Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-18
CHAPTER NV.
On the Trail.

At the same moment Williams came
softly in. There was a grin of satisfac-
ton on his face.
The brute is fast asleep" he said.
''I've just been in his room. He left
the lamp burning, and there is lump
on one side OF his head as big as an os-
t1ich egg. But he didn't mean TO go 10
sleep: h= hasn't taken off any OF his
cloth=s On the whole. sir, wouldn't it
be batter TO wake our man up and get
h,m away"
David was of the same opinion. Van
Sneck was lying on the bed. looking va
cantly about him. He seemed older
and mora worn, perhaps, because his
ragged and dirty on his face. He
pressed his hand to his head in a con-
fused KIM of way.
Il tell you I can't find it, he said;
"the thing slipped out of my hand-a
small thing like that easily might.
What's the good making a fuss about
ring not worth $50? Search my pock-
cts. ii you like What murderous
looking log you are when you're out "of
temper"
All this n vague. rambling way, IN
a slightly foreign accent. Steel touched
hin, on the shoulder.
Won't You come back with me to
Erightono" he said.
"Certainly.' was the ready response:
"you look good sort of chap. I'll go
anywhere YOU please. Not that I've
got q penny OF money left. What a
spree it has been. Who are you?"
My name is Steel. l am David Steal.
the novelist
y peculiarly look came over
Van Srecks face.
Il got your letter. he said. "And I
came. 1t was after l had had that row
with Henson. Henson is bigger
scourdrel than 1 am, though you may
not think it,
Il accept you: statement implicitly,
David said dril:.
We'll. ha is. And I got your letter.
And I called. -. And you nearly killed
ire. And l dropped it down in the cor
yer Of the conservatory"
dropped w1at?" David asked, sharp
ly.
Nothing said Van sneck. What
co you mean by talking about DROP
ping thingso l never dropped anything
in my life. l make others do that. en-
eh. But I can't remember anything
1t just comes back to me and then there
is a wheel goes round in my head. 80.
Who are you?"
David gave the matter up as hopeless
This was. enlDhatically. case for Bell
Once let him get Van Sneck back &c
brighton and Bell could do the rest.
Wed better 60" he said to Enid
eve are merely wasting time here
Il suppose So Enid said. thoughtful-
-. IAN the same. 1 should great!
like to know what it is that our friend
Van sneck, dropped"
1t was a long and tedious journey
back to Brighton again, for the patient
seemed to tire easily, and evinced {.
marked prediction for sitting by the
roadside and singing. 1t was very ,ate
before David reached his house Bell
beamed his satisfaction. Van Sneck
with half-gleam of recognition of his
surroundings, and with statement
tEat he had been there before. lapsel
into silence. Bell produced small,
pnial ir chemists wrapper and
poured the contents into a glass. With
Il curt command TO drink, he passed the
glass over to Van Sneck
The latter drank the small dose. am
Bell carried him more or less TO q small
grounG-foor bed room behind the di,l-
ing room. There he speedily undrcssnd
his patient and got him into bed. Var
S'eck was practically fast asleep be-
fore his head had touched the pillow
II Went out and got that dose with a
view to eventualities," Bell explained
81 know pretty well what i: the lnattcl
with Van Snec!s. and l propose to op.
crate upon him, with the help of Heri-
tage. I have put him in my bed ant
locked the door. l shall sleep in the bi
arm chair
David flung himself into big dec(
lounge and lighted q cigarette.
My word that this has been bit o
business" he said. Pour me out Il lit
Tie whisky in one of the long glasse:
ard ill it up with soda. Oh that.
better. l never felt so thirsty in m,
life. / got Van Sneck away withou