The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-04-26
who desires 10 throw dust in his

have proofs Of 1t, and the thing is done.
L could reach him then; I could tear
from him the letter that-but I 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 a medical man like that to com
init a felony"
mo; but we could trick him into IT.
Steel exclaimed. "In my story, a fraud
is perpetrated to bird the Villain and to
deprive him Of his weapons. It is a
case Of the end justifying the, means.
But 1t is one thing, my dear lady, to
commit fraud actually, and to perpe-
trate 1t In a novel. In the latter case
you can defy the police; but, unfortun-
ately, o and I are dealing with real
life. II I am to help you, I must be a
party to the felony" 4
but you will? You are not going to
draw back now? MI. Steel, I have saved
your home You are a happy man COM
pared to what you were two hours ago.
II the risk is great, you have brains
and Imagination to get out Of danger.
Show me how to do 1t. and the rest shall
NC AIlAuCs " LUZ HIVE IcNci SG6Ht U10s yOu
know nothing, not v the name of the
person who called you over the tele-
phone. You have only to keep your
W counsel, and If I wade in blood to
my end, you are safe. Tell me how l
Can die. disappear, leaving that one
nan to believe I am no more. And do
not make 1t 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?"
''In my pocket I have a cutting from
the Times which contains q chapter
from the history of a medical student
who is alone in London. 1t closely re-
sembles my plct. He sa.s he has no
friends, and he deems it 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-i.
e., himself-who is dangerously i'll. The
doctor goes, later in the day, n finds
his patient in bed. with evere internal
Inflammation. This is brought about by
a free use of albumen. I don't know
what amount of albumen one would
take without extreme risk, but you
could pump that information out of q
doctor. Well, our medical man calls
again, and yet again, and finds his pa
tient sinking. The ley 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. I 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 it shouldn't hap
pen again."
"You suggest that I should do this
thing?" the voice asked.
Pardon me, I did nothing Of the
kind" Steel replied. you asked me to
show o how my heroine gets herself
out of a terrible position, ard I am do
ing it. You are not without friends.
The way I was called Up tonight and
the way I was brought here, prove that.
With the aid of your friends, the thing
is possible. You are only to find a 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 nave kept up the mystery tonight,
convinces me that I have nothing to
teach you in this direction. And #
there is anything more I can do"
GA thousand, thousand thanks;" the
voice cried, passionately.S ITO be looked
upon as dead to be near to the rascal
who smiles to think that I am in my \
grave. . . And everything sc dull
and prosaic on the surface! Yes, I have
friends who will aid me in the business.
Some day I may be able to thank you.
face to face, to tell o how I managed
to see our plot. May II"
The question came quite eagerly, al.
most imploringly. In the darkness, Steel
felt a hand trembling on his breast, s.
cool, slim hand, with many rings On the
fingers. Steel took the hand and carried
1t to his lips.
Nothing would give me greater
pleasure" he said. "And may you be
Goodnight"
Goodnight, and God bless you for q
real gentleman ard a true friend. I
will go out Of the room first, and put
LuS lights up dlISI ,4ou Va
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
home.
He could not think 1t all out yet; he
would wait unit. he was in his own
comfortable chair, under the roses and
palms leading from his study. A hne
night of adventure. truly, and paying
He pressed the precious packet OF
to his side ard his soul expanded.
He was home at last. But, surely. ne
had closed the door before he started?
He remembered. distinctly. trying b
latch. And here Lhe latch was back
and the door open! The quick snap Of
the electric light declared nobody in the
dining room. Beyond the study wasfin
darkness. Nobody there, but--stop! sss$
IA stain on the carpet; another by =
Conservatory door. Pots OF flowers scat
tered about, and a huddied mass, likes
litter or empty sacks. In n corner
Then the huddleds mass resolved itselfj