Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-10-16
The Crimson
BY Fred M. l)hite AI/H0

said, curtly.
The dining room was in pitchy dark
ness, for the lights there had been on
the short circuit; indeed. the lights on
the ground floor had all failed with the
exception of the hall, which, fortunate
ly, had been on another circuit. This
fact had saven Van Sneck's life, for, if
Bell had not speedily used that one
live wire the patient must have per-
ished.
Henson looked up from his sofa with
start and smile.
II am afraid l must have been
asleep" he said. languildy.
LIAR" Bell Numbered. "You have
been plotting murder. And but for a
mere accident. the plot would have
been successful You have worked out
the whole thing in your mind; you
came here on purpose. You came here
to stife the light at the very moment
when we were operating upon Van
Sneck. You thought that all the lights
on the floor would be on the same cir
cult: you have been here before.
Are you mad?" Henson gasped.
when have l been here before"
The night that you lured Van Sneck
here by forged letter and left him for
dead!"
Henson gasped, his lips moved, but
no words came from them.
"You have little knowledge of cleo
tricity,' Bell went on. And you saw
your way pretty clear to spoil our op-
Grafton here tonight. You got the
idea from yonder wall plug into which
goes the plunger of the reading lamp
on the cabinet yonder. At the critical
moment all you had to do was to dip
your fingers in water and press the
tips of them against the live wire in
the wall plug. You did so, and imme-
diately the wires fired all over the cir
cult and plunged us into darkness.
But the wall light remained sound, and
Van Sneck was saved. If it is any
consolation to you. he will be as sens
ible as any of us tomorrow"
Henson had risen to his feet, pale
and trembling. He protested, but it
was all in vain Bell approached the
china wall plug and pointed to it.
Hold the candle down. he said.
There! You can see that the surface
is still wet; there is water in the holes
now. and some of it has trickled down
the distemper on the wall. You ought
to be shot where you stand, murderous
dog"
Henson protested, but with much
dignity. 1t was all SO much Greek to
him, he said. He had been sleeping so
quietly that he had not seen the light
fail. Bell cut him short.
Get out!" he cried. Go away; you
poison the air that honest men breathe
and you are as fit and we'll as l am.
Why don't you pitch him into the
street, Steel? Why don't you telephone
to Marley at the police station, and
say that the Huddersfeld swindler is
here? Oh, if you only knew what an
effort it is to keep my hands off him."
Henson made for the door with
alacrity A moment later, and he was
in the street. dazed, confused and baf-
him that he had failed in his great
to-morrow-he would speak. And
then
But he dared not think of that at
present. He wanted all his nerve and
courage now He had just one last
chance. one single opportunity of max
ing money, and then he must get out
of the country without delay. He al
most wished now that he had not been
quite SO precipitate in the matter of
James Merritt. That humble tool
might have been of great advantage to
him at this moment. But Merritt had
threatened to be troublesome and must
be got out Of the way. But then, the
police had not picked Merritt up yet
Was it possible that Merritt had found
out that
But Henson did not care to think of
that, either. He would go back to the
quiet lodgings he had taken in Kemp
| Town for a day or two. He would
change his clothes and walk over to
| Longdean Grange, and it would go
hard if he failed to get cheque from
the misguided lady there. If he were
! quick he could get there by II o'clock
| He passed into his little room. He
started back to see man sleeping in
his arm chair. Then the man. dis.
| turbed by the noise of the newcomer
| opened his eyes. And those eyes were
! cleaning with a glow that filled Hen
sons heart with horrible dread. l:
was Merritt who sat opposite him, and
it was Merritt whose eyes told Henson
that he knew of the latter's black
treachery. Henson was face to face
with death, and he knew it.
| He turned and fed for his life; he
! scudded along the streets, past the
hospital and up towards the downs
with Merritt after him. The star
was not long, but it was sufficient
Merritt took the wrong turn, and with
heart beating fast and hard, Henson
climbed upwards. 1t was long time
! before his courage came back to him
F, He did not feel really easy in his mint
until he had passed the lodge gates al
Longdean Grange, where he was for
tunate enough, after a call or two, tt
rouse up Williams.
The latter came with more alacrity
than usual. There was a queer grr
on his face and suggestion OF laugh
ter in his eyes.
There seems to be a lot of ligh
! about" Henson cried Take me IL,
to the house, and don't let anybod,
know l am here. Has your mistres:
gone to bed?"
She's in the drawing room" Will
Jams said, singing. And Miss Enid.
there. am sure they will be glad t,
sec you, sir.
Henson doubted it. but made no re
ply. There was clatter of voices i.
the drawing room chatter of Iiuht