Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-08-07
71sCrimS0n
By Fred M. G)hite AI/H0

| I.ittinler had said that Carnage
should meet him.
However, there was no conveyance OF
any kind outside the station. One
sleepy porter had already departed, and
tie other one. who took Bells ticket
and was obviously waiting to lock up.
icposcl that a carriage from the cas-
tie had come to the station, but that
some clerical gentleman had come
along ana countermanded it. Where
W on the los-cart had departed.
"Ne~y strange" Bell muttered. "What
sort of parson was it?"
Il only just saw his face" the porter
yawned. Dressed in black. with a
white tie and straw hat. Walked IN
siouching kind of way. with his hands
down; new curate from ST. Adams,
perhaps. Looked like a chap as could
take care of himself in a row.
Thanks" Bell said, CURLY. I'll
manage the walk: it's only two miles.
Goodnight"
Bells face was grim and set as ne
stepped out into the road. He knew
fairly we'll what this meant 1t was
pretty evident that his arch-enemy
knew his movements perfectly WELL and
made to prevent him reaching the cas-
tie. He called back to the porter:
How long since the carriage VENT
he asked
A voice from the darkness said ''Ten
minutes" and Bell trudged along with
the knowledge that one Of his enemies,
| at least, was close at hand. That Reg
inald Henson was at the castle he had
not the ren,otest idea. Nor did he fear
personal violence. Despite his figure,
he was a man of enormous strength and
courage. But he had not long to walt.
| Somebody was coming down the lone
ly road towards MIN, somebody in cler-
it;tl attire. The stranger stopped and
politely. if a little huskily, inquired If
he was on the right way to Moreton
/ Station Bell answered. as politely,
that he was, and asked to know the
time. Not that he cared anything
about the time: what he really wanted
was to seq the strangers hands. The
little ruse was successful. In the dim
F, light Bell could see a 1iattened hideous
thumb with the pink parody Of a nail
upon it.
Thanks. very much" ne said, crisp
| ~. Keep straight on
He half turned as the stranger
swung round. The latter darted at
Bell but he came too late. Bells fist
shot out and caught him fairly on the
forehead Then the stick in Bells left
hand came down with crushing force
on the PROSTATE mans skull. So ut
! terly dazed ana surprised was he that
| lie lay on the ground for a moment,
!anting heavily.
"You murdercus ruffian!" Bell ex-
claimed. "You escaped convict in an
honest mans clothes. Get up! So You
are the fellow"
He paused, suddenly industrious Of
letting the rascal see that he knew too
! much. The other man rolled over sud-
tlwenly, like a cat and made a dash for
a gap in the hedge. He was gone like
a flash. Pursuit would be useless, for
| pace was not Bells strong point. And
! he was not fearful of being attacked
again.
Henson seems to be pretty we'll
| served ne muttered. grimly.
Meanwhile, the man with the thumb
! was flying over the fields in the direc-
/ ton of Littimer. He made his way
| across country to the cliffs with the as
sured air of one who knows every inch
| of the ground. He had failed in the
| first part of his Instructions, and there
| was no time to be lost if he was to car
! ry out the second part successfully.
lie struck the cliffs at length mile
or so away, and proceeded to scramble
along them until he lay hidden just un-
der the terraces of Littimer Castle. He
kr CIV that he was in time for this part
Of the program, despite the fact that
his head ached considerably from the
force and vigOr of Bells assault. He
/ lay there, painting and breathing heavi-
ly. waiting for the signal to come.
! Meanwhile. Bell was jogging along
| placidly and with no fear in his heart
at all. He did not need anybody to tell
him what was the object of his late an
tagonists attack. He knew perfectly
we'll that if the ruffian had got the bet
ter of him he would never have seen
the Rembrandt again. Henson's hounds
were on the track; but it would go hard
if they pulled the quarry down just is
the sanctuary was in sight. Presently
Bell could see the lights of the castle.
BY the lodge gates stood a dos-cart:
in the flare Of the lamps Bell recognized
| inc features Ol lne driver, a very OLD
servant of Littimer's. Bell took in the
situation at a glance.
''Is this the way you come for me,
Lund?" he asked.
I'm very sorry. SIR" Lund replied.
But a clergyman lear the station said
you had gone another way, so l turned
hack. And when l got here I couldn't
rake top nor tail of the story. Blest if
] wasn't bit nervous that it might
| have been some plan to rob you. And
! was going to drive slowly along to the
station again when you turned up
ooh. there's nothing wrong said
BELL. cheerily. "And dent look as if
! had come to any harm. Anybody
staying at the castle Lund?'
"Only Mr.. Reginald Henson, sir"
Lund said, disparagingly.
Bell started, but his emotion was lost
| in the darkness. 1t came as a great
| surprise to him to find that his enemy
was actually in the field. And how an
! rrehcnsive of danger he must be to
| come so far, with his health in so shat
tered condition. Bell smiled to him
self as he pictured Henson's face on
seeing him once more under that rooc.
How long has Mr.. Henson been
| aerc?" he asked.