Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-10-16

rift. a tool of Henson He tells me "
go to Littimer Castle to steal the ITEM
brandt for Henson, because Dr. Ben,
he find my Rembrandt. Then whaI
you call pump Merritt, and he tells me
all about the supposed robbery at Am
sterdam and what was found In the
portmanteau of DR.. Bell yonder. Ihen
| go to Henson and tell him what !
find out, and he laughs. Mind you
that was after I came here from Paris
on business for Henson"
About the time you bought that
diamond-mounted ci"ar-case?" David
asked, quietly.
Van Sneck nodded. He was evident
ly impressed by the knowledge pos
sessed by his questioners.
That's It," he said. Il buy 1t be-
cause Henson ask me to. Henson say
he make ii all right about the Rem
brandt, and that if | do as am told
he give me $500. His money is to come
on a certain day. but pump n
pump. and find that there is some
game against Mr.. Steel, who is a great
novelist"
" That is very kind OF YOU" David
said, modestly.
Zone against Miss Enid Henson"
Van Sneck went on" | met that young
lady once I liked her; therefore, | say
| will be no party to getting her into
trouble. And Henson says ] Am n
big fool, and that he is only giving
Mr.. Steel a lesson in the art of mind
ing his own business. So | ask no fur
Their questions, though | am a good bit
puzzled. With the last bank-notes
possess, | go to a place called Walen's
and buy the cigar-case that Henson
says. / meet him and hand over the
case and ask him for the money. Hen
son swears that he has no money at
all, not even enough to repay me the
price of the cigar-case. He has been
disappointed. And l have been drink
ing. So | swear | will write and ask
Mr.. Steel to see me, and do So"
And you get an answer" David
asked.
Sir, l do. You said you would see
me the same night. 1t was a forg-
ery?"
1T was. Henson had anticipated
something like that. / know all about
the forgery, how my note paper was
procured and when the forgery was
written. But that has very little to do
with the story now. Please go on"
Van Sneck paused before he pro-
ceeded.
II am not quite sober" he said. "T
am hot with what l call my wrongs. 1
come here ind ring the bell. The hall
was in darkness. There was d light in
the conservatory, but none in the
study. l quite believed that it was
Mr.. Steele who opened the door and
motioned me toward the study. When
I turned around | found myself face to
face with Henson"
Van Sneck paused again and shud-
dered at some hideous recollection.
His eyes were dark and eager; there
was a a moisture like 'varnish on
his face.
Even that discovery did not quite
sober me-" he went On. az fancied it
was some joke, or that perhaps l had
got into the wrong house. But no; it
was the room of a literary gentleman.
II expected to see MI. Steel come in
or to try the door. Henson smiled at
me. Such a smilel He asked me IL l
had the receipt for the cigar-case about
me, and said 1t was in my pocket.
Then he smiled again, and something
told me my life was In danger.
Il was getting pretty sober by that
time. 1t came to me that had been
lured there; that Henson had got into
the house during the absence of the
owner. 1t was late at night, in a quiet
house, and nobody had seen me come.
II that mar liked to kill me he could
do so and walk out of the house with
out the faintest chance of discovery,
And he was twice my size and a man
without feeling. l looked around me,
f~urtively, for a weapon.
"He saw my glance, and understood
it, and smiled again. 7 was trembling
from head to foot now with a vague,
nameless terror. From the very first I
knew that l had not the smallest
chance. Henson approached me and
laid his hand on my shoulder. He
wanted som thing. He gave that some
thing a name. If I passed that some
thing over to him / vas free, if not
Wei, gentlemen, / didn't believe
him. He had made a discovery that
frightened me. And / had what he
wanted in my pocket. II / had handed
1t over to him he would not have
spared me. AS he approached me, nv
foot slipped and | stumbled into the
conservatory. | fell backwards. And
then / recovered myself and deied
Henson.
"Fool!" he Kissed. DO you want to
die?'
But knew that l should die in n
a Even then l could smile to INV.
self as / thought how / could battle INV
foe. Once, twice, three times he re-
peated his demands, and each time I
was obdurate. ] knew that he would
kill me in any cas-
He came with a snarl OF rage.
there was a knife In his hand. I hurled
a dower pot at his head and missed
him. The next instant and he had me
by the th!oat. felt his knife between
my shoulders, then a stunning blow on
the head, and till l awoke here TODAY I
cannot recollect a single thing"
Van Sneck paused and wiped his
c wet with the horror of recoIlec.
ton. David Steel gave Bell a signia.
cant glance, and the latter nodded.
Was the thing that Henson wanted
a rlngF Steel asked, quietly.
tTo be Continteda
so. #.