Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-09-25

lice and his clients. Suppose Mr..
Merritt here, had done some wrong?'
"a great effort OF imagination" Lit
timer murmured, gently.
Had done something wrong, and an
enemy or quondam friend wants to
put him away | believe that is the
correct expression. In that case, he
does not go to the police himself, be-
cause he is usually Of a modest and re.
firing disposition. No; he usually
puts down a few particulars in the
way of a letter, and sends ii TO Reuben
Taylor, under cover, to a certain ad'
dress. Is not that quite correct, Mr.,
Merritt"
Right" Merritt said, hoarsely.
lor is, and"
"Never mind that. Do you know
that the night before your friend, Mr.,
Henson, left the castle he placed in the
postbag a letter addressed to Reuben
Taylor? In view of what ] have read
recently in the paper alluded to, the
name struck me as strange. Now, Mr.
Merritt. is it possible that letter has
anything to do with you?"
Merritt did not appear to hear the
question. His eyes we're fixed on
space; there was a sanguine c~lenching
Of his fists, as If they had been about
the throat of a foe.
IF | had him here!" he murmured,
"If | only had him here! He's given
me away. After all that I have done
for him, he's given me away"
His listeners said nothing; they fully
appreciated the situation. Merritts
presence at the castle was both dan
gerous and hazardous for Henson.
eff you went away to-day you might
be safer" Chris suggested.
AYE, | might" Merritt said, with a
cunning grin in his eyes, "if l had a
hundred pounds"
Chris glanced significantly at Litti'
mer, who nodded and took up the par
able.
"You shall have the money" he said
and you shall go as soon as you have
answered Miss Lees questions"
Merritt proclaimed himself eager to
say anything. But Merritt's informa.
ton proved to be a great deal less than
she had anticipated.
al stole the picture" Merritt con
fessed. 81 was brought down here on
purpose. Henson sent to London, and
said he had a Job for me. 1t was to get
a picture from DR.. Bell. I didn't ask
any questions, but set to work at
once"
did you know what the picture
Was?" Chris asked.
BLESS you, yes; II was q Rembrandt
engraving. Why, 1t was l who, in the
first place, stole the first Rembrandt
from his lordship, yonder, in Amster
dam. / got into his lordships's sit
ting room by climbing down a spout,
and I took the picture"
"But the other belonged to Van
Sneck," said Chris.
ut did; and Va2 Sreck had to leave
Amsterdam hurriedly, being wanted by
the police. Henson told me that Van
Sneck had a second copy Of the Grim
son Blind and / had to burgle that, as
we'll; and I had to get into DR.. Bells
room and put the second copy In his
portmanteau. Why? Ask somebody
wiser than me. II was all some deep
/ game OF Henson's, only you may be
pretty sure he didn't tell me what the
game was. / got my money and re
turned to London, and, till pretty re
Gently. / saw no more OF Henson"
"But you came into the game again"
said Littimer.
quite lately, you Iordship. I went
down TO Brighton. l was told as Bell
had got hold of the second Rembrandt
owing to Henson's carelessness, and
that he was pretty certain to bring IL
here. He did bring 1t here. and I tried
to stop him on the way, and he half
killed me-"
"Those half-measures are so unsat'
isfactory," Littimer smiled.
Merritt grinned. He fully appreci.
ated the humor of the remark.
"That attack ard the way II was
brought about were suggested by Hen
SON." he went on. If 1t failed, I was
to come up to the castle here without
delay and tell Henson 80. came, and
he covered my movements while ]
pinched the picture. l had been told
that the thing was fastened to the wall
but a pair of steel pliers made no
odds to that. I took the picture home,
and two days later 1t vanished. And
that's all I know about It."
Lame and impotent conclusion
said Littimer.
"Wait a moment" Chris cried. you
found the diamond star, which you
pawned-"
"At your request, miss. Don't GO
for to say rs you've forgotten that"
al have forgotten nothing" Chris
said, with a smile. IL want to know
about the cigar-case."
Merritt looked blankly at the speak.
er. Evidently this was strange ground
to him.
Il don't know anything about that
he said. What sort of a c~igar-case?"
"Gun-metal set with diamonds. The
same Gaze, or a similar one, to that
purchased by Van Sneck from Walenis
in Brighton. Come, rack your brains
a bit. Did you ever see anything of
Van Sneck about the time OF the acct,
dent? You know where he is?"
"Yes. He's in the county hospital
at Brighton. He was found in Mr..
Steel's house, nearly dead. It's com
ing back to me now. A gun-metal eli.
gar Ease set in diamonds. That would
be a dull thing with sparkling stones
all over 1t. OF course! Why, l saw
1t in Van Sneck's hands the day he
was assaulted. l recollect asking him
w.ho.n. - c1E a. N~own ara ~ .ofI a..