Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-06-19
III. Crimson
BY Fred M. Ghhe A//71
BY Fred M. G,hite
CHAPTER x1y-(ContinucdJ

44~e~~~.~~~e.~e~
CHAPTER XIv-(Continucd)
THAT is what they all say-and then
they rob me. You stole the REM
brandt"
The last words came like shot from
a catapult. Ends face grew colder.
Bell drew a long tube of discolored pa
per carefully tied around stick, from
his pocket.
81 am going to disprove that once and
for ALL" he said. The rembrandt is at
present in Lord Littimer's collection.
There is an account of it in to-day's
Telegraph. 1t is perfectly familiar to
both Of YOU. And. that being the case,
what do you think of this?'
He unrolled the paper before Ends
astonished eyes, Margaret Henson
glanced at it listlessly: she was fast
striking into the old, strange oblivion
again. But Enid was all rapt attention.
81 would have sworn to that as Lord
1ittimer's own!" she gasped.
cit is his own" Bell replied. "Stolen
.fron. him. and copy placed by some
-arch-enemy in my portmanteau. 1t
was certain to be found on the frontier:
Don't you see that there We're two REM
brandts? When the one from my port
manteau was restored to Littimer his
own was kept by the thief. Subsequent
ly it would be exposed as a new find.
with some story as To it's discovery,
only, unfortunately for the scoundrel
1T came into my possession"
And where did you find it?" Enid
asked.
Il found it, said Bell. slowly, Sin
mouse called 21S, Brunswick Square,
Brighton"
A strange cry came from Ends lips.
She stood swaying beforel her lover as
white as the paper on which her eyes
were eagerly fixed. Margaret Henson
was pacing up and down the room, her
Ups muttering. andSraising a cloud of
pallid dust behind her.
IL am sorry" Enid said. faltering
1y "And all these years have deemed
you guilty. But then. the proof was
so plain; I could not deny the evidence
of my own senses. And Van Gulden
came to me, saying how deeply dis
dressed he was. and that he would have
prevented the catastrophe if he could.
Well?"
A servant stood waiting in the door
way, with wondering eyes at the
stranger.
I'm sorry. MISS" she said; "but
Miss Christiania is worse: indeed, she
quite frightens me. I've taken the lib
Hrty of telephoning to DR.. Walker"
The words seemed to bring conscious
uess to Margaret Henson.
"Christiania worse" she said. can
other of them going; it will be happy
release from a house of sorrow like
this I will come up. Martin"
She swept out of the room with the
servant. Enid appeared hardly to
have heard. Bell looked at her inquir-
angly, ard with some little displeasure.
III fancy I have heard you speak of
your sister Christiania," he said. els
she ill?"
s'She is at the point of death, I'M
derstand; you think am callous. Oh.
If you only knew! But the light will
come to us all in time, God willing.
Look at this place, look at the blight of
1T and wonder how we endure it. Hath
-erly. I have made discovery!"
1--WE seem to be living in an atmo-
s,'here of discoveries. What is it?"
II will answer your question by ask
fng another. You have been made the
victim Of a vile conspiracy. For seven
years your career has been blighted.
And have lost seven years-of my life,
too. Have you any idea who your en-
emy is?"
t'Not the faintest, but, believe me, I
shall fni out in time. And them
purple blackness, like the lurid
light Of a storm flashed into his eyes,
the lines of his mouth grew rigid.
enid laid hand tenderly on his arm
Your enemy is the common enemy of
ans ALL" she said. 1--WE have wasted the
years, but we are young yet. Your en-
uemy is Reginald Henson"
ENID, you speak with conviction.
Arc you certain of this?" -
Certain. When I have time I will
tell you everything. But not now. And
that man must never know that you
have been near the house tonight not
go much for your sake as for the sake
of your friend. David Steele. Now can
see the Providence behind it all. Hath
erly, tell me that you forgive me be-
fore the others come back
"My darling, I cannot see how you
could have acted otherwise"
Enid turned towards him with a glad
light in her eyes. She said nothing, for
the simple reason that there was moth
Ing to say. Hathely Bell caught her in
his strong arms and she swayed to
reach his lips. In that delicious mo-
anent the world was all forgot
But not for long. There was sud-
den rush and tumble of feet on the
stairs, there was strange voice speak,
irg hurriedly, then the drawing room
door opened and Margaret Henson
came in. She looked wild and excited
aEd talked incoherently. An obviously
professional man followed her.
"My dear madam" he was saying,
~ have done all can. In the last few
days have not been able to disguise
from myself that there was small hope
for the patient. The exhaustion, the
shock to the system, the congestion, all
point to an early collapse"
rs my sister SO much worse, DR..
Walker" Enid asked, quietly.
She could not be any worse and ne
alive" the doctor said. 'Unless I am
greatly mistaken. the gentleman behind
sou is Mr.. Hatherly Bell. I presume
he has been called to meet me? If SO.
am sincerely glad, because shall DC