The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-09-06
CHAPTER XII.
A Delicate Errand.

A Delicate Errand.
It looked like being a long, DUH even
ing for Steel II he were not going to the
theater, Or anything of that kind. He
generally read until about II o'clock.
after which he sat up for another cou-
Ile Of hours plotting out the days task
for tomorrow. Tonight he could only
wander restlessly about his conserve
tory, shipping off a 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 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
;;ou," he cried. Take the big arm
chair. Let me give you a cigar and a
whisky n o and make you COM
Portable. That's better"
I'm tired out" Bell said. I'm London
all day, and since s with Cross. Can
wv pu( 4AlS up " ID.
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 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. or 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 Van Sneck; and Heritage,
who seems wonderfully better, was go
ir.g to assist" ~
rs your unfortunate friend up to
that kind of thing now?" David asked
I fancy so. Do you know that Herb
age used to have a fa~irly-good practice
near Littimer Castle? Lord Litttmer
knows him well. I want Heritage to
come into this. I want to get a The rea-
son why Henson has been SO c~onfound-
eddy good to Heritage. For years ne
has kept his eye upon him; for years
he has practically provided him with a
home at Palmer's. And when Heritage
mentions Henson's name he always does
with a kind of forced gratitude"
"You think that Heritage is going to
| be useful to us?"
II fancy so. Mind you, it Is only my
idea-what I call intuition, for want OF
a 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-nail.
$50 Miss Chris hopes to hypnotic the
man with the thumb he said. You
have seen more of her than I have, Bell.
Does she strike you, as h strikes me,
q girl Of wonderfully acute mind, al
lied to a pluck and audacity absolutely
%brilliant?"
"she is that and more" Bell said,
warmly. Nov that h is free to act
she has developed wonderfully. Look
how cleverly h worked out that REM
brandt business, how utterly h puz-
zled Henson, and low h 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-
fdence 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 q great
coup ahead. Later on she will use
Merritt, and a fine, ha~rd-cutting tool
she will find him.
.where is Henson at the present mo-
ment?' David asked.
ST left him in. London this afternoon"
Bell replied. but I haven't the least
doubt in the world that he has made
his way to Brighton by this time. IN
all probability he has gone to Long
DEAN"
Bell paused az the telephone Bell
rang out shEilly. The mere sound7o OF It
thrilled them both with excitement.
And what a useful thing the telephone
Are YOU theare?"',# came the quick,
small whisper. Els that you.. Mr.. steei29
I am Enid Henson. ~ 6. 81 4
There was . long pause. during which
David was listening intently. Bell
could see him growing rigid with the
prospect Of something keen. alert and
vigorous. S55Ss5.f
aBell Sc here. with me at this mo
mement,.r' he said. Just waitsa minute
while / tell him. Don't % away.
Spleass, Under the circumstances. 8
might besdanserous > me e ring youl
%. tJust moment. Here'sSa pretty
mess!'' %S VIZ IN.
..Weil,'"sM Bell aid. impatiently. '.I'li,
ORR 1; mere man after all.sa
Henson i sLongdean 4 lle turn nNd
up An hour. ago.a and a the spreaasesnNt mo-
ment isEs having his supper in b " 4
@braryySbefote going to bed.StBut that "a
notfthe wvorsts1ppaTt Oft Williams heard
1.-the; dosgaa making > great Noise by t n
Esfes. ana went : skee@ssRaywhats 49, Nas
wrong Some poor. detneented d fellow
RAJ climbed sDYer the wall md the DOR
were holding him up, Fortunately ne
aid not Sseernss$toSSb conssEciEpNu1lgJppf rs his dann-
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sdida Mn RS haJgm, VliiAnaayss waaS18Sgoota1
nut he5intEEa1adersl nstpst g atsss
1 when MI SSHsnsong as pps5gAA ~
whom d6 you lslupposeSfh ssSpooutsMaNpadss 81
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HsnIsAfpIditchS6s IN sealllirrsstyitesthaI EreeA
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