The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-16


$50 you have found that out?" said
Bell. who told you?"
II learn that not so long ago.
learn IL from a scoundrel called Mer-
rift, tool of Henson. He tells me 10
go to Littimer Castle to steal the Rem
brandt for Henson. because DIR. Bell,
he find my Rembrandt Then l what
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. Then
go TO Henson and tell him what
find out, and he laughs. Mind you.
! that was after ! came here from Paris
on business for Henson"
About the time you bought that
diamond-mounted cigar-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 it be-
cause Henson ask me to. Henson say
| he make it all right about the Rem
| brandt, and that II | do as | am told
he give me $500. His money is to come
| on a certain day, but | pump and
! pump, and | find that there is some
! game against Mr.. Steel, who is great
novelist"
" That is very kind of you." David
| said, modestly.
"One against Miss Enid Henson"
! Van Sneck went on" | met that young
lady once liked her; therefore, say
| | will be no party to getting her into
| trouble. And Henson says ] am one
| 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 place called Walens
| 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 have been drink
ing. So l swear will write and ask
| Mr.. Steel to see me, and do so.
And you get an answer" David
| asked.
"Sir, 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.
81 am not quite sober" he said. T
am hot with what | call my wrongs.
come here ind ring the bell. The hall
was in darkness. There was light in
| the conservatory, but none in the
study. / quite believed that it was
Mr.. Steele who opened the door and
| motioned me toward the study. When
| 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 warm moisture like varnish on
his face.
Even that discovery did not quite
sober me-" he went on. II fancied It
was some joke, or that perhaps | had
got into the wrong house. But no; 1t
was the room of a literary gentleman.
IL expected to see Mr.. Steel come in
or to try the door. Henson smiled at
me. Such a smile! He asked me IL
had the receipt for the cigar-case about
me, and l 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. II came to me that l had been
| lured there; that Henson had got into
| the house during the absence Of the
| owner. IL was late at night, in a quiet
house, and nobody had seen me come.
| Ii that man 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 man
without feeling. looked around me,
furtively, for a weapon.
HE saw my glance, and understood
| 1t, and smiled again. l was trembling
| from head to foot now with a vague,
nameless terror. From the very first
| knew that / 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 / passed that some
thing over to him l was free, If not
We'll, gentlemen, didn't believe
| him. He had made a discovery that
| frightened me. And I had what he
wanted in my pocket. If had handed
IL over TO him he would not have
spared me. AS he approached me, my
foot slipped and stumbled into the
conservatory. | fell backwards. And
then / recovered myself and defied
| Henson
"Fool!" he Kissed. do you want to
die?'
But knew that should die in any
case. Even then l could smile to my
self as thought how could battle my
foe. Once, twice, three times he re-
peated his demands, and each time
was obdurate. I knew that he would
kill me in any case.
He came with a snarl of rage:
there was knife in his hand. hurled
a flower pot at his head and missed
him. The next instant and he had me
by the throat felt his knife between
my shoulders, then stunning blow on
the head, and till awoke here to-day I
cannot recollect single thing"
Van Sneck paused and wiped his
face, wet with the horror of recollec-
ton. David Steel gave Bell signifi-
cant glance, and the latter nodded.
WAS the THING that Hansen, xyop3oa