Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-08-21
mscrinS0n
3liind
gets up your bazaar, I'll do what 1 can

s~~~~~.~~~~~>~~~e~ e-~~~>~s>s~s~1~s"e~-e~'
gets up your bazar I'll do what I can
to help"
"Then you will dine with us to-
night?" Chris asked. eagerly. Don't
say no. l met man once with past
like yours at Lady Roslingham's, and
lie was so interesting. We will call for
you in an hours time with the wagon
ette Then we can settle half our plans
before dinner"
Merritt was graciously pleased to be
agreeable. Moreover. he was utterly
puzzled and absolutely consumed with
an overpowering curiosity. 1t seemed
also to him a sheer waste of Providence
to discard such an offer. And the plate
at Littimer Castle was superb!
Meanwhile Chris and Bell walked
down the street together. He was
puzzled over the Rembrandt" Chris
said. Seeing that he has our pic
ture-"
"No doubt about it. The picture was
rolled up and stood on the mantel-
shelf. I followed Merritt's gaze. know
ing perfectly we'll that it would rest
presently on the picture if it was in
the room. At the same time our inter-
ested friend, in chuckling over the way
he has deceived US, clean forgot the
yellow pawn ticket lying on the table,
CDR. Bell. do you mean to say that"
THAT I know where you diamond
star is pledged. Indeed I do. Merritt
had probobly just turned out his pock
cts as we entered. The pawn ticket
was on the table. and related to dia-
mond aigrette pawned by one James
Merritt-mark the simple cunning of
the man-with Messrs. Rutter & Co.,
III High street. That in itself. is an
exceedingly valuable discovery and
one we can afford to keep to ourselves
for the present. At the same time.
should like very much to know what
Rutter & Co. are like. Let me go down
to the shop and make some simple pur-
chase"
Rutter & Co. proved to be very
high-class shop. indeed, despite the fact
that there was a pawnbroking branch
of the business. The place was quite
worthy of Bond street. the stock was
brilliant and substantial. the assistants
quite above the provincial class. AS
Bell was turning over some sleeve
links Chris was examining a case Of
civ Ci anu feoll Cigarette CdSeS anu lllC
like. She picked up cigar-case. at
length, and asked the price. At the
mention of fifty guineas. she dropped
the trine with little moue of surprise.
at looks as if it had been used" she
said.
1T is not absolutely new, madam"
the assistant admitted, therefore, the
price is low. But the gentleman who
sold it to us proved that he had only
had it for a few days. The doctor had
ordered him not to smoke in future,
and So
CHS turned away to something else.
Bell completed his purchases. and to-
gether they left the shop. Once out
side, Chris gripped her companions
arm excitedly.
another great discovery" she said.
did you see me looking at that cigar
Casa gun-metal one set with dia-
monds? You recollect that Ruth Gates
purchased a case like that for that
that foolishness we thought of in con-
nection with Mr.. Steel. The case had
a little arrow shaped scratch, with the
head of the arrow formed of the big
gest diamond. Enid told me all this
the night before I left Longdean
Grange. DR.. Bell. I am absolutely GER
tain that I have had in my hand just
now the very case bought by Ruth
from Lockhart's in Brighton"