The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-08
CHAPTER vi.
A Policy of silence.

Eobty u sftchcts
Steel dropped into a chair and gazed
at Inspector Marley with mild surprise.
AT the same time he was not in the
least alarmed. Not that he failed TO
recognize the gravity OF the situation,
only II appealed. In the first instance, TO
the professional side of his character.
''walen is quite sure?" ne asked. mo
possible doubt about it?"
mot ir the least. You see, he recog-
nized his private mark at once, and
Brighton is not so prosperous a place
that man could sell a $40 cigar case
and forget all about it-that is, a second
case. mean. It's most extraordinary"
Rather! What a magnificent story,
Marley"
Very" responded Marley. drily. "It
would take all your well known ingenu-
fly to get your hero out of this trouble"
Steel nodded, gravely. This personal
twist Brought him to the earth again.
He could clearly see the trap into which
he had placed himself There before
him lay the cigsr case which he had
positively identified as his own; inside
his initials bore testimony to the fact.
And get the same case had been identi-
fed beyond question as one sold by
highly respectable local tradesman TO
the mysterious individual now lying in
the Sussex county hospital
May I smoke cigarette?" David
asked.
You may smoke a score II they will
be of any assistance to YOU sir" Mar
Io1r led -
any questions, and don't want you
well, TO commit yourself. But, really.
sir. you must admit"
The inspector paused, significantly.
David nodded again.
.'Pray proceed" he said; speak from
the brief you ha re before YOU"
''Well, you see. it's this way" Marley
said. not without hesitation. "You call
us up to your house. saying that a muir
der has been committed there: we find
a stranger almost III his last gasp. in
your conservatory. with every sign OF a
struggle having taken place. You tell
us that the injured man is a stranger to
you: you go on to say that he must
have found his way into your house
during a Eocturr al ram5ie of yours.
Well, that Sounds like common sense.
studied your habits. and has taken ad-
vantage of them. Then ask II you are
in the habit OF taking these midnight
strolls. and, with some signs of hesita-
ton. you say that you have never done
such a thing before. Charles Dickens
was very fond of that kind OF thing. and
naturally imagined that YOU had the
same fancy. But you had never done
m ha nnl lpna N
Is nearly murdered in your house"
Perfectly correct" DAVID murmured.
"Saboriau could not have put IL better.
You might have been a pupil of my re-
markable acquaints nee. Hatherly Bell"
81 am a pupil OF Mr.. Bells" Marley
said, quietly. Sewn years ago he in
duaed me TO leave the Huddersfield po-
lice 10 go into his Office. where I stayed
until Mr.. Bell gave up the business.
when applied for and gained my pres
ent position. Curious you should men
tion Mr.. Bells name seeing that he was
here so recently as this afternoon.
Staying I'm Brighton" Steel asked,
eagerly. what is his address,"
mo. 219 Brunswick Square
It took all the nerve that David pos
sessed to crush the cry that rose TO his
lips. 1t was more than strange that
the man he most desired to see at this
juncture should be staying I'm the very
house where the novelist had his great
adventure. And In the mere fact might
be the key to the problem of the cigar
case
I'll certainly see Bell" he muttered.
''Go on. Marley"
Eyes, sir We now proceed TO the CT
gar case that lies before you. II was
also lying on the floor of the conserv-
atory on the night in question. sug-
gested that here we might have found a
clue. taking the plecaution. at the same
time to ask II the article In question
was your property. You looked at the
case as one does who examines an OBJ
ject for the first time, and proceeded TO
declare that II was not yours. I am
quite prepared to admit that you--in
stantiy corrected yourself But, I ask.
Is II usual thing for a man to forget
the ownership of fT0 cigar casep"
"A nice point, and congratulate you
upon it," David said.
"Then we will take the matter a little
farther A day or two ago you were in
dire need of something like a1.090.
Temporarily, at any rate, you were
practically at the end of your resources.
II the money were not forthcoming, in
a few hours you weteza ruined man. In
vulgar parlance. you would have beer
sold up. Mossa & Mack had YOU In
their grip. and they were determined Il
make all they could out of you. Ths
morning following the outrage at you
house YOU call upon Mr.. Mossa and pro