The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-09-06
BY Fred M. @hite
XII.
A Useful

more annoyed and vexed over the dis
appearance of the wounded Van Sneck
thar he cared to admit. He had an
uneasy feeling that the unseen foe had
checkmated MIN again. And he had
built up so many hopes upon this
strangely unlimited guest of his. II
tina man spoke he could tell the truth.
And both Cross and Bell had declared
that he would not die.
David found Cross in a frame Oh
mind something like his own. 1t was
late IL the afternoon before 1t trans
pired that Van Sneck was gone. ana,
unfortunately, David did not know
where to find Bell just at the moment
Cross had very little to say.
"A most unpleasant incident" he re-
marked. But these things will hap
pen, you know. We have been SO busy
lately, n our vigilance has been
slightly relaxed. Oh, it is impossible
to guard against everything, but he Is
certain to be found"
You don't think" David suggested,
"that anybody secretly connected with
the mans past"
NO, i uOIl SAOSo oA0PfSSs
would be impossible. The nan had
something on his mind, and, SO far as
bodily condition was concerned, he was
getting quite strong again. In MS
dazed state he got up and dressed him.
self and went away. He seems to have
been seeking for somebody or some
thing for days. We are certain to nave
tim again before long,"
"a Al{r r10r onr0Nlof{nn DAVID re-
turned home again. He was restless
and DESTROYS of human companionship.
He even resented 1t, as a kind of af-
front. that his mother a chosen at
this time to go to Hassocks to stay
with an old friend for a couple of days.
That Mrs. Steel knew practically noth-
ing of her sons trouble counted for
naught. Therefore it wao with some
thing akin to pleasure that David
found Ruth Gates waiting in the draw
ing room for him when he came IN
from his walk on the following after
noon. Nothing had been heard Of Van
Sneck in the meantime, but, thanks to
Chris telephone message late the pre-
.yious night, he had got in ouch with
Bell. who was coming south without
delay .
There was a look of shy pleasure in
Ruth's eyes and a deep carmine Hush
on her cheeks.
"You don't hin that this Is very
bold of me?" she asked.
"I am pretty Bohemian in any case
David laughed, as he looked down.
.fondly, into the shy, sweet eyes. And
I'm too overjoyed to see you to think
about anything else. 1 wish my mother
~ 1890 NJ r 1o~sk hnoo1Jc0 T
have you all to myself"
David! On an occasion like this you
ought to be the pink of propriety. Do
you know, I believe l have maze d
great discovery"
you found out?"
"Wel1, you must tell me something
before my discovery seems valuable.
David, you are a close student of HUI
man nature. Is it possible for men of
phenomenal cunning to make careless
mistakes? Do h most clever crimi-
uals ever make childish blunders?"
my dear child. If they didn't the po-
lice would have very little chance.
For instance, I have discovered how
those enemies of ours got hold of the
note paper hat lured Van Sneck here.
They sent a messenger to Carter's. IN
East street, ~presumingly knowing n a
my dies We're there, and ordered a quar-
ter of a ream of paper and envelopes.
These were ser to an address at East
Grinstead in a FURRY. Now. that was
very clever AMI smart, but here comes
the folly. These people. in the stress OF
business, actually forgot to ascertain
the cost and pay for the paper. so that
,...,- ,@oAeu5orv g., Loot nm r.
ter's bill. Oh, yes. I assure you. the
most brilliant criminals do the most
Incredibly foolish things" =
Ruth looked relieved. Her pretty
features relaxed into a smile.
"Then I fancy Reginald Henson has
Gone so," she said. IT fancy I have
solved the mystery of the cigar case-I
u1ean. the mystery of the one I bought
"And which vas changed for the one
purchased at Walen's. hence these
tears. But Lockhart's say that our case
was really purchased by an American"
Eyes. I know. And I fancy that the
manager honestly thought 30. But !
think I can explain that" E Z
1t was David's turn to look up. ca
gerly.
"Do you mean it," he exclaimed.
III VIII I1lukS u sWOAAOOAA OAAASASAASS a.
sou can. Tint has been n of the
most .S%cwildering knots of the whole
ruzzle. Jf VIC could crly trace the mum
hers Of those notes. I suppose changed
ct the same time rs the cigar case"
A.lndcel, they were not" Ruth cried.
81 have as~ccTtained that h case was
changed l,y Hcnsol,, as you and I have
already decided. Henson made the ex-
change, not at tho time we thought"
Not when you left the package OF
TIE table for him to sce?"
"Nn: at least j can't say. He had
tpc other case then. probably, passed
an to him hy% Van sacck. Or perhaps
he merely oscertaincd what I had pur-
chascfi. 1'hnt was sufficient for his pur-
nose. OF course, he must have found
cutsa!l about eur scheme. After i had
fiji my r.ss: 9 u Your doorstep g
man quietly changed II for the one pur-
ebascI. at Wslcn's. l.l.t this is the, nj
sernate t.:csrS only. Anyway ~ am
pusoiutc..y csrla.n :hlt sou got exactly
4ha same 5lrt..s that we had placed ir
mo or:Rinai cas-
.aTl,xt nfisht he; Steel said, Thought
fully. Euf tia. docs not explaii the
81 fnct that Lockha9t SOLD your case TO oll
American d the b!ctrcpolan
.T