The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-25
The Crinson
:, =. >: on. .BHnd
By Fred M. Ohite
CHAPTER xLyI. Confined,

G>~~~~~~S~~~-~s~S~~ .~.~-I~S~>~-~~~~~
CHAPTER NLyL tContinnedJ
II am sorry If / have done So" Chris
said. but should not have done so
unless had beer taken by surprise. 1t
was so not that / had taken off my
glasses and put my hair up. Then
Frank came up and surprised me-"
You have grown an exceedingly
pretty girl, Chris" Littimer said crit
ically. OF course, / recognize you now.
You are nicer looking than Miss Lee"
Chris put her glasses on and rolled
her hair down resolutely.
You viii be good enough to under
stand that / am going to continue Miss
Lee for the present, she said. MY task
is long way from being finished yet,
Lord Littimer, you are not going 20
send Franz away"
Littimer looked undecided.
II didn't know he said. Frank, /
have heard great deal to-day to cause
me to think that might have done a
great injustice. And yet am not sure
LIN any case. 1t would be bad policy
for you to remain here. IL the news
came TO the ears of Paginald Henson
1t might upset Miss Machiavelli's
plans"
That had not occurred to me for the
moment" Chris exclaimed. on the
whole, Frank had better not stay But
should early like 10 see you two shake
hands"
Frank Littimer made an involuntary
gesture, and then he drew back.
Id-Td rather not" he said. "At
least, not until my character is fully
indicated. Heaven knows / have suf-
Tered enough for boyish indiscretion."
And you have youth on your side"
Littimer said, gravely. Whereas II"
Il know, know. 1t has been terrible
all round. l took those letters of poor
Ciairc's away because they were sacred
property, and for no eye but mipe----''
No eye but yours saw them. I was
going to send them back again. wish
had"
Aye, so do 1. took them and de-
stroyed them but take Heaven to wit
ness that touched nothing else b =
sides. III 1t was the last word / ever
uttered---what Is that fellow doing
here in tibet garb? 1t is one of Hem
sons most disreputable tools"
Merritt was coming across the ter
race. He paused suspiciously as he
caught sight of Frank, but Chris. with
friendly wave OF her hand, encour-
aged him to come on.
ITS all a part of the game" she
said. Il sent for our friend, Merritt.
out when | did SO had no idea that
Frank would be present. Since you
are here you might just as well stay
and hear little more of the strange
doings of Reginald henson. The time
has come to let Merritt know that J
am not the clever lady burglar he takes
me for
Merritt came up, doggedly. En
IDENTIFY the presence of Frank Littimer
disturbed him. Chris m1tioned him to
q seat quite gaily.
You are very punctual," she said.
Il told you | wanted you to give Lord
littimer and myself little advice and
assistance. In the first place, we want
to know where that gun-metal, dia
mond-mounted cigarcase, at present
for sale in Rutter's window, came
from. We want to know how 1t got
there and who sold IL to Rutter's peo-
pie. Also, we want to know why Van
Sneck purchased a similar cigar-case
from Walen's of Brighton.
Merritt's heavy jaw dropped, his
face turned a dull yellow. He looked
around helplessly for some means of
escape, and then relinquished the idea
with sigh.
'.Done!" he said. "Ciear done. And
by woman, too! A smart woman,
admit, but woman, all the same. And
yet. why didn't you"
Merritt paused, lost in the contem-
plation of problem beyond his intel
lectual strength.
"You have nothing to fear" Chris
said, with smile. Tell US all you
know, and conceal nothing, and you
will be free When we have done with
you"
Merritt wiped his dry lips with the
back of his hand.
II come peaceably," he said. hoarse-
~. "And I'm going to tell you all
about 1t.