The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-07-31


rift, at an address in Moreton Wells.
town some fifteen miles away. That
,he scoundrel was up to no good she
knew perfectly well.
Your work must be very interest
ing" she said. Have you been In the
church long, Mr.. Merritt?"
Merritt said. hoarsely. that he had
not been In the church very long His
dreadful grin and fog voice suggested
that he was a brand plucked from the
! burning, and that he had only recently
/ come over to the side of the angels. The
| whole time he spoke he never met
! Chris's glance once. The chaplain OF a
conN ict prison would have turned from
| him in disgust. Henson was evidently
| IN at ease. In his suave. diplomatic
| way he contrive1 to maneuvre Merritt
of the ground at length.
IAN excellent fellow" ne said. with
| exaggerated enthusiasm. ut was
| great day for US when we won over
| James Merritt. He can reach class
| which. hitherto, we have not touched
"He looks as II he had been in gaol,"
! Chris said.
"oh. he has" Henson admitted, can
| didly. Many a time
! Chris deemed II Just possible that the
unpleasant experience might be en-
| dured again. but she only smiled and
! expressed herself as deeply interested.
! The unaasiness In Henson's manner
| gradually disappeared. Evidently the
/ girl suspected nothing. She would have
| liked to have asked a question or two
I about Mr.. Merritt's thumb, but she
! deemed 1t prudent not to do so.
Dinner came at length, dinner. served
| in the great hall, in honor OF the re-
cently-arrived guest, and set up In all
the panoply and splendor that Littimer
affected at times. The best plate was laid
out on the long table. There were banks
and coppices Of flowers at either corner.
| a huge palm nodded over silver and
glass and priceless china. The softly
shaded electric lights made pools OF
amber flame on fruit and flowers and
cleaning crystal. Half-a-dozen big
footmen went about their work with
noiseless tread.
Henson shook his head playfully at
all this show and spendor. His good
humor was of the elephantine order,
and belied the drawn anxiety of his
eyes. Luxurious and peaceful as the
scene was, there seemed TO Chris to be
touch of electricity in the air, the sug-
gestion of something about to happen.
Littimer glanced at her admiringly. She
was dressed In white satin, and she had
in her hair a single diamond star Of
price.
''Of course Henson condemns all this
sort OF thing" Littimer said. g He
would have you believe that when he
comes into his own the plate and wine
will be sold for the benefit of the poor,
and the seats of the mighty filled with
decayed governesses and Anticipated
shop-walkers."
II hope that time may be long de-
ferred." Henson murmured.
And so do l." Littimer said. drily.
which is one of the advantages of be-
ing conservative. BY the way. who was
that truculent- looking scoundrel 1 saw
you with this afternoon"
Henson FASTENED to explain. Littimer
was emphatically Of opinion that such
for the present. When all the rare
plate and treasures of Littimer Castle
had been disposed of for philanthropic
purposes 1t would not matter.
There was a time when the eater
prising burglar got his knowledge of
the domestic and physical geography of
a house from the servants. Now he re-
forms, with the great advantage that
he can lay his plan of campaign from
personal observation. 1t Is a much
more admirable method, and tends to
avert suspicion from the actual GRIM
inal''
You would not speak thus IL you
knew Merritt" said Henson.
"All the same, don't want the privi-
lege," Littimer smiled. "a man with a
face like that couldn't reform; nature
would resent such an enormity. And
yet, you can never tell. Physically
speaking, my quondam friend, Hather-
ly Bell, has perfect face"
II confess I am anxious to see him."
Chris said. IL heard him lecture in
America He had the most interesting
theory about dogs. Mr.. Henson hates
dogs"
YES" said Henson. shortly, IT do.
and they hate me, but that does not
prevent my being interested In the COM
ing of DR.. Bell. And nobody hopes more
sincerely than myself that he will sue
coed in clearly vindicating his charac-
ter"
Littimer smiled sarcastically, as he
trihed with his claret glass. In his
cynical way, he was looking forward
to the interview with a certain sense of |
amusement. And there was a time
when he had enjoyed Bells society inn
mensely
well, you will not have long 10 wait
now" he said. 1T is long past 10, and
Bell Is due at any moment after IL.
Coffee In the balcony, please
IL was a gloriously warm night. just
a faint suspicion OF breeze in the air. |
Down below, the sea beat with gentle |
sway against the cliffs; on the grassy
slopes a belated lamb was bleating for
Its dam. Chris strolled quietly down |
the garden with her mind at peace for !
time. She had almost forgotten her
mission for a moment, A figure slip |
ped gently past her on the grass, but |
she utterly failed to notice II.
"An exceedingly nice girl, that" Lit
timer was saying, land distinctly anus
ing Excuse me IL leave you here--a |
tendency 90 ague and English night air |
don't bled together"
CHAPTER Xxx.
Gone.
II was the very moment that Henson |