The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-07-31

n. Crimson
By Fred M. lOhte AHn0

said. irritably. do you suppose / am
going to allow that sCoundrel under my
roof again? The amazing impudence
of the fellow is beyond everything. He
win probably reach the Moreton Sta
/ ton by the 10 o'clock train. The drive
! will take an hour. IL choose 10 permit
the drive. which / don't. I'll send a
groom to meet the train with letter
i When Bell has read that letter he will
Y not come here"
| II don't think should do that" Hen.
| son said. respectfully.
Indeed! You are really clever fell
low. And what would you dor
/ II should suffer Bell to come. As
| Christian / should deem II my duty TO
do so. 1t pains me to say so. but am
! afraid that / cannot contravert your
! suggestion that Bell is scoundrel. II
4 grieves me to prove any man that. And
| in the present instance the proofs were
\ overpowering. But .here is always a
| chance-a chance that we have mis-
I judged man on false evidence"
False evidence! Why, the Rem
brandt was actually found in Bells
f, portmanteau."
Dear friend, I know IT," Henson
said. with the same slow, forgiving
smile. But there have been cases OF
black treachery. dark conspiracies that
one abhors. And Bell might have made
some stupendous discovery regarding
his character. i should see him, my
lord; oh. yes. 1 should most undoubted.
ly see him"
And so should l." Chris put in,
swiftly.
Llttimer smiled, with all traces of his
ill-temper gone. He seemed to be con-
templating Henson with his head on
one side, as If to fathom that gentle
mans intentions. There was just the
suspicion of contempt in his glance
I'm the presence OF so much good
ness and beauty, feel quite lost" he
said. very well, Henson, I'll see Bell.
l may find the interview diverting."
Henson strolled away, with sigh of
gentle pleasure. Once out OF sight, he
flew to the library, where he scrubbed a
couple OF kilograms. They We're care
fully worded, and related to some apoc-
Iyphal parcel required without delay.
and calculated to convey nothing to
the lay mind. A servant was dis
patched to the village with them. Hen
known that the fascinating little Amer
lean had waylaid his messenger and
read his kilograms, under the plea of
verifying one of the addresses. A mo-
ment or two later and those addresses
were carefully noted down in a pocket
book.
1t was past 5 before Chris found her.
self with a little time on her hands
again. Littimer had kept her pretty
busy all the afternoon, party because
there was much to do, but partly from
the pleasure that he derived from his
secretary's society. He was more free
with her than he had been with any Of
her sex for years. 1t was satisfactory
too. to learn that Littimer regarded
Henson as a SNUG and oily hypocrite,
and that the latter was only going to be
left Littimer Castle to spite the owners
other relations.
Now you run into the garden and
get a blow" Littimer said, at length
IT am telling you lot too much. am
afraid you are a most insinuating
young person"
Chris ran into the garden gaily. De-
spite the crushing burden on her shoul-
ders. she felt an elat'on and a flow OF
spirits that she had not been conscious
OF for years. The invigorating air OF
the place seemed 10 have got into her
veins, the cruel depression of the House
OF the Silent Sorrow was passing away.
Again she had youth and hope on her
side, and everything was falling out
beautifully. 1t was pleasanter world
than Chris had anticipated.
She went along more quietly after
time. There was a tiny arbour on
terrace overlooking the sea to which
Chris had taken a particular fancy.
She picked her way daintily along the
grass paths between the roses until she
suddenly emerged upon the terrace. She
had popped out OF the roses as swiftly
as a squirrel peeps from a tree.
Somebody was in the arbor. two peo-
pie, talking earnestly. One man stood
UP, with his back to Chris, one hand
gripping the outside ragged bark OF the
arbor frame with peculiarly nervous,
restless force. Chris could see the hand
turned back distinctly. A piece of bark
was being crumbled under a strong
thumb. Such thumb! Chris had seen
nothing like II before.
1t was as IL at some time Il had been
smashed fat with hammer, a broad,
strong. cruel-iooking thumb, fiat and
sinister-looking as the head of a snake.
In the center, ike pink pearl dropped
In a filthy gutter. was one tiny, per-
fectly-formed nail.
The owner of the thumb stepped back
the better 10 give way to a fit of hoarse
laughter. He turned slightly aside. and
his eyes met those OF Chris. They We're
small eyes, set in a coarse. brutal face,
the face of criminal, Chris thought, IL
she were judge OF such matters. 1t
came quite a shock TO see that the
stranger was In clerical garb.
FL beg your pardon" Chris STAN
mered. "But T."
Henson emerged from the arbor. For
once in q way he appeared confused;
there was a flush on his face that told
Of annoyance Unsurpassed.
Please don't go away" he said.
"Mr Merritt will think he has alarmed
you Miss Lee. this is my very good
friend and co-worker In the field, the
Reverend James Merritt"
rs Mr. Merritt a friend of Lord Lit
timer's?" Chris asked, demurely.
"Littimer hates the CLOTH" Henson
replied. Indeed, he has no sympathy
whatever with my work I met my
good friend. quite by accident, in the
village just now, and brought him here