Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-08-07
CHAPTER NXXIT.
Hyoxv tho SChNmN Work Ont.

who walks in her sleep. She had nos
enough energy left to be astonished,
even. Her mind Travelled quickly over
the events Of the past hour, and she be-
gan to see the way clear But how had
somebody or other managed to remove
the picture? Chris examined the spot
on the wall where the Rembrandt had
been with the oyH Of q detective.
That part of the mystery was ex-
planned in a moment. \ sharp, cutting
instrument, probably pair of steel
pliers with a lever attachment, had
been applied to the head of the four
stays, and the fiat heads had been
string. After that it was merely ne
cessary to remove the frame, and a
child could have done the rest.
How clever 1 am she told herself,
bitterly. I'm like the astute people
who put Chuhb locEs on Russia leather
jewel cases that anybody could rip
oran with a six-penny knife. And in
my conceit 1 deemed the Rembrandt in
be absolutely safe. Now what-what is
the game"
| 1t was much easier to ask the Ques-
ton than to answer it. But there We're
some facts sufficiently obvious to Chris.
In the first place, she knew that Regi-
nald Henson was at the bottom of the
whole thing: she knew that he had
traded on the fact that she had taken a
fancy to the terrace as an after-dinner
lounge: indeed, she had told him so
earlier in the day. He had traded on
the knowledge that he could prove an
alibi if any suspicious attached to him.
The fact that he was in danger owing
to a slip on the edge of the cliff was all
nonsense. He had not been in any dam
ger at all; he had seen Chris there. and
he had made all that parade with an
eye to the future. AS a matter of
course he was down there settling mat
tiers with his accomplice of the MANNED
thumb, Who had chosen the cliff way of
getting INTO the castle as the swiftest
and the surest from detection.
Yes; 1t was pretty obvious that the
man with the thumb had stolen the
print. and that by this time he was far
away with his possession. While Chris
was helping Henson the 1atter's accom-
plice slipped into the castle and effected
the burglary. Chris flicked out the light
in the alcove as a servant came along.
1t was not policy for any of the domes-
tics to pc too wise. Chris forced a
smile to her face as the maid came
along.
ALLEN" she asked, fare there any
owls about ilere?"
"Never a one as I know, miss" the
maid responded, confidently. tive
Ecen here for eleven years, and never
heard of such a thing. Clifford the
head keeper, couldn't sleep at nights if
he thought as there was such a thing
on the estate. Have you heard one,
niss?"
IT was evidently mistaken" Chris
said. "Of course you would know
best"
So the cry of the owl had been sig
nal Of success. Chris sat in the gloom
there, resolved to see the comedy
played through. The events of the
night were not yet over.
I'D give something to know what
has taken place in the dining room,"
Chris murmure1.
She was going to know before long.
The lights We're being extinguished all
over the house. Henson came up to
bed heavily, as one who is utterly Worn
out. At the same time he looked per-
fectly satisfied with himself. He might
have been a vigilant officer who had
settled all his plans and was going to
seek a well-earned rest the enemy
came on to his destruction. In sooth
! Henson was utterly worn out. He had
taxed his strength to the uttermost,
but he was free to rest now.
Meanwhile the conference in the din
ng-room proceeded. Lord Littimer had
received his guest with frigid polite
ness, to which Bell had responded with
an equally cold courtesy. Littimer
laid his cigar aside and looked Bell
steadily in the face.
Il have granted your request against
my better judgment" he said. II am
not saneuine that the least possible
good can come of it. But I have quite
grown out Of all my illusions; have
seen the impossible proved too often.
Will you take anything?"
II hope to do so presently" Bell said,
rointedly; but not yet. In the first
instance I have to prove to you that T
have not stolen your Rembrandt"
Indeed? l should like to know how
YOU propose'to do that
81 shall prove it at once. You were
uiidSl IHe IMPRESSION LIaC you pos
sessed The only copy of the Crimson
Blind in existence When you lost
yours ard copy Of the picture was
found in my possession, you were per-
fectly justified in believing that I was
the thief"
Il did take that extreme view of the
natter Littimer said, drily.
Under the circumstances, I should
nave done the same thing. But you
We're absolutely wrong, because there
We're two copies Of the picture. Yours
was stolen by an enemy Of mine who
had the most urgent reasons for dis
crediting me in your eyes, and the
other was concealed amongst my be-
longings. IT was no loss to the thief,
because subsequently the stolen one
my own being restored to you-could
have been exposed and disposed of as
new find. Your print is in the house,"
1T hangs in the gallery at the pres
ent moment"
Very good. Then, my lord, what do
you s; Y to this?''
Bell took tn" roll Of paper from his
n, 40