The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-08-07
7ssCrimson
By Fred M. Gshte AIIn0
By Fred m. 6'hhe
CHAPTER XXI.
BeII Arrives.

than David Steel imagined. 1t had
seemed to him that he had pretty well
all tAe threads in his hands. but he
would have been astonished to know
how much more Hatherly Bell and
Enid Henson could have told him.
But IL seemed to Bell that there was
one very important thing to be done
before he proceeded any farther. He
was interested in the mystery as he
was interested In anything where crime
and cunning played a part. But he was
still more intent upon clearing his
good name; besides. this would give
him a wider field of action.
In the light OF recent discoveries IT
had become imperative that he should
once more be on good terms with
Lord Littimer. Only this was accom-
plished. Bell saw his way TO the clear
ing up of the whole complication. II
was a great advantage to know who
advantage to discover that the hero Of
the cigar case and the victim OF the
outrage In SteePs conservatory was the
graceless scamp Van Sneck. the picture
dealer. VINO had originally sold THE
Crimson Blind" TO Lord Littimer.
1t was all falling out beautifully. Not
only had Van Sneck turned up in the
nick of time, but he was not in a posi-
ton to do any further mischief. 1t
suited Bell exactly that Van Sneck
should be hors de combat for the
moment.
The first thing TO be done was to see
Lord Littimer without delay. Bell had
no idea of humbly soliciting an inter-
view. He proceeded to telegraph
office the first thing the following
morning and wired Lfttimer to the
effect that he must see him on import
ant business. He had an hour or two
at his disposal, 50 he took cab as far
as Downend Terrace. He found Steel
slug -hunting in the conservatory, the
atmosphere OF which was blue with
cigarette smoke.
80 you are not working this morn
ing?" he asked.
How the dickens can work."
David exclaimed, irrltably. mot that
j haven't been trying, I might just as
well take long holiday till this mys-
terry is cleared up for all the good
am. What is the next move?
my next move is to go to Littimer
and convince him that he has done me
a great wrong. I am bound to have
Littimer's ear once more"
"You are going TO show him the
spare Rembrandt, ehf"
That's II. / hatter myself I shall
astonish him. I've sent a telegram 10
say I'm coming to-day, after which
shall proceed to storm the citadel
feel all the safer because nobody knows
] have the engraving"
MY dear chap. somebody knows you
have the picture"
.'Impossible," Bell exclaimed. "oniy
yourself and Enid Henson can possl-
bly, be aware that"
All the same. i am speaking the
truth" David said. Last night when
you went into the hospital you gave
me the print to take care of. At the
same time ] noticed rough-looking
man presumably asleep on the seat In
the road facing the hospital. After
wards when looked around he hal
disappeared. At the time I thought
rothing of II. When l came In here
i placed the precious roll of paper on
my writing table under the window
wonder. The window Is small one.
as you can see. and was opened about
a foot at the top. sat here with the
light down and the room family illum-
mated by the light In the conservatory.
After a little saw a hand and arm
cropping for something on the table,
and I'm quite sure the hand and arm
were cropping for your Rembrande.
The fellow muttered something that l
failed to understand, and I made
grab for him and got him. Then the
the hani made a dash for my head
with an ugly piece of gas-piping. ana
had to let CO."
"And you saw no more OF the TEL
low"
.sNo: I didn't expect to. I couldn't
see his face. but there was one pecuh-
arity ne had that might tell you TOT
your future guidance. He had thumo
smashed as fiat as the head of snake
with one tiny pink in the middle or IT,
So. II you meet a man like that on your
tourney to-day. look TO yourself. On
the whole. you see. that our enemies
are a little more awake than you give
them credit for"
Bell nodded. thoughtfully the m
formation was OF the greatest possible
value to him. 1t told him quite plainly
that Reginald Henson knew exactly
what had happened. Under ordinary
circumstances by this time Henson
would be on his way to Littimer Castle,
there to checkmate the man he had so
deeply injured. But. fortunately, Hen
son was laid by the heels. or SO Bell inn
agined.
II am really obliged to you" Ben
said. your information Is likely to
be of the greatest possible servics TO
me. I am sorry you can't work"
Don't worry about me-" David said,
grimIy. "Tm gaining a vast quantity
OF experience that will be of the great
est value to me later on. Besides, can
GO and compare notes with Miss Ruth
Gates while you are away She Is
soothing"
$50 l shoudd imagine" Bell said. dri-
IS. mo, must be of. I'll let yol
know what happens at Littimer Castle.
Coed luck to you here"
And Bell hustled of. He was pleased
20 and recent telegram of acceptan nee
from Litsimer awaiting him, and be-
fore ocl,ck he was on the train for
London. 1t Was only after ne left Lon
onn that he began 70 crawl along.
Thanks to slow local hines and a badly
ntting cross-service, II was nearly II
o'clock before he reached Moreton sta