Oakes Republican., 1902-07-18

"I flatter myself that can be pretty
bl.stering on occasions" Littimer sato,
grimly
"How delightful! So canI. You and
I will have some famous battles later
on. Only I warn you that I never lose
my temper, which gives me a tremea-
dous advantage. 1 haven't been very
we'll lately, so you must be nice to me
for a week or two"
Littimer smiled and nodded. The
grim lord of the castle was not accus-
toned to this kind of thing, and he was
telling himself that he rather liked 1t.
"And now show me the Rembrandt"
Miss Lee said, impatiently.
Littimer led the way to a distant ale
cove, lighted from the side by lat
ticed window. There was only one pic
ture in the excellent light there, and
that was the famous Rembrandt en-
craving. Littimer's eyes lighted Idp
lovingly as they rested upon it, Xhe
Florentine frame was hung so low
Miss Lee could bring her face on lev
ell with it. y
"This is the picture that was stolen
from you?" she asked.
eyes, that's the thing that there was
all the fuss about. 1t made great
stir at the time. But I don't expect
that it will happen again"
"Why not?" Miss Lee asked. when
an attempt of that sort is made 1T Is
usually followed by another, sometimes
after the lapse of years. Anybody GET
ting through that window could easily
get the frame from it's two nails ana
take out the paper"
"Do you think so?" Littimer asked
uneasily.
"I am certain of it. Take my ad-
vice and make it secure. The panels
behind are hard wood-thick black oak.
Lord Littimer, am going to get four
brass -headed stays and drive them
through some of the open ornamental
work, so as to make the picture quite
secure. 1t is an iron frame, 1 sup
rose?"
"wrought-iron gilt" said Littimer.
''Yes, one could easily drive four brass
headed stays through the open work
and make the thing safe. I'll have TO
see to it,"
But Miss Lee insisted that there was
no time like the present. She had dis
covered that Littimer had an excellent
carpenters shop on the premises; IN
deed she admitted to being no mean
performer with the lathe herself. She
Fitted down the stairs light as thistle
down.
ga charming girl,' Littimer said.
cynically. ct wonder why she came to
this dull hole. A quarrel with some
young man. perhaps. If were young
man myself I might. But women
are all the same. should be hap
pier man if 1 had never trusted one.
If"
The face darkened: a heavy scowl
lined his brows as he paced up and
down. Christabel came back present.
ly with hammer and some brass-head'
ed stays in her hand. =.
Don't utterly destroy the frame"
Littimer said, resignedly. ut is re-
puted to be Quentin Matsy's work, and
I had it cut to it's present fashion. In
go to the end of the gallery until the
execution's over"
con the contrary" Miss Lee said.
firmly, "you will stay where you are
told.'
A little to his own surprise, Littimer
remained. He say the nails driven
firmly in and finished off with punch.
so that there might be no danger OF
hamnering the exquisitely-wrought
frame. Miss Lee stood regarding her
work with suggestion of pride.
."There," she said, 81 f1atter myself
a carpenter could have done no bet
ter"
"You don't know our typical carpen-
ter" I.ittimer said. "Here is Tredwell
with a telegram. For Miss Lee?
hope it isn't an intimation that some
relative has died and left you for
tune. At least, if it is, you mustn't go
until we've had one of those quarrels
you promised me-"
Christabel glazed at the telegram
and slipped it into her pocket. There
were just few words in the telegram
that would have been unintelligible to
the ordinary understanding. The girl
did not even comprehend, but Litti-
mer's eyes were upon her and the ci-
pher had to keep for time. Littimer
walked away at an intimation that his
steward desired to see him.
(To be Continuedo
Would Suggest Crucihxfon.