The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-04

L
tain papers In great hurry. Now.
those papers are locked up In a drawer
/ at 2l9, given over specially to Mr..
| Henson. My uncle promptly broke
| open the drawer and took out the pa
| pers. Besides these documents the
| drawer contained a package in one OF
| Lockhart's big linen-lined envelopes
registered letter envelope, in fact.
My uncle had little time TO spare, as he
was bound to be back In London to-
| night. He suggested that, as the lock
| of the drawer was broken and the en-
| velope, presumably, contained valu-
| ables. / had better take care of 1t. Well.
I must admit at once that steamed
| the envelope open. / shouldn't have
done II If Lockhart's name had not been
on the flap. In a little case inside
found diamond bracelet, which have
In my pocket, together with receiptsd
till for seventy-odd pounds. made out
| to me-"
ITO your" David cried. do you
mean to say that
Indeed, do. The receipt was made
out to me, and with 1t was a little POI
lite note to the effect that Messrs.
Lockhart mad made the exchange of the
cigar-case for the diamond bracelet.
and that they hoped Miss Gates would
find the matter perfectly satisfactory"
David was too astonished to say any,
thing for moment. The skein was too
tangled TO be thought out all at once.
Presently he began to see his way.
Under ordinary circumstances, She
charges seems impossible" he said.
Especially seeing that the Juggling
could not have been done without both
the cases-but / had forgotten how
easily the cases were changed. ] have
IT. What is the date OF the letter."
Ruth slowly unfolded a document she
had taken from her purse.
THE day following what you call
your great adventure" she said.
Henson, or somebody, took the real
case--my case-back to Lockhart's and
changed It in my name. had previ-
ously been admiring this self-same
bracelet, and they had tried to sell 1t
TO me. My dear boy, don't you see this
Is all part of the plot to plunge you
deeper and deeper into trouble, to force
us all to speak to save you? There are
at least fifteen assistants at Lockhart's.
OF course. the ultimate sale OF the ci-
gar case &c this American could be
proved, seeing the case has got back
into stock again. and at the same time
the incident OF the change quite forgot
ten. And when you go and ask ques-
tions at Lockhart's--as you were pref
ty sure to do, as Henson knew--you are
told OF the sale only to the American.
Depend upon 1t. that American was
was Henson himself, or somebody In
his pay. David. that man Is too cum
ming. too complex. And some of these
days II 10 going to prove his fall"
David nodded. thoughtfully. And
yet, without something very clever and
intricate in the way of a scheme. Hen
son could not have placed him In his
present Ak.
There Is only one thing to be done"
ne said. You and / must go down to
Lockhart's and make a few inquiries.
With that diamond bracelet and letter
In your possession, you should have no
difficulty In refreshing their memories.
VIII you have some tea?"
~ am too excited" Ruth laughed.
ST couldn'e eat or drink anything just
at present. David. what lovely house
you have"
I'm glad to hear that you are going
to like IT," David said, drily.
Lockhart's received their customers
in the usual courtly style. They were
sorry they had no recollection of the
transaction to which madam referred.
The sale OF the bracelet was clear. be-
cause that was duly and properly re-
corded on the books and as indeed was
the sale of the gun-metal c.gar-case to
an American gentleman at the Metro
pole. II madam said that she had pur-
chased the cigar-case, why--still, the
polite assistant was most courteously
incredulous.
The production of the letter made a
difference. There was a passing OF
condolences from one plate-glass coun-
ter TO another, and presently another
assistant came forward. He profouRd-
" regretted that there had been a mis-
take, but he remembered the incident
perfectly. It was the day before he
had departed on his usual monthly WIS.,
II to the firms Paris branch. Madam
had certainly purchased the cigar-case;
but before the sale could be posted In
the ledger madam had sent q gentle
mar to change the case for the dia-
mond bracelet previously admired. The
speaker had attended to both the sale
and the exchange: in fact, his Gao was
waiting for him during the latter Incl
dent.
II trust there is nothing wrong?" he
asked, anxiously.
Not In the least" Ruth FASTENED to
reply. "The whole matter Is kind OF
comedy that wanted to solve. 1t is a
family joke. you understand. And who
made the exchange7"
Mr.. Gates, madam. A tall gentle
man. dressed In"
THAT is quite sufficient. thank you"
said Ruth. II am sorry 10 trouble you
over so silly a matter"
The assistant assured madam, with
an air OF painful repreach, that moth
ing was accounted trouble In that es-
adjustment. He bowed his visitor out,
and informed them that II was a lovely
afternoon, a self-evident axiom that
the most disputauous could not well
deny.
"You see how our inquiries might
have been utterly baffied but for this
find of NINE" Ruth said. as the two
went along North street. I'VE shall
find presently that the Metropole Amer
lean and Reginald Henson are one and
| the same person"
And you fancy that he made the ex-
| change at Lockhart'sf"
81 feel pretty certain Of f." Ruth re-