Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-10-23
ne Crimson
By Fred M. dJhae ARANH
&

4 AA\IS1 IA 1NAA
and stood confessed before all the
world, like the beautiful creature that
she was.
What does 1t all mean?" David
asked. What will Longdean village
say?"
What does Longdsan village known"
Chris retorted. They are vaguely
aware that somebody was taken away
from the house a short time ago to be
buried; but that is all their know
ledge. And there Is no more need for
disguise, Lord Littimer says. He
knows pretty well everything. He has
been very restless and uneasy for the
past day or two, and yesterday he left,
saying that he had business In Lon
don. Early to-day / had a character
istic telegram from him saying that he
was at Longdean and that | was neces
sary to his comfort there. / was TO
come, clotherd in my right mind, and |
was to bring Mr.. Steel and DR.. Bell
along"
1T can't be managed" said Bell.
We've got Van Sneck here"
And l had forgotten all about him"
said Chris. WAS the operation sue
cessful?"
Bell told his budget of good news
down to the story of the ring and the
mysterious name in which it had dis
appeared again. David had followed
Ruth into the conservatory, where she
stood with her dainty head buried over
a rose.
She looked up, with a warm, shy
smile IN her face.
II hope you are satisfied" she said.
"You are safe now"
II was never very much alarmed,
dearest" Steel said. eff this thing had
never happened | might never have
met you. And as soon as this BUSH
ness is definitely settled | shall come
and Q YOU uncle. / am a very impa.
tient man, Ruth"
And you shall see my uncle when
you please, dear" she said. "You will
find him quite as charming as you say
your mother is. What will she say?"
Say? That you are the dearest and
sweetest girl In the world, and that /
am a lucky fellow. But you are not
going off already"
Indeed, we must. We have a cab at
the door. And I am going to brave the
horrors of Longdean Grange and spend
the night there. Only | fancy that the
horrors have gone forever. / shall be
very disappointed II you don't come to-
morrow"
Behind q friendly palm David bent
and kissed the shy lips. with a vow
that he would see Longdean Grange on
the morrow. Then Chris caught up
Ruth with a whirl, and they were gone.
1t was after ten that Bell and Steel
managed to convey Van Sneck to the
conservatory. The place was filed
with brightness and scent and color
and the afterglow of the sunshine. The
artistic eye Of the Dutchman lighted
up with genuine pleasure.
They say you islanders are crude
and cold and have no sense of the beau
tiful," he said. But there are no
houses anywhere to compare with
those OF the be~tter-class Englishman.
look at those colors blending
Hang those colors!" said Bell, viz
orously. Steel, there is nothing like
moisture to bring out the full fragrance
OF flowers. Turn on your hose, and
give your plants a good watering"
TITS the proper time" David replied.
Turn or the tap for me-"
A cooling stream played on the fow-
ers; plants dropped their heads, filled
with the diamond moisture. Then the
air seemed laden with the mingled
scent.
Il can smell the soil!" Van Sneck
cried. How good 1t Is to sraell any
thing againi And / can Just catch a
suggestion of the perfume of some
thing familiar. What's that red bloom? %
He pointed to a creeper growing up
the wall. David broke off a spray.
# sdrrhQffG a IfrI -
flower" he said. 'It has a lovely. full
favored scent, like a mixture Of yio-
let's and almonds. Smell it."
Van Sneck placed the wet, dripping
spray to his nose. Just for an instant
1t conveyed nothing to him. Then he
rose, with q half-trtumphat cry.
STEADY, therei" said Bell. iaYou
mustn't get up, you know. / see you
are excited. Has it come back to you
again?"
That's the scent" Van Sneck cried.
The air was full of that as I fel! back
wards. And Henson stood over me
exactly by that cracked tile where Mr..
steel now Is. Give me a moment, and
| shalT be able TO tell 20 ~ueyerything.
On, yes; the first time I slipped on
purpose. | told you i stumbled. But
Nh0t was q kh6C. anu dS 4 Tell 4 LOOK
the ring from my w~aistcoat pocket.
Let me have another sniff at that
bloom. Yes; I've got It now, quite
! clear!"
You know where the ring is?" Da-
vid asked, eagerly.
Well, not quite that. took II from
my waistcoat pocket and pitched 1t
away from me. saw 1t fall on q pot
covered with moss, but can't say
which pot or In which corner. 7 only
know that I threw 1t over my shout
der, and that it dropped into the thick
moss that lies on the top Of all the
pots. | laughed to myself as it fell.
and rejoiced to see that Henson knew
nothing OF It."
And It is still there?" Bell demand.
ed.
Van Sneck nodded, solemnly.
Il swear It." ne said. Prince Ru-
pert's ring Is In this conservatory"
CHAPTER Lv.
Kicked Out.
Reginald Henson had had more than
| one unnlnaSanf aurprfsa Ia&aIw k..a