Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-05-29
The Crinson
BY Fred M. l)hhe A/I11

2 big arm chair and began to smoke,
having first carefully extinguished the
lamps and seen that the window lead
ing to the garden was wide open. Hen
son was watching for something. In
his feline nature, he had the full gift of
feline patience. To serve his own ends
he would have sat there all night
Watching, If necessary. He heard an
occasional whimper, howl from one
of the dogs, he heard Eni Us voice sing
ing in the drawing room. The rest of
the house was quite funeral enough for
him.
In the midst Of the drawing room
Margaret Henson sat still as a statue.
The distant. weary expression never
left her eyes for a moment. AS the sta :
bic clock, the only one going On the
premises, struck ten. Enid crossed over
from The piano. 20 her aunt. There
was an eager look on her face, her eyes
We're cleaning like frosty stars.
Aunt" she whispered; dear, have
a message!"
| Message of woe and desola tom"
| Margaret Henson cried. "Tribulation
and sorrow on this wretched house.
For seven long years the, hand of the
Lord has lain heavily upon ns."
She spoke like one who was far away
from her surroundings. And yet no one
could look in he" eyes and say that she
was mad. 1t was a proud. passionate
spirit. crushed down by some bitter
humiliation. Ends eyes flashed.
That scoundrel has been robbing
you again." she said.
Two thousand pounds" came the
mechanical reply. Ito endow a bed in
some hospital And there is no escape.
no hope, unless we drag the shameful
secret from him. Bit by bit and drop
by drop, and then I shall die, and you
and Christina will be penniless.
Il dare say Chris and myself will sur
vive that" Enid said, cheerfully.
But we have a plan, dear aunt: we
have thought it out carefully. Regi-
maid Henson has hidden the secret
somewhere, and we are going to find it,.
The secret is hidden not far off, because
our cousin has occasion to require it
frequently. 1t is like the purloined let
ter in Edgar Poe's wonderful story"
Margaret Henson nodded and num-
hled. 1t seemed almost impossible to
make her understand. She babbled of
strange things, with her dark eyes fixed
on the future. Enid turned away, al
most 6espairingly. AT the same time
the stable clock struck the half hour
after ten. Williams slipped in with a
tray of glasses, 1oiselessly. On the
tray lay a small pile of tradesmens
books. The top one was of dull red
with no lettering upon it.
1.-The housekeeper's respectful conf
plimerts. miss, and would you go
through them Tomorrow" Williams
said. Tomorrow is the last day of
the month";
Enid picked up the top book with
strange eagerness. There were pages
of figures and cabalistic entries that no
ordinary person could make anything
of. Pages here and there were signed
and decorated with pink receipt stamps
Enid glanced down the last column, and
her face grew little paler.
aunt" she whispered, II have got to
go out. At once: do you understand !,
There is message here; and I am
afraid that something dreadful has
happened. Can you sing?"
"Ah yes; a song of lamentations
dirge for the dead"
mo, no; seven years ago you had a
lovely voice. I recollect what pleas
ure it was to me rs a child; and they
used to say that my voice was very like
yours, only not so sweet or so power
full. Aunt, must go out; and that
man must know nothing about it. He
is by the window in the small library
now, notwithstanding. Help me,
for the love of Heaven, help mel"
The cir. spoke with a fervency ali
passion that seemed to awaken a re-
sponsive chord in Margaret Henson's
breast. A bright CLEAN crept into her
eyes.
You are a dear girl!" she said,
dreamily: Eyes, a dear girl. And I
loved singing; it was a great grief to
me that they would not let me go upon
the stage. But I haven't sung since
since that"
She pointed to the huddled heap Of
china and glass and dried, dusty flow
ers on in corner. Enid shuddered
slightly, as she followed the direction
of the extended foref1nger.
But you must try" she whispered.
sit is for the good Of the family, for the
recovery of the secret. Reginald Hen
son is sly and cruel and clever. But
we have one on our side now who is
far more clever. And unless can get
away tonight without that man know
ing. the chance may be lost forever.
Gomez"
Margaret commenced to sing, in a
soft, minor. At first the chords were
thin and dry, but gradu ally they in
creased in sweetness and power. The
hopeless, distant look died from the
singers eyes; there was flush on hel
cheeks that rendered her years young
er.
Another one.'' she said, when that
song was finished, land yet another.
How wicked have been to neglect this
balm. that God sent me- all these years.
If you only knew what the sound of my
own voice means to me! Another one,
Enid
Eyes, yes" Enid whispered. you
are to sing until I return. You are to
leave Henson to imagine that I am
singing. He will never guess. Now,
then!'
Enid crept into the hall. closing the
door softly behind her. She made her
way noiselessly from the house and
| across the lawn AS Henson slinped