Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-28
ne Crimson
:, :. :: ~. Blind
By Fred M. Uhite
CEAPrEa. xxxvn-continued.)

CEaPcER. xxxvIT-(Ccntinued)
and what a lot or plate there was on
the table and sideboard! Some OF 1t
was gold. too Merfitt's greedy profess
sional eye appraised the collection at
some hundreds OF pounds-hnndreds OF
rornds-that Is, after the stuff had
been disposed of. in imagination he
had already drugged the butler and
stuffed the plate into his bag.
Henson said very little. He was too
tusily engaged In watching his confed-
crate. He wished from the bottom OF
his heart now that Chris had never
seen Merritt. She was smiling on him
now, and apparently hanging on every
word. Henson had seen society ladies
doing this kind OF thing before with
well -concealed contempt. So long as
people liked 20 play his game for him
he had no objection. But this was quite
different. Merritt had warmed a little
under the Influence of his fifth glass or
champagne, put his eye looked lovingly
and loigingly in the direction of a sill
yer spirit stand on the s~ideboard.
The dinner came TO an end at length
TO Henson's great relief. and presently
the whole party wandered out to the
terrace. Bell dropped behind with
Chris.
Now is your time." he whispered.
"Henson dare not lost sight of Merritt
before he goes to bed. and I'll keep the
latter out here for a good long spell.
I've mufie1 the striker of the telephone
so that the bell will make no noise
when you get your call back from
Brighton, SO that you must be near
enough to the instrument to hear the
click of the striker. Make hastei"
Chris dropped back to the library
and rapidly iuttered over the leaves or
the Telephone Directory. She found
what she wanted. al length, and asked
20 be put on to Brighton. Then she sat
down in an arm chair in the darkness.
close under the telephone. prepared to
wait patiently. She could just see the
men on the terrace. could catch the dull
red glow of their cigars.
Her patience was not unduly tried.
At the end Of q quarter of an hour the
striker clicked f~uriously. Chris reached
for the receiver and lay back, comfort
ably in her chair with the diphragm to
her ear. Are you there?" she asked.
quietly. rs that you, Mr.. Steel?"
To her great relief, the answering
voice was Steel's own. He seemed TO
be a little puzzled as to who the Ques-
TONER was.
Cant you guess7' Chris replied.
.sThis is not the first time I ave had
you called. You have not forgotten zl5
Brunswick Square YETI"
Chris smiled as she heard Steel's sud-
den exclamation.
ANa NHfArR wuh0v
saw In the dark?" ne said. Yes. ] rec
ognize you voice now. You are MISS
Chris-well. I won't mention the name
aloud. because people might ask what
q w~eil-regulated corpse meant by rous-
ing people up at midnight. I hope you
are not going TO get me into U
again"
mo; but i am going 20 ask your adj
vice and assistance. I want you TO be
80 good as TO give me the plot OF a
story after I have told you the details.
And you are to scheme the thing OUT
at once, please. because delays are
dangerous. DR.. BELL
whats that? Will you tell me
where you are speaking FROM"
II am nj present located at Littin1er
Castle. Yes. DR.. Bell is here. Do you
want him7"
IT should think so!" Steel exclaimed.
sPleaae tell him at once that the man
who was found here. half-dead--you
know the man I mean-got up and
dressed himself in the absence Of the
nurse and walked out Of the hospital
this morning. Since then he has not
been seen or heard OF. I have been
hooking up Bell everywhere. VIII you
tell him this at once2 I'll so into yo'lr
matter afterwards. Don't be afraid;
I'll tell the telephone people not to cut
you of TIL I ring. Please go at once"
The voice was urgent. not to say inn
perative. Chris dropped the received
Into It's space and crept into the dark
ness in the direction OF the terrace.