The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-09
By Fred M. G,hae
CHAPTER l.. ,coatinued1

Henson would never have dared!"
he said. My mind was quite easy on
that score"
81 understand" Chris murmured.
sand you kept the cigar-case?"
YES; rather liked IL. And could
afford a luxury of that kind just then, y
Then why did you dispose of IL at
Rutter's, in Moreton Wells? And why
Moreton WeIls?"
Rawlins laughed as he lighted a
fresh cigarette.
II came to Moreton Wells, knowing
that Henson was at Littimer Castle"
he explained. II went there to bor-
row e200 from Henson. Unfortunate
ly, found him in great need OF money.
Somebody who had promised him a
large sum OF money had disappointed
him"
Chris smiled She had heard all
about Lady Littimer's adventure with
the ring, and her stubborn refusal to
give Henson any further supplies.
Presently can tell you who disap-
pointed Henson" she said. But fancy
you being short Of"
"Of ready money: frequently am.
One of your great millionaires told me
lately that he was frequently hard up
for G1.000 cash. | have frequently
been hard up for e5. Hence the fact
that | sold the cigar-case at Moreton
Wells"
We'll the ground is clear so far"
said Chris, DO you know Van Sneck?"
Il know Van Sneck very WELL" Raw
Inns said, without hesitation. "A won
derfully clever man."
and great scoundrel, presume?"
well, on the whole, | should say
not, Weak rather than wicked. Van
Sneck has been a tool and creature of
Hensons for years. II he could only
keep away from drink, he might make
fortune. But what has Van Sneck
got to do with it?"
"A great deal" Chris said, drily.
"And now please follow carefully what
i am going to say. A little time ago
we poor, prosecuted women put our
heads together to get free from Regin-
aid Henson. We agreed to ask Mr..
David Steel. the well known novelist,
to show us way of escape. Unhappi-
ly for us, Henson got to know of it."
Rawlins was really interested at
last.
Pardon me-" he said, eagerly, ''if l
ask a question or two before you pro-
coed. Is Mr.. David Steel the gentle
man who found a man half-murdered
In his house in Brighton"
The same. But don't you know who
the injured man was 2"
"You don't mean to say II was Van
Sneck?" Rawlins cried.
Chris nodded gravely. Rawlins APP
peared like a man who was cropping
about in a sudden dazzle OF light.
Il begin to understand" he NUT
tered. The scoundrel!"
after that l will resume" Chris
said. "You must understand that Mr..
Steel was a stranger to us. We hit
upon the idea of interviewing him
anonymously, so to speak and we were
going to give him a gun-metal cigar
case mounted in diamonds. A friend
of mine purchased that cigar-case at
Lockhart's. Mind you, Reginald Hen
son knew all about this. The same day
Henson's tool, Van Sneck, purchased a
similar case from Walen's-a case
really procured for your approval
and later on In the day the case passed
from Vaa Sneck to Henson, who dex-
tsrously changed the cases"
Complex" Rawlins muttered. But
begin to see what is coming"
"The cases were changed, and the
one from Walen's in due course, be-
came Mr.. Steel's. Now note where
Henson's diabolical cunning comes in.
The same night Van Sneck is found
half-murdered in Mr.. Steel's house, and
in his pocket is the receipt for the very
cigar-case that Mr.. Steel claimed as
his property"
every awkward for Steel" Rawlins
said, thoughtfully.
"Of course 1t was. And why was it
done? So that we should be forced to
come forward and exonerate Mr.. Steel
from blame. We should have had to
tell the whole story, and 'hen Henson
would have learned what steps we
were taking 20 get rid OF him."
Rawlins was quiet tor some time.
Admiration for the scheme was upper
most in his mind. but there was an
cher thought that caused him to
glance curiously at Chris.
and that is all you known" he
ps ked.
mot quite" Chris replied. 81 know
that on the day of the attempted muir
der Van Sneck quarreled with Regi-
maid Henson, whom he said had treat
ed him badly. Van Sneck had in some
way found out that Reginald Henson
meant mischief to Mr.. Steel. Also. he
couldn't get the money he wanted.
Probably he had purchased that cigar
case at Walen's, and Henson could not
repay him for the purchase of 1t. Then
he went OFF and wrote to Mr.. Steel,
asking the latter to see him. as he
had threatened Henson he would do.
"Ah!" Chris exclaimed, suddenly.
"Are you sure OF this?"
I'm afraid this has come as shock
to YOU" Rawlins said, quietly.
'"It has, indeed" says Chris. and
your reasoning is so dreadfully logic
al"
Well, l may be wrong, after all"
Rawlins suggested.
Chris shook her head, donbtfully.
She felt absolutely assured that Raw
Inns was right. But then, Henson
would hardly have run so terrible a
risk for a little thing like that He
could easily have silenced Van Sneck
by q specious promise or two. There
must be another reason for
IL came to Chris in a moment. She
saw the light quite plainly.
MI. Smith," she said. eagerly
wnere did you first meet Henson and
Van Snecky'
we hrst came together some eigh,
years ago In Amsterdam"