The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-06-05
By Fred M. Ohhe
CHAPTER Nj.
After REM brandt.


search the house from top 10 bottom
I've got a pretty sound theory in my
head, but don't like to leave anything
TO chance. We shall be pretty certain
to find something"
II am entirely In your hands," David
said YEARLY. 80 far as am capable
of thinking out anything, ii seems TO
me that we have to find the woman"
"Cherchez la femme is a fairly sound
promise in a case like this; but when
have to find the man who is at the bot
tom Of the plot i mean the man who
81 not only thwarting the woman, but
giving you a prssty severe lesson as to
the ad,isabillty Of minding your own
business for the future"
"Then you think am being made the
victim of vile conspiracy"
mot by woman. certainly. You are
the victim Of stme fendish counter
plot by the man who has not quite mas
tered what the woman is driving at.
IL placing you in dire peril he compcls
the woman to speak to save you, and
tLus to expose her fSnd.
Then, in that case. / propose TO sit
tight" David said, grimly. II am bound
10 be prosecuted for robbery and at
tempted murd ar in cue course. IL my
man dies / am In tight place
And IL he recovers.i your antagonist
nay be in tighter" Bell chuckled
And II the man gets well and the brain
injury proves perman ant--I mean IL the
man is rendered imbccile-whv. we are
only at the very threshold of the mys-
terry. It seems a Gallons thing to say,
but this is the prettiest problem 1 have
had under my hands"
MAKE the most of IT," David said.
sardonically. II daresay I should see
the matter in a more rational light If I
We're not so directly concerned. But, X
we aTe going to make a search of the
premises, the sooner re start the bet
ter"
Up stairs there was nothing beyond
certain lumber. There were dust and
DIRT everywhere, save in the hall and
front dining room which, as Bell sa-
piently pointed out had obviously been
cleared to make room for Steerh
strange reception. Down In the house.
keepers room was a large collection OF
dusty furniture and a number OF pic
lures and engravings piled up with their
faces to the wall. Bell began idly to
turn the latter over.
II am a maniac on the subject of old
prints" he explained. II never see a
File without a will longing to examine
them. And, by Jove. there are some
good things here. Unless | am greatly
nistaken--here. Steel, pull up the
blinds! Good Heavens. is IL possible?"
Found Sistine Madonna or stray
Angelo?' David asked. "Or ghost?
What is the matter? Is it another
phase Of the mystery"
''The Rembrandt" Bell gasped.
"Look at II. mani
Steel bent eagerly over the engraving.
An old print, an old piece of china. an
antique jewel. always exercised a
charm over the novelist. He had an
urerring eye for that kind of thing.
"Exquisitel" he cried. "a Rembrandt.
of course, but / don't recollect the
picture"
"The picture was destroyed by acci-
dent, after Rembrandt had engraved IL
with hic own hand" Bell proceeded TO
explain. He was quite coherent now,
but he breathed fast and loud. II shall
proceed to give you the history of the
picture presently and more especially
q history of the engraving"
HAS 1t any particular name?" David
asked.
yes; we found that out. 1t was
called The Crimson Blind"
''Nc getting away from the crimson
blind" David murmured. still. l can
quite imagine that to have been the
name of the picture. That shutter or
blind might have had a setting sun be-
hind 1t, which would account for the
tender warmth of the kitchen fore
ground and the deep gloom where the
lovers are seated. BY Jove, Bell, Ii Is
a magnificent piece OF work. I've 4
special fancy for Rembrandt engrav-
ings but / never saw one equal TO
that"
"And you never will" Bell replied,
"save in one instance. The picture IT
self was painted in Rembrandts mod
est lodging in the Keizerskroon Tavern,
after the forced sale of his paintings at
that hotel In the year 1858. At that time
Rembrandt was painfully poor, as his
recorded tavern bills show The same
bills also disclose the fact that The
Crimson Blind was painted for a pri-
waite customer, with a condition that
the subject should be engraved, as well.
After one impression had been taken OF
the plate the picture was destroyed by
a careless servant. In sudden fit OF
rage. Rembrandt destroyed the plate,
having. they say, only taken one Inn
preston from IT."
''Then there is only one OF these en-
cravings in the world? What flnd?'
"There is one other, as i know to my
cost" Bell said, significantly. Until d
few days ago I never entertained the
idea that there were two. Steel, you
are the victim. OF vile conspiracy, but
II is nothing to the victory which has
darkened my life"
Sooner or later, I always felt that l
should get to the bottom Of the mys-
terry. and now am certain of it. And.
strange as II may seem, i verify believe
that you and / are hunting the same
man down-that the one man is at the
bottom Of the two evils. But you shall
hear my story presently. What we
have TO find out now Is who was the
last tenant and who is the present own
er of the house. end. incidentally, learn
who this lumber belongs to. All. this
has been great day for met
Bell spoke exultingly. a light shininf
An his eyes. And David sars ntiy askes