The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-08-16
win follow. ~ casually. later on.,

+ W. =
I will follow, as casually, later on"
i A little later Henson emerged from
his room, dressed, evidently, for q
tourney. He looked fiabby and wor-
sried; there was an expression very
like fear in his eyes. The corridor was
deserted as he passed the place where
the Rembrandt hung. He paused be-
fore the picture in hesitating, fascin-
before it involuntariiy. s..
'swhat does 1t mean? he muttered.
"What in the name Of fate has hap
pened? To 1t possible that Merritt
could have played me trick like that;
he would never have dared. Besides,
he has too much to gain by following
my Instructions. fancy"
Henson slipped UP to the picture as
q sudden idea came to him. If the pic
ture had not been removed at all the
,stays would still be intact And IT
they were intact. Merritt was likely to
have bad quarter Of an hour later on.
It would be proof that
But the stays were not intact. the
heads had been shaved of with some
cutting instrument; and half Of the
stays cleaned like silver In the morn
ing light And yet, the Rembrandt
was there. The more Henson dwelt
upon it the more he was puzzled. He
began to wonder whether some deep
trap was being laid for him.
But, no; he had seen no signs Of 1t.
In some way or another Bell had man
aged to ingratiate himself with Littl-
mer again, but not necessarily for long,
Henson told himself, with vicious
grin. Nor was, Littimer the kind Of
man who ever troubled himself to re-
strain his feelings. II he had got to
the bottom Of the whole business he
wou Id have had Henson kicked out Of
the house without delay.
But Littimer suspected nothing. His
greeting just now showed that Bell
suspected nothing, because he had
shaken hands in the heartiest manner
possible. And as for Miss Lee, she
vas no more than smart Yankee
girl. and absolutely an outsider.
: Still, it was dreadfully puzzling. And
it was not nice to be puzzled at time
when the arch-conspirator ought to
know every move Of the game. There
fore, 1t became necessary to go into
Moreton Wells and see Merritt without
delay. AS Henson crossed the hall the
cheerful voice Of Littimer hailed him.
Reginald" he said, II want your
assistance and advice"
With a muttered curse. Henson en-
tered the library. Littimer was seat
ed at q table with a cigarette in his
mouth, his brows drawn over mass
Of papers.
"Sit down and have a cigar" he said.
'The fact is, am setting my affairs in
order-1 am going to make q fresh will.
II you hadn't come down tonight I
should probably have sent for you.
Now, take my bank book and check
those figures"
"shall we be long?" Henson asked.
Littimer tartly hoped that that Hem
son could spare him an hour. It was
not usual, he said, for testator to be
assistance from the chief BEN
efactor under his will. Henson apollo
Rized with siclkly smile. He had inn
poraant business of q philanthropic
kind in Moreton Wells, but he had no
doubt that it could wait for an hour.
And then, for the best part Of the
he sat, Tuning politely, while
Littimer chartered in the most amiable
fashion. Henson had rarely seen him
n a better mood. It was quite obvious
that he suspected nothing. Meanwhile
Chris and Bell were bowling along to-
wards Moreton Wells. They sat well
back in the roomy wagonette, so that
he servants could not hear them.
Chris regarded Bell with q brilliant
smile on her face.
"confess," she said, CONFESS that
you are consumed with curiosity"
''1t would be just as well to ac~
It at once" Bell admitted.
In the happy old days, your sister
Enid always said that you were the
clever and audacious, one Of the family.
She said you would do or dare any
hing"
1T used to imagine 80" Chris said.
more quietly. 'But the life of the last
Jew years tried ones nerves terribly.
still, the change has done me a deal of
yood-the change and the knowledge
hat Reginald Henson regards me as
lead. But you want to know how
I'm going to get the Rembrandt?
''That is what Is consuming me at
Bell said.
''well, we are going to see the man
who has it, Chris explained, coolly. u
have his address in Moreton Wells at
the present moment, and for the rest
he is called the Rev. James Merritt.
Between ourselves, he is no more q
than you are"
"And II the gentleman is shy, or
refuses to see us?"
"Then he will be arrested on
charge of thief" sssf d.
my dear young lady, before you can
get warrant for that kind Of thing
you have to prove the theft, you have
to swear an informa tion to the. effect
that you believe the property is In the
possession os the thief, and that ts not
easy" WIZ
'There is nothing easier. am pre-
pared to swear that cheerfully.
THAT you actually knew that the
y in the possession i Of the the
thief" sss5a3 Ri n
certainly do. ! saw him put II n
his pocket" B v . u.
Ben looked at the speaker with
blank surprise. II such, was the fact,
then Chris,s present statement was
exactly opposed to- all that she had
said before. She sat. opposite to Bell
With q little gleam of mischief In her
lovely eyes. 5$ ssSi, NH
.s.You saw that man steal the Rem,
brandt 2, Bell gasped. b WI:
certainly not. But did see him !!
steal my big diamond star and put In
Ia his pocket. And I can swear an q Il IN,
on that s s 81 *.
TaT zee that YOU have some thing in-s