Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-07-24
''Now. guess the fat is in the fire. y
~

Henson dropped into chair and
groaned. Lord Littimer. elegantly at
tired in a suit of silk pyjamas and car
rying u revolver in his hand, came cool
ly down the corridor. A curious SER
want or two would have followed. but
he waved them back. crisply.
Miss Lee" he said. with a faint. sar-
castle emphasis. land my dear friend
and relative. Reginald Hel son-Regi-
Maid. the future owner of I.ittimer
Castle''
$50 he told me- but wouldn't believ~
him." said Christabel.
1T is cynical age" Littimer re-
marked. Reginald, what does this
mean?"
Henson shook his head III easily.
1.-THE young lady insisted on taking
me for burglar" he groaned.
and why not?" Christabel demand
cd. II was just going to bed when I
heard voices in the fore court below
and footsteps creeping along. came
into the corridor with my revolver.
Presently, one Of the men climbed up
the ivy and got into the corridor. I
covered him with my revolver and fair
" drove him into bed room and
locked him in"
so you killed with both barrels?"
J.ittimer cried. with infinite enjoyment.
"rhen the other one came. He. came
to steal the Rembrandt"
"Nothing of the kind" the wretched
Henson cried. II came to give you a
lesson, Lord Littimer. My idea&was to
get in through the window, steal the
Rembrandt. and when you had missed
ii, confess the whole story. My charac.
ter is safe"
"Giddy," Littimer said, reproachful-
ly. "You are SO young. so boyish. so
huoyant, Reginald. What would your
ruture constituents have said had they
seen you creeping up the ivy? They
are grave people, who take themselves
seriously. Egad, this would be love-
ly story for one of those prying society
papers. The Philanthropist and the
Picture I've a good mind to send it
to the press myself"
Littimer sat down and laughed with
Pure enjoyment.
| "And where is the other partridge?"
he asked, presently.
| Christabel seemed to hesitate for a
moment. Her sense of humor of the
situation had departed. Her hand shook
as she turned the key in the door.
II am afraid you are going to have
an unpleasant SURPRISE" Henson said.
Littimer glanced keenly at the speak
err. All the laughter died out of his
eyes; his face grew set and stern as
Frank Littimer emerged into the light.
And what are you doing here?" he
asked, hoarsely "What do you expect
to gain by taking part in FOOLS trick
like this? Did I not tell you never to
show your face here again?"
| The young man said nothing. He
| stood there looking down, logged, quiz
ct, like one tongIe-tied. Littimer thun-
dered out his question again. He
crossed over, laying his hands on his
| sons shoulders and shaking him as a
| terrier might shake a rat.
| Did you come for anything?" he de-
manded. Did you expect any mercy
from"
Crank Littimer shook off his grasp
gently. He looked up for the first time.
II expected nothing" he said. IL
did not come of my own free will. am
silent now, for the sake of myself and
others. But the time may come-God
knows it has been long delayed. For
the present, I am bound In honor to
hold my tongue"
|
son, q long, angry glance. Littimer
cooked from one to the other in hesfta-
ton for moment. The hard lines be-
tween his broWs softened.
perhaps am wrong he muttered.
perhaps there has been a mistake
somewhere. And if 1 ever find out I
have-pshaw I am talking like sent
;mental schoolgirl. Have I not had
evidence strong as proof of Holy Writ?
Get out of my sight! Your presence an
gers me! Go, and never let me see you
again! Reginald, you were a fool to
bring that boy here tonight! See him
off the premise and fasten the door
again."
Surely" Christabel interfered, "sure-
ly, at this time Of night"
"You should be in bed" Littimer said,
tartly. "My dear young lady, if you
and are to remain friends, I must ask
you to mind your own business 1t is a
dreadfully difficult thing for a woman
to do, but you must try. You UNDER
| stand?"
Christabel was evidently putting
strong constraint upon her tongue, but
she merely bowed and said nothing.
She had her own good reasons for the
diplomacy of siltnce. Henson and Frank
Littimer were disappearing in the di-
rection of the staircase.
II say nothing" Christabel said.
But, at the same time, don't fancy I
shall care very much for your distin-
guished friend, Reginald Henson"
Littimer smiled. ALI his good-humor
seemed to have returned to him. Only
the dark lines under his eyes were &C
centuated.
"a Shiny, fawning hound" he whis-
pered. "a mean fellow. And the best
Of it is. that he imagines that hold the
highest regard for him. Goodnight"
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Squire of DANES.