Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-09-04
CHAPTER XII.
A Delicate Errand.

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ing for Steel II 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 a dead leaf here and
there. and wondering where the whole
thing was going to end.
With q certain sense Of relief David
heard the front door bell trill about IL
o'clock. Somebody was coming TO see
him, and 1t didn't matter much who, in
Steel's present frame of mind. But he
swept in to the study with a feeling Of
genuine pleasure as Hatherly Bell was
announced.
My dear fellow, I'm delighted to see
you,' he cried. Take the big arm
chair. Let me give you a cigar and a
whisky and soda and make o COM
Portable. That's better"
I'm tired out" Bell said. I'm London
all day, n since 6 with Cross. Can
you put me up for the night?"
My bachelor bed room Is always
ready, Bell"
Thanks. / don't fancy you need be
u-.der n apprehension that anybody
has spirited VI Sneck away, In the
first place, Henson, who seems to have
discovered what happened, is in a ter
rible state about it. 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 i could see that he
was terribly disturbed. The worst OF it
IS that Cross was going to get me to
operate on Wan Sneck; and Heritage,
who seems wonderfully better, was go
iL.g to assist"
lis your unfortunate friend UP to
that kind of thing now?" David asked
l fancy so. Do you know that Herr
age used to have a fairly-good practice
near Littimer Castle? Lord Littimer
knows him well. I want Heritage to
come into this. I want TO get a 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 a
Il AACAAAV oN y ~ . AAAu
mentions Henson's name he always does
with a kind OF forced gratitude"
you think that Heritage is going to
be useful to us?" ..., g..
"I fancy so. Mind you, II Is only my
idea-what I call intuition. for want of
q better word. And what ave you been
doing lately?"
David proceeded to explain, giving the
~,n-N- "a 49, .4%owun1n a.. R,ll dafoN
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 b man
with the thumb-nail.
80 Miss Chris hopes to hypnotic he
maj with the thumb" he said. You
have seen more of her than I have, Bell.
Does she strike you, as she strikes me-,
a girl of wonderfully acute mind, al
lied to a pluck and audacity absolutely
BRILLIANT"
"She is that and more" Bell said,
warmly. Now that h Is free 70 act,
she has developed wonderfully. Look
how cleverly she 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 tea-
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 a convinced him
that she Is exceedingly brilliant in the
way of an adventures, with a great
coup ahead. Later on she will use
Merritt, and a fine. ha~rd-cutting tool
she will find him." p
Where is Henson at the present mo-
ment?' David asked.
"I left him In London this afterr ~o7 I"
Bell replied. But / haven't the '>"-t
doubt in the world that he has maize
bis way to Brighton by this time. In
all probability he has gone to Long
dean"
Bell paused as the telephone Bell
ang out shrilly. The mere sound of II
thrilled them both with excitement.
And what a useful thing the telephone
had proved
Are you there?' came the quick.
small whisper. rs that you, Mr.. Steel?
/ am Enid Henson"
There was q long pause, during which
David was listening intently. Bell
could see him growing rigid with the
prospect or something keen, alert and
vigorous.
"Bell is here with me at this mo-
mement." he said. Just wait a minute
while I tell him. Don't go away.
please Under the circumstances, II
might be dangerous for me to ring you.
..... Just q moment. Here's a pretty
mess!"
"wen,' Bell aid, impatiently, "I'm
Only a mere man, after ALL"
Henson is at Longdean; he turned
up an hour ago, and at the present mo-
ment is having his supper in the IL
brary before going to bed. But that is
not the worst part of It. Williams heard
the dogs making a great noise by the
gates, and 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 10 be conscious OF his dam
ger. and as ne stood still, the hounds
did him no harm. Williams was going
to put the intruder into the road again.
when Miss Henson anne up. And
whom do you suppose the poor, wander
L.