The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-08-14
By Fred M. Whhe
CHAPTER xxxIL Coontlnuea.,


10 the iron frame. Look at them"
she said. 1T was my suggestion that
the stays should be attached TO the
frame to prevent anything like this
robbery. / made the stays secure my
self. And what happened To justify my
prudence? Why. the very same night
somebody came here after the picture"
"Henson'" Littimer cried. "Ah! But
he could have come openly"
'It Is not In the nature OF the man
20 do things openly" Chris went on.
II know more about the man than you
imagine. but that you are to keep TO
yourself. He comes here In the dead Of
the night and he gets into the house
through an upstair window. A man Of
his bulk, IL you please! And he comes
here hot-foot and breathless at a time
when common prudence should have
kept him in bed. Why? Because he
knows that DIR. Bell has the other REM
brandt and will come To prove 1t, and
because he knows that IL he can steal
the Littimer Rembrandt he can preci-
pitate the very lmpasse that he has
brought about. But he could not steal
the picture because It was fast
You are a very clever young lady
IAttimer said drily. You will tell me
rexs that you expected Henson to try
this thing on"
y did" Chris said coolly. II had n
telegram to warn me So"
I.ittimaF smiled All this mystery
and cleverness was after his own heart.
He lighted his cigarette and rendered
his case the friendliest possible man
ner TO Bell.
go on" ne said. II am deeply inter-
ted"
II prefer not to go into details"
Chris resumed. "All I ask you to do
IS to be entirely guided by me when you
have heard my story. have admitted
20 you that knew when Henson was
coming, and why am interested. Be-
cause 1t happens that Reginald Henson
has greatly injured someone I cared
for deeply. Well. / fastened up the
Iicture--he came. He sneaked In like
the thief that ne was. because his ac-
complete and tool had failed TO save
him the trouble. Lord Littimer, viii
not pain you by saying who Henson's
accomplice Is"
Littimer nodded gloomily.
mot that 1 blame that sccomplice;
he could not help himself. All, when
the whole truth comes to be told. what
n black business II will be. Well. Hen
son came to steal the picture, and 1
caught him In the act II you had
seen his fat, greasy. crestfallen face!
Then he pretended that II was all done
for a Test and az a warning to Lord
rittimer. And Lord Littimer. the most
cynical of men, allowed II to pass"
1T couldn't see what he had to GAIN
Ifttimer pleaded. "I don't now, as
matter of fact"
Neither Will you. for the present"
said Chris. "Still, you will be so good
as to assume the same hospitality and
courtesy toward Henson as you extend
Mt present"
at daresay I can manage IT," said
Iittimer. cynically. II used to be
society man once"
Henson did not deceive me for a
moment" Chris went on. He was
bound to have the picture. and, being
baffied one way, he tried another.
Look here, Lord Littimer. Let me as
sumo for moment that DIR. Bell came
down here to steal your picture. get
rid OF The frame, and palm Off your
own engraving for another. Now. In
The name OF common sense, let me ask
Won simple question. Could DIR. Bell
have possibly known that the frame, OF
che Rembrandt was fastened securely
20 the wall, and that had attached 1t
mute recently? And could he. In the
short time at his disposal, have pro-
cured the necessary tools TO cut away
che stays? Again, DR.. Bell can prove
] suppose, exactly what time he left
London to-day. No. we must look
FARTHER for the thief"
"There Is something else. also, we
have to look for" said DR.. Bell. "Ann
thalt Is the frame. You say Il was OF
sron. and. consequently, heavy. The
thief would discard the frame and roll
up the print"
..That is q brilliant suggestion sato
Chris, eagerly. And IL we only mao
that is the frame. You say.sit was OF
doubts at rest entirely. I happen %
know that the real thief came ano
went By the cliff under the terrace III
the frame was thrown into the gorse
there it,"
Might stay for ages" Attimer ex-
claimed. ''By love, I'm just in the
mood to carry this business a stage OF
two farther before go to bed. Bell
there are two or three cycle-lamps In
che gun-room. You used TO be pref
Nv fearless climber. What do you say
20 A hunt round for an sour or two
while the house is quiet?"
Bell assented. eagerly. Chris waited
with what patience she could command
an daylight began to show family and
redly In the east. Then she heard the
sound of voices on the outside. and Lit
timer and Bell staggered In, carrying
the frame between them.
"Got it," Littimer exclaimed, with
The triumphant exultation OF a school
boy who has successfully looted rare
birds nest. 1--WE found II halfway
down the cliff. hidden in a patch OF
samphire. And II doesn't seem to be
any the worse for the adventure. Now
AIRS. wissacre seeing that we have the
frame. perhaps you will fulfil your
promise OF convincing me. once and for
al. that yonder Rembrandt canno,
possibly belong to me7'
Il arm going TO do So" Chris said
quietly You told me you had to cut
the margin OF your print by an inch OF
90 rocnd to at the quaint old frame
80 far as can see. the print before yo,
81 intact Now. IL II 10 too large fol
Ahe Frame
Iissimer nodded. eagerly. Heu ntte'