Oakes Republican., 1902-06-06
BY Fred M. G)hhe
CHAPTER NJ.
After Rernbrand

''Before we so any further Bell said,
search the house from top to bottom.
I've got a pretty sound theory in my
head, but I don't like to leave anything
to chance. We shall be pretty certain
to find something"
II am entirely i'll your hands," David
said, wearily. 80 far as am capable
OF thinking out anything, it seems to
me that we have to find the woman"
'Cherchez Ia femme is fairly sound
promise IL case like this: but when
we hare found the woman we shall
.I,a1- to find the man who is at the bot
tom of the plot. l mean the man who
T.; not only thwarting the woman, but
giving you a pratty severe lesson as to
the advisability of minding your own
business for the future.''
''Then you think I am being made the
victim of a vile conSpiracy?"
Not by woman, certainly You are
the victim of stne fiendish counter
plot by the man who has not quite mas
tered what the woman is driving at.
BY placing you in dire peril he compcls
the woman to speak to save you, and
thus TO expose her tsnd.'
Then. in that case. 1 propose to sit
tight" David said, grimly. II am bound
to be prosecuted for robbery and at
tempted murd ar in cue course If my
man dies I am in tight place.
tAnd if he recovers your antagonist
ray be in a tighter" Bell chuckled.
S'Aud if the man gets we'll and the brain
Injury proves perlnan ant-I mean if the
man is rendered imbccile-whv we are
only at the very threshold of the mys-
terry. 1t seems a callors thing to say,
but this is the prettiest problem I have
had under my hands"
Make the most of it," David said,
sardonically. 81 daresay I should see
the matter in more rational light if I
were not so directly concerned. But. if
we are going to make a search of the
premises, the sooner "e start the bet
ter"
Up stairs there was nothing beyond
certain lumber. There were dust and
dirt everywhere. save in the hall and
front dining room, which. as Bell sa-
piently pointed out had obviously been
cleared to make room for Steels
keepers room was large collection Of
dusty furniture and a number of pic
lures and engravings piled up with their
faces to the wall. Bell began idly to
turn the latter over.
'I am maniac on the subject of old
prints he explained. "I never see a
ipile without viii longing to examine
them. And by Jove, there are some
mistaken-here, Steel, pull up the
blinds! Good Heavens. is it possible?"
Found Sistine Madonna or stray
Angelo?" David asked COR a ghost?
What is the matter? Is it another
phase of the mystery?"
'The Rembrandt" Bell gasped.
'~f'Look at it, mani"
Steel bent eagerly over the engraving.
AN old print, an old piece Of china, an
antique jewel, always exercised a
charm over the novelist. He had an
urerring eye for that kind of thing.
"Exqusite!" he cried. "a Rembrandt,
of course, but I don't recollect the
picture"
'"rhe picture was destroyed by acci-
dent, after Rembrandt had engraved it
with hic own hand" Bell proceeded to
explain. He was quite coherent now,
but he breathed fast and loud. "I shall
proceed to give you the history of the
picture presently, and more especially
a history Of the engraving"
"Has it any particular name?" David
asked
Yes: we found that out. It was
called The Crimson Blind"
enc getting away from the crimson
quite imagine that to have been the
name of the picture. That shutter or
blind might have had a setting sun be-
hind it, which would account for the
tender warmth Of the kitchen fore
ground and the deep gloom where the
lovers are seated. BY Jove, Bell. it is
magnificent piece of work. I've a
special fancy for Rembrandt engrav-
irgs but l never saw one equal tC
that"
'tAnd you never will Bell replied
"save in one instance. The picture it.
self was painted in Rembrandt's mod
est odging in the Keizerskroon Tavern
after the forced sale of his paintings al
that hotel in the year 1858. At that time
Rembrandt was painfully poor as his
recorded tavern bills show. The same
bills also disclose the fact that The
Crimson Blind was painted for a pri-
vate customer, with a condition that
the subject should be engraved. as we'll
After one impression had been taken of
the plate the picture was destroyed by
q careless servant. In a sudden fit o
rage, Rembrandt destroyed the plate
having, they say, only taken one i'm
preston from 1t"
"Then there IL only one Of these en-
cravings in the world? What II tind"'
"There Is one other, ns | know to my
cost" Bell said, significantly. Until /
few days ago ! never entertained th'
idea that there were two, Steel, yoi
are the victim Of Il vile conspiracy. bu