Part 10 (2/2)

”Then I hope the matter can be settled at once,” said Seltz, apparently much relieved. He made no movement to sit down, but continued to look expectantly at Dr. Hartmann.

The latter nodded in a grave and rea.s.suring way. ”Give yourself no uneasiness, my man. Everything will be satisfactorily arranged.

Meanwhile, sit down, if you please, and tell me something about yourself. I understand you have been greatly worried, of late. Not quite yourself--let us say.”

Seltz looked at him in blank amazement. ”I haven't been worried by anything, except the business which brought me here. I want my money--”

”Exactly--exactly,” the doctor a.s.sented, in a soothing voice. ”You shall have your money in due time. I promise you that. But first sit down and let us have a little chat.”

Seltz sat down, helplessly. Apparently he was at a loss as to just what to say next. The doctor had told him that the money he expected would be forthcoming--he resigned himself in patience to await the latter's pleasure. For a moment he glanced at Duvall, however. ”You should not have taken it from me,” he said, peevishly.

Duvall looked quickly at Dr. Hartmann. The latter at once spoke up.

”Give the matter no further thought, my man,” he said, gravely. ”I will see that you are fairly treated. But before we go ahead, I want you to tell me more about yourself--your life--your amus.e.m.e.nts--”

”What the devil have my amus.e.m.e.nts got to do with the matter?” exclaimed Seltz, his voice trembling with anger. ”I tell you I want my money.”

”And I tell you you shall have it. But, now, I insist that you let the matter drop for the present and answer my questions, otherwise I can do nothing to help you.”

The remark quieted Seltz somewhat. He was, after all, in a peculiar position. The snuff box was gone. He cursed his stupidity in having let it pa.s.s out of his possession before the price agreed upon for its delivery had been forthcoming. That Dr. Hartmann did not question the payment of the money, however, was rea.s.suring. He determined to answer as well as he could whatever questions the doctor might see fit to ask him.

The latter continued to examine his supposed patient with a shrewdly professional air. ”How old are you, my man?” he suddenly inquired.

”Thirty-six.”

”Do you drink?”

”Yes--I--I drink occasionally.”

”Use any drugs?”

”No.”

”Appet.i.te good?”

”Yes.”

”Sleep well?”

”Yes--pretty well.”

”Have you had any shock, recently. Has anything happened to make you nervous, or excitable?”

Seltz glanced nervously from Duvall to the doctor and back again. What, he wondered, was the purpose of this examination? Was Dr. Hartmann trying to lead him into damaging admissions concerning the method he had employed to secure the snuff box? He scowled, then suddenly spoke. ”It's none of your affair, is it? if I have.”

”Oscar!” said Duvall, in a tone of remonstrance. ”Don't speak to the doctor in that way.”

”Oscar!” The man turned on the detective angrily. ”Look here--you took that--that--” he hesitated, fearful that some trap had been set for him--”that article away from me--now see that I get my money.”

The doctor glanced at Duvall. ”He seems to be possessed with the one idea,” he remarked, _sotto voce_, then turned to Seltz again. ”My good man, I have already a.s.sured you that Mr. Brooks and myself will see that you get your money. What more do you want?”

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