspect that I left it behind me at the
office Of Mr.. Mossa."
The case was sent here by Mr.. Mossa
himself" Marley admitted.
''Then. of course, it is mine. I had
to give Mr.. Mossa my opinion of him
this morning, and. by way of spiting
me. he sent that case here. hoping, per-
hars, that should not recover it. You
know the case, Marley-it was lying on
the floor of my conservatory that
night"
IT did notice gun metal case there"
Marley replied.
GAS matter Of fact, you called my
attention to it, and asked if it was
mine''
"And you said at first that it wasn't,
SIR
"Well, you must make allowances for
ms then frame OF mind" David
laughed. IT rather gather. from your
manner that somebody else has been
after the case: if that is so. you are
right to be reticent. Still, it is in your
hands, to settle the matter on the spot.
All you have to do is to open the case,
and if you fail to find my initials, I'D.
S." scratched in the left-hand top cor
ner, then I have lost my property, and
the other fellow has found his.'
In the same reticent fashion, Marley
proceeded to unlock a safe in the cor
ner, and from thence he produced what
appeared to be the identical cause Of all
this talk. He pulled the electric table
lamp over to him and proceeded to ex-
anime the inside carefully.
You are quite right he said, at
length. "Your initials are here"
mot strange, seeing that 1 scratched
them there last night" said David, dri
ly. when? Oh, it was after you left
my house last night"
"And it has been some time in your
possession, sir?''
ooh, confound it. no. 1t was-well, 1t
was present from friend for a little
service rendered. So far as I under
stand, it was purchased at Lockhart's,
in North street. No. I'll be hanged il
answer any more of your questions,
Marley. I'll be your Aunt Sally as far
as you are officially concerned. But as
to yonder case, your queries are dis
iro1