Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER VI. (contlnued.)

HE was about to tell the Doctor OF
This extraordinary experience, even
he had half a doubt whether it had
been hallucination synchronizine
with the blow. when something
quite inexplicable omething-warned
him not to do so. He could not &C
count for the sensation, he could not
account for his resolve. 1t was there
nevertheless, and gripped him with
the strength of an obsession.
No" he said, slowly, II cannot
think of anything else at ALL"
Well, all can say" answered the
doctor is that you had better be very
careful in the future, and it might be
as well If you we're to go to Scotland
Yard and tell them what happened
If they care to send a man up here
will give him my version, though |
have no doubt the policeman who
helped me to get you here has already
reported the fact
Oh, well; | suppose it will be all
right" Marriott answered, feeling
that he was giving a somewhat made
quate and vague reply, Then he rose.
Well, doctor" he said, q, feel pretty
ut now. Do you think 1 can get back
to my chambers?"
Yes, think you will be all right,
the doctor replied But take care of
yourself for the rest of the day
1T awfully good OF you to have done
me so WELL" Basil said. And now,
what do owe the hospital?"
My dear sir" the doctor answered"
you owe the hospital nothing at all,
but If you like to give donation to
the funds l shall be pleased to hand
1t to the secretary"
When | am dressed and have my
things" Marriott answered, 81 expect
] shall be able to find a fiver and, |
say, doctor, won't you come and have
some dinner with me tonight at my
club?"
Il shall be very pleased" the doc
tor answered.
And within twenty minutes Marriott
was seated in hansom bowling
along to his rooms In Jermyn Street
When he arrived he found the land
lord and the valet, who attended to
the two floors, somewhat alarmed
about his absence When they saw
him in his soiled evening clothes,
wearing an opera hat and light
black coat, they looked at him more
strangely still.
He explained the matter in few
sentences and then went into his sit
ting room, lay down upon the sofa
and fell into deep sleep.
At 5 o'clock. as he had instructed
the valet, he was awakened. Il shall
be dining out tonight he said when
thezman entered. Put out some 9th
er evening clothes"
Very well, sir" the man answered.
Il have brought you cup of tea, if
you will take it, sir, after your acct
dent. And here, sir, are the evening
papers
Marriott slipped his tea. wondering
why fate had tnterfered so strangely
with his leave. Why was it, indeed,
that young and successful naval Of
ficer who had come to London. after
long cruise, to taste the dear de-
lights of the society to which he be-
longed-to "be in things" again
should suddenly have been the victim
Of / purposeless assault? And why
was 1t, above all--why was it that his
brain was still full OF vision of a
black swinging thing, thing like a
coffin - a thing sharply outlined
against the moonlight-that it should
still remain the predominant vision OF
his memory?
Well, 1t Is no use worrying about it,
he thought to himself / suppose |
am no rocky that what, after all, could
only have been an illusion keeps re-
curing to me-.
He stretched out his hand and took
up the Pail Mall Gazette He glanced
at the leader; he cast somewhat un.
eppreciative eye upon the smartness
OF The Occasional Notes." and then
turned over two pages to find the
Latest Kilograms
All! Here was something really in.
teresting. The T. NJ. g. did not use
thick, heavy type unless something
big happened. What was 1t? Good
heavensl Here was 4 sensation in
deedI
The little duke Of London-the rich
est child in the worlG a Prince only
second to ROYALTY itself--had utterly
disappeared from the great house Ii
Piccadilly. u
He recalled the whole Of the Incl
dents Of the afternoon of the day be
4 fore; how he had stood with his
father, the admiral, On the steps q
the Cocoa Tree club and seen the "a
diant young duchess driving away
from Marlborough house with & til,
child. who had been at the birthda,
party given by the prince and prin
cess Of Wales to the child friends o
their own children.
He atill heard In his ears the or,
Of the crowd, s. urrah for the littl,
duke! He still saw the beautiful
young woman who bowed to his faith
B er. and saw the tiny hand of the iii
& tle boy waving to Sir Hercules. The
an mberei all the admiral ha
ton him about the duchess. The Il
maS d history flashed out clear upo