Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-06-05
BY Fred M. G,hite
CHAPTER NJ.
After Rennbra ndt.

.-N> got a pretty sound theory in my
head, but don't like to leave anything
to chance. We shall be pretty certain
70 find something"
Il am entirely in your hands" David
said. weaYily. 80 far as am capable
of thinking out anything. it seems to
me that we have to find the woman"
"Cherchez la femme is fairly sound
promise in a case like this: but when
have to find the man who is at the bot
tom of the plot. l mean the man who
Is not only thwarting the woman but
giving you pretty severe lesson as to
the advisa bility of minding your own
business for the future"
"Then you think 1 am being made the
victim of a vile conspiracy"
Mot by woman, certainly. You are
the victim Of stme fendish counter
plot by the man who has not quite mas
tered what the woman is driving at.
BY placing you in dire peril he compcls
the woman to speak to save you, and
thus 10 expose her tand."
Then. in that case, 1 propose to sit
to be prosecuted for robbery and at
tempted murder in cue course. If my
man dies I am in tight place.
and if he RECEIVERS, your antagonist
may be in a tighter" Bell chuckled.
'Aud if the man gets we'll and the brain
iniury proves perlnan ent-I mean if the
man is rendered imhccile-whv, we are
only at the very threshold of the nys-
tn
but this is the prettiest problem have
had under my hands,"
make the most of it," David said
sardonically. II daresay I should see
the matter in a more rational light if
were not so directly concerned. But, IL
we are going to make a search of the
premises the sooner "e start the bet
ter"
Up stairs there was nothing beyond
eltain lumber. There were dust and
dirt everywhere, save in the hall and
front dining room, which. as Bell sa-
piently pointed out had obviously been
cleared to make room, for Steers
strange reception. Down in the house
keepers room was a large collection Of
dusty furniture and a number of pic
lures and engravings piled up with their
turn the latter over.
IT am a maniac on the subject of old
prints" he explained. II never see a
pile without viii longing to examine
them. And, by Jove, there are some
good things here. Unless am greatly
imistaken-here, Steel. pull up the
blinds! Good Heavens. is it possible ?"
Found Sistine Madonna or stray
Argelo?" David asked. COR ghost?
What is the matter? Is it another
phase of the mystery"
1.-The Rembrandt" Bell gasped.
s'Look at it, mani"
Steel bent eagerly over the engraving.
An old print, an old piece of china. an
antique jewel, always exercised a
charm over the novelist. He had an
urerring eye for that kind of thing.
"Exquisite!" he cried. ga Rembrandt,
of course, but I don't recollect the
picture"
1.-The picture was destroyed by acct
dent, after Rembrandt had engraved it
with hi: own hand" Bell proceeded to
explain. He was quite coherent now,
but he breathed fast and loud. II shall
proceed to give you the history of the
picture presently, and more especially
q history of the engraving"
HAS it any particular name?" David
asked.
Eyes; we found that out. 1t was
called The Crimson Blind"
INC getting away from the crimson
blind" David murmured. Still, I can
quite imagine that to have been the
name of the picture. That shutter or
blind might have had setting sun be-
hind it, which would account for the
tender warmth Of the kitchen fore
ground and the deep gloom where the
lovers are seated. BY Jove. Bell. it is
a magnificent piece of work. I've a
special fancy for Rembrandt engrav-
ings but never saw one equal to
that"
"And you never WILL Bell replied,
ssave in one instance. The picture it
self was painted in Rembrandt's mod
est lodging in the Keizerskroon Tavern,
after the forced sale of his paintings at
that hotel in the year 1858. At that time
Rembrandt was painfully poor, as his
recorded tavern bills show. The same
bills also disclose the fact that The
Crimson Blind was painted for pri-
waite customer, with condition that
the subject should be engraved, as we'll.
the plate the picture was destroyed by
careless servant. In a sudden fit of
rage, Rembrandt destroyed the plate.
having, they say, only taken one i'm
preston from it,
"Tnen there is only one Of these en-
cravings in the world? What a find?"
"There is one other, as know to my
cost" Bell said. significantly. Until a
few days ago T. never entertained the
idea that there were two. Steel, you
are the victim: of a vile conspiracy, but
1T is nothing to the victory which has
darkened my life"
Sooner or later I always felt that
should get to the bottom of the mys-
terry, and now am certain of it, And,
strange as it may seem, verify believe
that you and 1 are hunting the same
man downfall the one man is at the
bottom Of the two evils. But you shall
hear my story presently. What we
have to find out now is who was the
last tenant and who Is the present own
or NJ Tho hOrsa and incidents llv laoi.p