Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-04
The crimson
BY Fred M. 0hhe Al/H0

dear. My uncle came down suddenly
to-day from London. He wanted GER
tain papers in Il great hurry. Now,
those papers are locked up in a drawer
at 219, given over specially to Mr..
Henson My uncle promptly broke
open the drawer and took out the pa
pers. Besides these documents the
drawer contained Il package in one of
Lockhart's big linen-lined envelopes
a registered letter envelope. in fact.
My uncle had little time to spare, as he
was bound to be back in London to-
night. He suggested that, as the lock
of the drawer was broken and the en-
,velope, presumably. contained valu-
ables, had better take care of it. Well.
must admit at once that I steamed
the envelope open. I shouldn't have
on the flap. In little case inside 1
found a diamond bracelet. which have
in my pocket. together With a receipted
hill for seventy-odd pounds, made out
to me-
TO yoa?" David cried. DO you
mean to say that
Indeed, 1 do. The receipt was made
out to me. and with it was little po-
lite note to the effect that Messrs.
Lockhart mad made the exchange of the
cigar-case for The diamond bracelet
and that they hoped Miss Gates would
find the matter perfectly satisfactory.
David Was too astonished to say any
thing for a moment. The sken was too
tangled to be thought out all at once.
Presently he began to see his way.
Under ordinary circumstances, he
charges seems impossible" he said.
ESPECIALLY seeing that the juggling
could not have been done without both
the cases-but I had forgotten how
easily the cases We're changed. I have
it. What is the date of the letter."
Ruth slowly unfolded a document she
had taken from her purse.
The day following what you call
your great adventure" she said.
Henson, or somebody, took the real
case-rly case-back to Lockharts and
changed it in my name I had previ-
cusly been admiring this self-same
bracelet. and they had tried to sell it
to me. My dear boy. don't you see this
is all part of the plot to plunge YOU
deeper and deeper into trouble. to force
us all to speak to save you? There are
at least fifteen assistants at Lockhart's.
OF course, the ultimate sale Of the ci-
gar case to this American could be
proved, seeing the case has got back
into stock again. and at the same time
the incident of the change quite forgot
ten. And when YOU go and ask ques-
lions q Lockhart s-as you We're pref
ty sure to do, as Henson knew-you are
told of the sale only to the American.
Depend upon it, that American was
was Henson himself, or somebody in
his pay David. that man is too cum
ming, too complex. And some of these
days it is going to prove his fall"
David nodded, thoughtfully. And
yet, without something very clever and
intricate in the way of a scheme, Hem
son could not have placed him in his
present fix.
There is only one thing to be DONE
he said. You and l must go down to
Lockhart's and make a few Inquiries.
With that diamond bracelet and letter
in your possession, you should have no
difficulty in refreshing their memories.
Will You have some tea?"
Il am too excited Ruth laughed.
II couldn'e eat or drink anything just
YOU have
I'm glad to hear that you are going
to like it," David said, drily.
Lockhart's received their customers
in the usual courtly style. They We're
sorry they had no recollection of the
transaction to which madam referred.
The sale of the bracelet was clear, be-
cause that was duly and properly re-
corded on the books, and as. indeed was
the sale of the gun-metal cigar-case to
an American gentleman at the Metro
pole. If madam said that she had pur-
chased the cigar-case, why-still. the
polite assistant was most courteouSy
incredulous
The production of the letter made a
difference. There vas Il passing OF
condolences from one plate-glass coun-
ter to another, and presently another
assistant came forward. He profound
" regretted that there had been a mis-
take, but ne remembered the incident
perfectly. 1t was the day before he
had departed on his usual monthly Wis
it to the firms Paris branch. Madam
had certainly purchased the cigar-case:
but before the sale could be posted in
the ledger madam bad sent gentle
man to change the case for the dia-
mond bracelet previously admired The
speaker had attended to both the sale
and Tie exchange; in fact his cab was
waiting for him during the latter Incl
dent.
II trust there is nothing wrong?" he
asked, anxiously.
Not in the least" Ruth fastened to
reply. THE whole matter is a kind OF
comedy that wanted to solve. 1t is a
family joke. you understand. And who
mad, the exchanged"
Mr.. Gates. madam. A tall gentle
man, dressed in
That is quite sufficient. thank you, -
said Ruth. Il am sorry to trouble you
over SO Silly matter"
The assistant assured madam, with
an air Of painful reproach. that moth
ing was accounted a trouble in that es-
Enlistment. He bowed his visitor out,
and informed them that it was a lovely
afternoon. a se.f-evident axiom tina,
the most disputatious could not we'll
deny.
You see how our inquiries might
have been utterly bafiled but for this
iini of mine" Ruth said, as the two
went along North street. I'VE shall
find presently that the Mctropolc Amer