Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-12
The crimson
By Fred M. G1hhe AHHH

1 thinking OF Reginald. II cur lea Reg
inald escapes from the fostering care of
the dogs we shall be ruined. That
mans hearing is wonderful He will
come creeping down here on those
large, fiat feet of his, and that cunning
brain will take in everything like a
fash. Good dog!"
A hound in the distance growled, and
then another howled mournfully. 1t
was the plant of the beast who had
found his quarry, impatient for the 60
oler to arrive. So long as that contin-
ued Henson was safe. Any attempt at
escape, and he would be torn in pieces.
Just at the present ome Enid al
most hoped that the attempt would be
made. 1t certainly was all right for the
present, but then Williams might hap
pen along on his way to the stables at
any moment.
The two men were coming nearer.
They both paused ss the dogs gave
tongue. Through the thick belt of
trees lights cleaned from one or w
windows of the house. Steel pulled up
and shuddered slightly, in spite of him
self.
Crimson blinds he said. Crimson
blinds all through this business. They
ere beginning to get on my nerves.
What about those dogs. Bell?"
Dogs or nc dogs. I am not going
hack now" Bell muttered. TITS per-
tectly useless to come here in the day.
time; therefore, we must fall back
upo a little amateur burglary. There's
a girl yonder h might have assisted
me at one time, but"
Enid slipped into the road. The night
was passably light, and her beautiful
features were passably clear to the
startled men In he road.
THE girl Is here she said. What
do you want?"
Bell and his comra nion cried out 81
multaneously: Bell because he was so
suddenly face to face with one who was
SO very e to him: David, because 1t
seemed to him that he had recognized
the voice from the darkness, the voice
of his great adventure. And there was
another s, rprise. as he saw Ruth Gates
side by side with the owner of that
wonderful voice.
Enid" Bell cried. hoarsely. 81 did
not expect"
ITO confront me like this" the girl
said, coldly. THAT / quite understand
What I don't understand is why you in
trude yo1r hated presence here"
Bell shook his handsome head mourn
fully. He looked strangely downcast
and detected. and none the less, per-
hays, because a fall IN crossing the
downs had severely wrenched his ankle.
But for a belated cab on the Rotting-
dean Dad he would not ave been here
now.
"As hard and cruel as ever he said.
Not one word to me, not one word in
my defense. And all the time I am the
victim of a vile conspiracy"
Conspiracy! Do you call vulgar
theft a conspiracy"
"It was nothing else" David put in,
eagerly. "A most extraordinary IN
spiracy. The kind OF thing that you
would not have deemed possible out of
a book"
"And who might this gentleman be?''
Enid asked, haughtiiyl
"A thousand pardons for my want OF
ceremony, David said. IF I had not
been under the impression that we hal
met before I should never have pre-
sumed-"
"oh, a truce to this Bell cried. 1--WE
are wasting time. The hour is not far
distant, Enid, when you will ask my
pardon. Meantime, / am going up to
the house. and you are going to take
me there. Come what may, I do not
sleep tonight until / have had speech
with you aunt"
David had drawn a little aside. BY
a kind OF instinct, Ruth Gates followed
him. A shaft OF gray light glinted
upon her cycle in the grass by the
roadside. Enid and Bell were talking
In vehement whispers-they seemed to
be absolutely unconscious of anybody
else but themselves. David could see
the anger and scorn on the pale, high
bred face: he could see Bell gradually
expanding, as he brought out all his
strength and firm power of viii to
bear.
what will be the upshot Of this?"
/ Ruth asked. timidiy.
BELL viii conquer" David replied.
HE always does, you know"
81 am afraid you don't AXE my
meaning, Mr.. Steel"
David looked down into the sweet.
troubled face Of his companion, and
thence away to the vivid, crimson
patches beyond the dark belt OF foliage.
Ever and amor the intense stiffness Of
the night was broken by the long
drawn howl OF one Of the hounds. Da-
vid remembered 1t for years afterward,
II formed the most realistic chapter of
one OF his most popular novels.
Heaven only knows" he said. "I
have been dragged into this business.
but what II means I know no more
than a child. ! am mixed UP IN II, and
Bell Is mixed up In II. and so are you.
Why we shall perhaps know some day"
You are not angry with met"
why, no. Only you might have had
a little more confidence In me-"
Nj Steel. we Jared not. We wanted
your advice and nothing more. Even
now I am afraid I am saying too much.
There is a whitening blight over yonder
house that Is beyond mere words. And
twice gallant gentlemen have come for
ward to our assistance. Both OF them
are dead. And II we dragged you. a
total stranger, into the arena, we should
morally have murdered YOU"
Am I not within the charmed circle
now?" David smiled.
mot of our free WILL" Ruth said, a