The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-04-24
man who desires to throw dust in his

man who desires 10 throw dust in his
eyes?"
"Ah!" the voice cried; "ah. II you
| could only tell me that Yet my ruffan
| only imagine that ! am dead; let him
have proofs OF 1t. and the thing Is done.
could reach him then: I could tear
| from him the letter that-but need not
| go into details. But he is cunning as
the serpent, Nothing but the most con-
vincing proofs would satisfy him"
"A certificate of death, signed by a
| physician beyond reproach."
YES; that would do But you could
not get medical man like that to com
| NIT felony"
mo; but we could trick him into IT,"
| Steel exclaimed. I'm my story. a fraud
IL perpetrated to bird the villain and 10
| deprive him OF his weapons. II Is a
case OF the end justifying the means.
| But IL Is one thing, my dear lady, 10
| commit fraud actually, and to perpe-
trate it in a novel. In the latter case
you can defy the police: but, unfortun
ately YOU and I are dealing with real
life. If I am TO help you, must be a
| party 10 the felony"
But you will? You are not going 20
draw back now? Mr.. Steel, have saved
your home You are happy man com
| pared to what you were two hours ago.
| If the risk Is great. you have brains
| and Imagination to get out OF danger.
| Show me how to do IL, and the rest shall
| be mine. You have never seen me; you
know nothing. not even the name OF the
person who called you over the tele-
| phone. You have only to keep your
| own counsel and II I wade in blood 20
my end, you are safe. Tell me how l
can die, disappear, leaving that one
| man to believe I am no more And do
not make II too ingenious. Don't for
get that you promised to show me a ra-
tional way out of the difficulty. How
can it be done?"
"Tn my pocket I have a cutting from
the Times which contains a chapter
from the history OF a medical student
who Is alone in London. 1t closely re-
semhles my plct. He SAYS he has no
friends. and he deems Il prudent. for
reasons we need not discuss. to let the
world assume that he Is dead. The rest
is tolerably easy. He DISCUSSES himself
and goes to a doctor of repute, whom
he asks to come and see his BROTHER
e.. himself-who is dangerously I'll. The
doctor goes, later in the day. and finds
his patient In bed, with severe internal
Inflammation. This is brought a bout by
free use OF albumen. 1 don't know
what amount of albumen one would
take without extreme risk. but you
could pump that information out OF n
doctor. Well. our medical man calls
again, and yet again, and finds his pa
tient sinking. The next day the pa
tient, disguised. calls upo1 his doctor
with the information that his brother
is dead. The doctor is not in the least
surprised, and. without going TO view
the body, gives a certificate of death.
Now. / admit, that all this sounds
cheap and theatrical; but you can't
get over facts. The thing actually hap
pened a little time ago in London, and
there is no reason why 1t shouldn't hap
pen again."
You suggest that should do this
thing?" the voice asked.
Pardon me, did nothing of the
kind" Steel replied. "You asked me TO
show you how my heroine gets herself
out of terrible position, ard 1 am do
ing IL. You are not without friends.
The way / was called I'D tonight and
the way was brought here. prove that.
With the cid of your friends. the thing
is possible You are only TO find lodg-
ing where people are not too observant
and a doctor who Is too busy. or too
careless, to look after dead patients,
and the thing Is done. II you desire TO
be looked upon as dead-especiaily as a
powerful enemy-I cannot recommend u
more natural, rational way than this.
AS to the details, they may be safely
left to you. The clever manner in which
you have kept up the mystery tonight
conyinces me that I have nothing to
teach you in this direction. And IL
there is anything more can do"
"A thousand, thousand thanksi" the
voice cried, passionately. ITO be looked
upon as dead TO be near 10 the rascal
who smiles TO think that 7 am in my
grave. -. And everything so dull
and prosaic on the surface! Yes, have
friends who will aid me in the business.
Some day I may be able to thank you.
face to face, to tell you how managed
to see your plot. May II"
The question came quite eagerly. al
most imploringly. In the darkness. steel
felt a hand trembling on his breast, q
cool. slim hand, with many rings on the
| fingers. Steel took the hand and carried
| II to his lips.
| NONtlliiS "Ouiu give HE greater
| pleasure" he said. And may you be
successful. Goodnight"
Goodnight, and God bless you for
real gentleman ard true friend.
will go out OF the room first, and put
the lights up afterwards. You will
| walk away and close the door behind
| you. The newspaper cutting! Thanks.
And once more, goodnight but let us
! hope not goodbye"
She was gone. Steel could hear the
| distant, dying swish OF silk. the rustic
| of the portiere, and then, with a click.
| the lights came up again Half-blind-
| ed by the sudden illumination. Steel
| fumbled his way TO the door and into
/ the street. AS he did So Hove Town
| Hall clock chimed two. With a cigar
cite between his teeth, David made his
| way home.
He could not think II all out yet: he
would wait until he was in his own
| comfortable chair. under the roses and
| palms leading from his study. A fine
| night Of adventure. truly, and paying
| one He pressed the precious packet OF
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