Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-14

the terrace after dinner. BY a BIZ OF
good luck I found the accomplish and
himself together In the day; in fact. /
forced Reginald:s hand, so that he had
to introduce me to the nan
I'm which case you would know him
again?"
"Of course. Presently I am going 10
show you a little more OF the comedy.
Well, I on the terrace pretty late.
when I heard dear Reginald down the
cliff calling for assistance. He pre-
tended that he had slipped down the
cliff and could not get up again. By
the aid OF a rope that, fortunately. hap
pened to be close at hand. I saved our
dear friends life. / have learned from
one OF the gardeners Just now that
Reginald placed the rope there himself
"a most effective touch, o must adj
nit"
Very" Bell said. drily. "But I quite
fail to see why"
"I am coming to that. Don't you see
that IL anything happened, Reginald
could prove hat he was not near the
house at the time? Bat just before
that I saw his accomplice come up the
cliff; indeed, he passed quite close to
me on his way to the house Reginald
quite overlooked this fact in his heed
for his own safety. When / had eff
fected my gallant rescue I heard an
owl boot. Now, there are no owls
about here
at guessed what II meant-it was a
signal of success. Then I went back
to the corridor and the Rembrandt vas
gone. The stays had been cut away
At first I was dreadfully upset; but
the more I thought Of II the more sure
I was that II was all for the best
But you might have raised an alarm
ard caught the thief. who"
Who would have been promptly dis
cleimed by Reginald. Let me tell you,
sir, that / have the thief and the lost
Rembrandt in the hollow of my hands.
Before the day is out I shall make
good my boast. And there's the break
fast bell"
IT looked quite natural, some time
later, for the three conspirators to be
lounging about the gallery when Hen
son emerged from his bed room. He
appeared bright and smiling. and most
OF the bandages had been removed
from his throat. All the same, he was
not pleased to see Bell there; he gazed
~uneasily at the doctor and from him to
Littimer.
"You know, Bell" the latter said,
carelessly. Fact is, there's been a
great mistake"
Bell offered his hand heartily. It
cost him a huge effort, but the Shiny
scoundrel had to be fought with his
own weapons. Henson shook his hand
with the air OF a man extending a large
and generous need of forgiveness. He
sought in vain to read Bells eyes, but
there was a steady, almost boyish
smile in them.
'I indeed rejoice he said, unctious-
ly I" indeed acknowledgements"
He repeated the last word helpless
ly; he seemed to have lost all his back
bone and lapsed into a fiabby, jellified
mass OF quivering white humanity.
His vacant, fishy eyes were fixed upon
the Rembrandt In a kind Of dull, sleepy
terror
I'm not well!' he gasped. Not go
strong as I imagined. I'l-Tli go and
lie down again. Later on I shall want
a dog-cart to drive me to Moreton
Wells. t."
He paused again, looked at the pic
ture, and passed heavily to his room.
Littimer smiled.
"Splendidl" he said. at was worth
thousands just to see his face"
"All the same Chris said, quietly;
''all the same, that man is not TO leave
for Moreton Wells till I've had a clear
hours start OF him. DR.. Bell. win you
accompany me?'