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

door closed upon Henson. Heritage
looked like a man who does not quite
understand.
IL haven't quite got the hang of it
| yet" he said. WAS that done for my
/ benefit?"
"Of course It was" Bell replied
Henson found that Van Sneck vas
here. as he was certain TO do, sooner
| or later. He comes here to make in
quiries, and finds you; also, he comes
TO spy out the land Now, without be-
ing much of a gambler. I'm willing to
stake a large sum that he introduced
| the subject of your own trouble"
HE invariably did that" Heritage
admitted.
Naturally. That was part of his
game. And you told him that you had
not got over your illness, and that you
| were going to do an operation. And
you told him how. Where were you
when the little conversation betweer
Henson and yourself took placer"
He was asked into the dining
room"
And then you told him everything
wall plug, he knew how to act He
made up his mind that the electric
light would fail at the critical mo-
ment. Hence the dramatic accident
with the cycle. Once Henson had got
into the house, the rest was easy. He
had only to wet his fingers and press
them hard against the two wires in the
wall plug, and out pops the light, in
- ~
| don't know where Henson learned
the trick, but do know that | was
fool not to think of it. You see, the
hall light, BEND dropped through from
the floor above, was on another cir
cult. If IL hadn't been we should have
had our trouble with Van Sneck for
nothing"
HE would have died?" David asked.
The two doctors nodded significant
ly.
What a poisonous scoundrel he is,"
David cried. Miss Chris Henson does
not hesitate to say that he was more
or less instrumental in removing two
people who helped her and her sister
to defeat Henson, and now he makes
two attacks on Van Sneck's life. Real
ly, we ought to inform the police what
has happened and have him arrested
before he can do any further mischief.
Penal servitude for life would about fit
the case"
Van Sneck was jealously guarded by
Heritage and Bell for the next few
hours. He awoke the next morning
little the worse for the operation His
eyes were clear now; the restless, ca
ger look had gone from him.
Sell explained briefly, AS he spoke
his anxiety passed away. He saw that
Van Sneck was following quite intelli-
gently and nationally.
Where am II" he demanded. what
has happened?"
II remember coming here" the
Dutchman said. 81 don't recall the
rest just now. feel like a man who
is trying to piece the fragments Of
dream together"
you'll have 1t all right in an hour
or two" Bell said, with an encouraging
smile. Meanwhile, your breakfast is
ready. Yes, you can smoke afterwards
IL you like. And then you shall tell
me all about Reginald Henson. AS
matter of fact, we know all about it
now"
"Oh," Van Sneck said, blankly. you
do, eh?"
Eyes; even to the history of the
second Rembrandt, and the reason why
Henson stabbed you and gave you that
crack over the head II you tell me
the truth you are safe; If you don't
why, you stand chance of joining
Henson in the dock"
Bell went off, leaving Van Sneck to
digest this speech at his leisure. Van
Sneck lay back on his bed, propped up
with pillows, and smoked many cigar
cites before he expressed a desire TO
see Bell again. The latter came in
with Steel. Heritage had gone else
where.
"This gentleman is Mr.. Steel?" Van
| Sneck suggested.
| Bell responded, somewhat drily, that
1t was. But / see that you are going
! to tell US everything" he went on.
That being so, suppose you begin at
the beginning. When you sold that
copy of the Crimson Blind to Lord
Littimer had you the other copy?"
ZACH, you have got to the bottom of
things, it seems" Van Sneck gurgled.
Eyes, l have saved your life, foolish
as it might SEEM" Bell replied You
came very near to losing it the second
attempt last night at Henson's hands.
Henson is done for, played out, burst
up. We can arrest him on half doz-
en- charges when we please. We can
have him arrested any time on a
charge of conspiracy over those pic
| lures"
'Of which I am innocent; l swear
It," said Van Sneck, solemnly. Those
| two Rembrandt-they fell into my
hands by what you call slice of good
luck. | am working hand-in-glove with
Henson at the time, and show him
them. suggest Lord Littimer as a
purchaser. He would, perhaps, buy the
| two, which would De little fortune for
me. Then Henson, he says, Don't you
be a fool, Van Sneck. Suppress the
other; say nothing about it. You get
as much from Littimer for the one as
you get for the two, because Lord Lit
timer thinks 1t is unique"
That idea commended itself to a
curio dealer?" Bell suggested, drily.
But yes" Van Sneck said, eagerly.
Later on we disclose the other and
~