The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-05-03
getting dark as David let himself into
DoWnend Terrace with his latch-keY.

for the sport of chance. the within of
fate. those had all passed from him by
this time. It 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. f
"You have not suffered from the
shock. mother??" he asked.
well. no." Mrs Steel confessed, plac-
idly. You see, I never had what peo-
pie call nerves. my dear. And, after all,
/ saw nothing. Still, I am very sorry
for that poor young man, and I have
sent to inquire after him several times"
"He is no worse, or I 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. It was rather annoying
that this should have happened at
time when he was sc busy. And Mar
ley, would have all sorts Of questions to
ask at all sorts OF inc~onvenient sea-
IONS. "A
SSteel passed into his study presently
and lighted a 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 - fascinating mys-
terry could be woven rouud that gun
metal cigar case!
BY the way, where was the cigar
case? On the whole, 1t would be just
he could discover some reasonable K
cuse for It's possession. His mother
would be pretty sure to ask where 1t
came from, and David could not pre-
varicat.,, SO far as she was concerned.
and David was forced to the conclusion
that he ad left 1t 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.
i David slipped from the house and
caught a 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-night's Argus q
gun metal cigar case set with dia-
monds."
"Ah!" Marley said, eagerly, "can you
tell us anything about it,"
Nothing beyond the fast that I hope
to satisfy you that the case is mine"
Marley stared, open-mouthed at Da-
vid for q moment, and then relapsed In
to his sapless official manner He might
have been a detective cross-examining
a suspected criminal.
why this lnystery?" David asked.
ST have lost a gun metal cigar, case set
with diamonds. and I see a similar art
icle is noted as found by the police. 1
lost it this morning, and I shrewdly
suspect that I left It behind Ine at the
Office Of Mr.. Mossa."
'.The case was sent here by Mr.. Mossa
himself" Marley admitted.
Then, Of course. 1t is mine. I had
to give MI. Mossa my opinion. Of him
this morning, and, by a Of spiting
me, he sent that case here, hoping, per-
hars. that I should not recover 1t. You
know the case, Marley-it was lying on
the floor Of my conservatory that
night" !
IT did notice a gun metal a there"
Marley replied.
GAS a matter Of fact. o called my
attention to 1t, and asked II 1t was
mine.'
..And you said at first that 1t wasn't,
sir"
''Well. you must max, allowances for
my then frame OF mind David
laughed. IT rather gather. from your |
manner that somebody else has been
after the case; If that is go, you are
right to be reticent. Still, 1t is in your
hands, to settle the matter on the spot.
All you have to do is to open the case.
and II you fail to find my initials, Cd.
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"
'sNot strange. seeing that I scratched
them there last night said David. dri-
". When? oh, II raj after. you left
my house last night"
zane It has been some time In your
possession, sir??"' 83#yS
.a,Oh. confound{ It.. no. It was-well. It
was a present from q friend for q little
service rendered. 80 far AZ I under
stand, Il was purchased at Lockhart's,
iniNorth street. No TIL be hanged 4 4
answer any more Of your questions.
Marley. I'll be your Aunt Sally az far
GyoI are sofacially concerned. But,.as
to yonder case. our queries are dis-f
tinctly, impertinent.' n gsSs
arleyttshook his head gravely. az one
,nightlov er .promls,rg but heeadstrone
boy sssssss III ssS s M Sa
EDO understand that You decline to
account for the casesg!s,' ii asked.
Certainly I do. n q connected with
some friend Sc mine toswhomsI render
d assservtce: little time back The
whole stiingsssiss and must remainsgsan Up.
u Cfet.5ySNsSa BS@s q s&SssF$S gl