Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-19
BY Fred M. Uhite
CHAPTER xrv-,Cont,nued.,


The last words came like a shot from
a catapult. Ends face grew colder.
Bell drew a long tube of discolored pa
per carefully tied around a stick, from
his pocket. &e
ST am going to disprove that once and
for all" he said. The rembrandt is at
present In Lord Littimer's collection.
There is an account of ii in to-day's
Telegraph. 1t is perfectly familiar to
both of YOU. And. that being the case
what do you think OF this?' .
He unrolled the paper before Ends
astonished eyes. Margaret Henson
glanced at 1t listlessly; she vas fast
striking into the old, strange oblivion
again. But Enid was all rapt attention.
II would nave sworn to hat as Lord
Littimer's own!" she gasped.
cit is his own" Bell replied. stolen
frcm him, and a copy placed by some
arch-enemy in my ~portmanteau. 1t
was certain to be found on the frontier;
Don't you see that there were w Rem
brapdts2 When the one from my port
manteau was restored to Littimer his
w was kept by the thief. Subsequent
ly IL would be exposed as a new find,
with some story as TO its discovery,
only. unfortunately for the scoundrel,
II came into my possession.
And where did o find ft?" Enid
asked.
IT found it, said Bell, slowly, Gin a
house called 218, Brunswick Square,
Brighton"
A strange cry came from Ends lips.
She stood swaying beforel her lover as
white as the paper on which her eyes
were eagerly fixed, Margaret Henson
was pacing up and down the room. her
lips muttering, and raising a cloud OF
pallid dust behind her.
I'll am sorry" Enid said, faltering-
iy. And all these years ] have deemed
you guilty. But then, the proof was
SO plain; I could not deny the evidence
OF my own enses. And Van Gulden
came to me, saying how deeply dis
tressed he was, and that he would have
prevented the catastrophe IL he could.
well?"
A servant stood waiting in the door
way, with wondering eyes at h
stranger.
Tn sorry, miss" she said; "but
Miss Christiania is worse: indeed, she
quite frightens me. I've taken the lib
erty of telephoning to DIR. Walker"
The words seemed TO bring conscious
ness to Margaret Henson.
"Christiania worse,' she said. "An-
other of them going; II will be a happy
release from a house of sorrow like
this. ] will come up, Martin"
= She swept out of the room with the
servant. Enid appeared hardly to
have heard. Bell looked at her inquir-
ingly, ard with some little d~ispleasure.
at fancy / have heard you speak OF
your sister Christiania,' he said. els
she ill?"
''She is at the point OF death. I un-
derstaad: you think I am callous. Oh,
II you only knew! But the light will
come to US all In time, God willing.
Look at this place, look at the blight of
1t and wonder how we endure IL. Hath
eriy. I have made a discovery
I'VE seem to be living in an atmo-
s,,here OF discoveries. What is it?'
st will answer your question by ask
Ing another. You have been made the
victim of a vile conspiracy. For seven
years your career has been blighted.
And / have lost seven years Of my life,
too. Have o any idea who your en-
envy is?"
"Not the faintest. but, believe me, I
shall fini out in time. And then"
A purple biackness. like the lurid
Hight OF a storm flashed into his eyes,
the lines of his mouth grew rigid.
Enid laid a hand tenderly on his arm.
Your enemy Is the common enemy of
as ALL" she said. 1--WE have wasted the
years. but we are young yet. Your en-
envy is Reginald Henson"
ENID. 0 speak with conviction.
Arc you certain OF this?"
Certain. When / have time I will
tell you everything. But not now. And
that man must never know that you
have been near the house tonight, not
so much for your sake as for the cake
of your friend. David Steele. Now 7 can
see the Providence behind 1t all. Hath
erly, tell me that you forgive me be-
fore the others come back
my darling, I cannot see how you
could nave acted otherwise"
Enid turned towards him with a glad
light In her eyes. She said nothing, for
the simple reason that there was moth
Ing to say. Hathely Bell caught her in
his strong arms and she swayed to
reach his lips. In hat delicious mo-
ment the world was all forgot.
But not for long. There was e sud-
den rush and a tumble of feet on the
stairs, there was a strange voice speak
Eng hurriedly, then the drawing room
door opened end Margaret Henson
came in. She looked wild and excited
ard tailed incoherentlys An obviously
professional man followed her.
my dear madam" he was saying,
OF have done all I can. In the last few
days / AVE not been able to disguise
from myself hat there was small hope
for the patient. The exhaustion, the
shock to the system. the congestion, all
point to an early collapse"
"Is my sister so much worse, DR..
Walker" Enid asked. quietly.
"She could not be any worse and be
alive the doctor said. Unless I am
greatly mistaken, the gentleman behind
YOU Is Mr.. Hatherly Bell. I presume
he has been called to meet me? If SO.
/ am sincerely glad. because I shall be
pleased to have a second opinion. A
bad case of'-here followed a long,
technical name-"one OF the worst cases
I have ever seem
you q command me. Enid" Bell
said. IF I can"
mo. moi" Enid cried. what am I
saying? Please go up stairs with Mar
tin"