Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-18

I1Iue. II Is llS 'iuS NiuN!l ANNSAH'>>.N
Henson shows to Lady Li,timer when
he wants moEey from her. 1t was lost
by Henson a night or two ago. and II
ten into the hands of SC me one who Is
interested. like myself. in the exposure
and disgrace of Reginald Henson.
Littimer examined the ring carefully.
1T is a wonderfully good imitation.
he said. presently.
so am told said Chris. So good
that it must have actually been co2i"a
from the original. Now. how could
Henson have a copy made unless he
possessed the originate" Will YOU be
good enough TO answer me that Quas-
ton. Lord Littinero'
Littimer couli 80 no more than gaze
ct the rims in his hand for some time.
II could have sworn-Indeed. l am
ready to swear-that the real ring was
never in anvbo iy's possession but mine
from the day Frank was a year old un-
til it disappeared. OF course, scores OF
reople have looked at it. Henson among
the rest. Bat how did Claire Carfax-'
"Easily enough. Henson had a first
copy made from a description: l dont
know why; probably we shall never
know why. Probably he had it done
when he saw your son and Miss Carfax
had struck up a Irritation. 1t was he
who forged letter from Frank to Miss
CarfaX, inclosirg the ring. BY that
means he hoped to create mischief
Which. if it had been nipped in the bud.
could never have been traced to him.
AS matters turned out. me succeeded pc
yond his widest expectations. He got
the real ring. TOO. which was likely TO
prove q very useful thing in case he
ever wanted to make terms. 4 second
and a faithful copy was rade-the copy
you hold in Your hands--to hold tempt
ingiy over Lady Lirtimer's head when
he wanted large sums Of money from
her
The scoundrel He gets the money.
of course:?"
He does. To my certain knowledge
he has had nearly 10000. But the case
is in good hands. You have only to
wait a tew days longer and the man
Will be exposed. Already. as YOU see.
I have wound his accomplice, the Rev.
James Merritt. around my finger. OF
course. the idea of my getting up ba-
Ear has all been nonsense. I am only
waiting for little further information.
and then Merritt will feel the iron hand
under the velvet glove. Unless am
greatly mistaken. Merritt can tell US
where Rupert's ring is. Already Van
Sneck is in our grasp
ivan Snack! Is he in England"
He is. Did you read that strange
case of a man being found, half-mur
dered. in the conservatory of Mr.. Steel,
the novelist. in Brighton? Well. that
was Van Sneck. But 1 can't tell YOU
any more at present. You must wait
end be content
Tell me one thing. and will wait as
long as you like. Who are you?"
Chris shook her head merrily. A
great relief had been taken off her mind.
She had approached a delicate and diff
fcult matter and she had succeeded be-
You'd her expectations. That she had
shaken the man opposite her sorely was
evident from his face. The hardness
vas gone from his eyes. his lips were no
longer bitter and cynical.
II may have been guilty of great
wrong" he murmured. All these years
l have been living under a misappre-
hension. And you have told me what I
should never have suspected, although
I never he'd a nigh opinion of my dear
Reginald. Where is my wife now?'
She is still &C Longdean Grange.
You will notice great change in her,
a great and sorrowful change. But it is
not too late to-
Littimer rose and went swiftly to-
wards the house. At any other time the
action would have been rude, but Chris
fully understood. She had touched the
man to the bottom of his soul, and he
was anxious to hide his emotion
poor man." Chris murmured. His
hard oynicism conceals a deal of suffer-
ing. But the suffering is past; we have
only to wait patiently for daylight
now"
Chris rose. restlessly, in her turn, and
strolled along the terrace to her favorita
spot looking over the cliffs. There was
nobody about: It was very hot there.
The girl removed her glasses and
pushed hack the banded hair from her
forehead. She had drawn photograph
from her pocket, which she was regard
ing lntently. She was quite needless Of
the fact that somebody was coming
along the cliffs towards her. She raised
the photograph to her lips and kissed
it tenderly.
Poor Frank" she murmured. Poor
fellow. so weak and amiable. And Yer,
with all your faults"
Chris paused and little eager cry
escaped her lips. Frank Littimer look
ing very wild and haggard, stood be-
fore her
Il beg your pardon he began. Il
came to Sac you because
The words died away. He staggered
BACK. pale as the foam beating on the
rocks below, his HANDS clutching at hi;
left side, as though there was some
mortal pair there.
Chris he murmured. Chris, Chris,
Chris! And they told me-
He could say no more. he could only
stand there trembling from head 10
foot. fearful lest his hooking senses
We're making sport of him. Surely It
was some beautiful vision he had come
upon With one unsteady hand he
touched the girls sleeve: he pressed
her warm red checks with his fingers,
and with that touch his manhood came
back to him.
Darling" he whispered, eagerly.
dearest, what does il u,aan'''