Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-31

town SOME fifteen miles way. That
The scoundrel was up TO nc good h
knew perfectly well.
"Your work must be very interest
ing" she said. Have you been In the
church long, Mr.. MerrittI 7"
Merritt said, hoarsely, that he had
not been in the church very long, His
dreadful grin and fog voice suggested
that he was a brand plucked from the
burning, and that he had only recently
come over to the side of the angels. The
whole time he spoke he never met
Chris's glance once. The chaplain of a
convict prison would have turned from
him I'm disgust. Henson was evidently
i'll at ease. In his suave, diplomatic
way he contrive1 to maneuvre Merritt
of the ground at length.
IAN excellent fellow" he said, with
exaggerated enthusiasm. "It was a
great day for us when we won oven
James Merritt. He can reach a class
which, hitherto, we ave not touched"
He looks as IL he had been in gaol."
Chris said.
"Oh. he has" Henson admitted, can
didly. Many a time"
Chris deemed 1t just possible that the
unpleasant experience might be en-
dured again, but she only smiled and
expressed herself as deeply interested.
The unaasiness In Henson's manner
gradually disappeared. Evidently the
girl suspected nothing. She would have
liked to rave asked a question or two
about Mr.. Merritt's thumb, but she
deemed 1t prudent not to do so.
Dinner came at length. dinner, served
In the great hall, in honor of the re-
cently-arrived guest, and set up in all
the panoply and splendor that Littimer
affected at times. The best plate was laid
out on the long table. There were banks
and coppices OF flowers at either corne
a huge palm nodded over silver and
glass and priceless china. The softly
shaded electric lights made pools of
amber flame on fruit and flowers and
cleaning crystal. Half-a-dozen big
footmen went about their work with
noiseless tread.
Henson shook his head p~layfully at
all this show and spiendor. His good
numor was Of the ~elephantine order,
and belied the drawn anxiety Of his
eyes. Luxurious and peaceful a. the
scene was, there seemed to Chris to be a
touch of electricity In the air, the sug-
RtSLlOH OI SOIiClHlHB dDOuN " haPPCtA'
Littimer glanced at her admiringly. She
was dressed in white satin, aid she had
in her hair a single diamond star OF
price.
''of course Henson condemns all this
sort OF thing" Littimer said. " He
would have you believe that when he
comes into his own the plate and wine
will be sold for the benefit Of the poor,
and the seats OF the mighty filed with
decayed governesses and antiquated
shop-walkers."
ct hope that time may be long de-
ferred," Henson murmured.
"And so do l." Littimer said, drily.
which IL n Of the advantages Of be-
ing conservative. BY the way. who was
that truculent-looking scoundrel I saw
you with this afternoon"
Henson FASTENED TO explain. Ltttimer
was emphatically OF opinion that such
visitors were better kept at a distance
for the present. When all the rare
plate and treasures OF Littimer Castle
had been disposed of for philanthropic
purposesSi II would not matter.
There was a time when the enter
prising burglar got his knowledge OF
the domestic and physical geography Of
a house from the servants. Now he re-
forms, with the great advantage that
he can lay his plan Of campaign from
personal observation. 1t Is a much
more admirable method, and tends to
avert suspicion from the actual GRIM
inal'
"You would not speak thus IL you
knew Merritt" said Henson.
"All the same, / don't want the privi-
lege," Littimer smiled. "A man with a
face like that couldn't reform; nature
would resent such an enormity. And
yet, you can never tell. Physically
speaking, my quondam friend, Hather-
ly Bell, has O. perfect face"
81 confess I am anxious to see him."
Chris said. IL heard him lecture In
America. He had the most interesting
theory about dogs. Mr.. Henson hates
dogs"
yes" said Henson, shortly, IT do.
and they hate me, but that does not
prevent my being Interested in the COM
ing OF DR.. Bell. And nobody hopes more
sincerely than myself that he will suc-
coed In clearly ~vindicating his charac-
ter"
Littimer smiled sarcastically, as he
trified with his claret glass. In his
cynical way, he was looking forward
TO the interview with a certain sense OF
amusement. And there was a time
when he had enjoyed Bells society i'm
mensely.
well, you win not have Ions to wait
now" he said. "It is long past 10, and
Bell is due at n moment after IL.
Coffee IN the balcony, please
1t was a ~gloriously warm night, just
a faint suspicion OF a breeze In the air.
Down below, the sea beat with a gentle
sway against the cliffs; on the grassy
slopes a belated lamb was bleating for
its dam. Chris strolled quietly down
the garden with her mind at peace for a
time. She had almost forgotten her
mission for a moment. A figure slip
ped gently past her on the grass, but
she utterly failed to notice II.
IAN exceedingly nice girl. that" Lit
timer was saying, "and distinctly anus
Ing. Excuse me II I leave you here-a
tendency 20 ague and English night air
don't bled together"
CHAPTER xxx.