The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-09-06
III. Crimson i
BY Fred M. 0hte hHH4

- 1 1dICy l1ldl / Cdu CtCAA PAO SAs~
dear. My uncle came down suddenl,
to-day from London. He wanted Ger
tain papers in a great hurry. Now
those papers are locked up in a drawer
at 219, given owe specially to Mr.
Henson. My uncle promptly broke
open the drawer and took out the pa.
pers. Besides these documents the
drawer contained a package in n 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. I had better take care Of it. Well
I must admit at once that I steamed
the envelope open. I shouldn't v
lone 1t If Lockhart's name had not beer
on the flap. In a little case inside ]
found a diamond bracelet, which I have
in my pocket, together with a receipt7d
Till for seventy-odd pounds, made out
to me-"
ITO you?" David cried. do you
mean to say that"
Indeed, I do. The receipt was made
out to me, and with it was a 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 skein was too
tangled to be thought out all at once
Presently he began to see his way:
"Under ordinary circumstances, The
charges seems impossible" he said.
Especially seeing that the Juggling
could not have been done without t
the cases-but I had forgotten how
easily the cases were changed. I have
it! What is the date of h letter.
Ruth slowly unfolded a document she
had taken from her purse.
1.-THE day following what you call
your great adventure" she said.
Henson, or somebody, took the real
case-my case-back to Lockhart's and
changed 1t in my name. I had previ-
cusly beer admiring this self-same
bracelet, and they had tried to sell 1t
to me. My dear boy, don't o 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 CT
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 at Lockhart's-as You were pref
ty sure to do, as Henson knew-youa 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, Hen
son could not have placed him in his
present fix. i.
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
difficulty In refreshing their memories
Will you have some tea?"
IT am too excited" Ruth laughed
IT couldn'e eat or drink anything just
at present. David, what a lovely house
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 were
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 h had pur-
chased the ~cigar-case, why-still, the
polite assistant vas most c~ourteously
incredulous.
The production of the letter made a
difference. There was a 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 he remembered the incident
perfectly. It was the day before he
had departed on his usual monthly Wis
1t to the FIRMS Paris branch. Madam
had certainly purchased the cigar-case;
but before the sale could be posted IN
the ledger madam had sent q gentle.
man to change the case for the dia.
mond bracelet previously admired. The
speaker had attended to both the sale
and the exchange; In fact, his cab was
waiting for him during the latter Incl.
dent.
st trust there is nothing wrong?''5he
asked. anxiously.
mot in the least" Ruth FASTENED, to
reply. The whole matter 10 q kind Of
comedy that ! wanted to solve. It Is 9
family joke, you understand. And who
mad. the exchange?"
"Mr. Gates. madam. A tall gentle.
man, dressed in I,
That is quite sufficient, thank YOU
said Ruth. II am sorry to trouble 5you
over 90 silly a matter"
Ths assistant assured madam, will
an air OF painful reproach, that moth.
ing was accounted a trouble in that es-
%tablishlm,ent. He bowed his visitor out,
and informed them that 1t was o. lovely
afternoon. q ~self-evident axiom that
the most d~isputatious could not well
deny. S q
you see how our inquiries might
have been utterly bafled but forstihil
And OF mine, Ruth said, az the TN
went along North street. sahaI
md presently that the Metropoles Amer.
lean and Reginald Henson are one ant
the same spsrson. aSs#% S@T %saaS I
I&.sAndsvOusfancy#t that h0 41ad1sthA,e II;