The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-08-28
5ascrinson
/ By Fred m. IOhhe AxxH0

>~>~s~~~s~~s~~~~~~~~~s~~~~
And now you had better go back TO
your telephone"
Chris hurried back again. whis-
pered word satisfied her that Steel was
still at the other end.
DR. Bell starts as early as possible
Tomorrow" she said IF you will
listen, carefully, win give you a brief
outline of all that has happened since
have been here"
Chris proceeded to tell her story,
briefly and succinctly. From little
sounds and signs she could tell that
Steel was greatly interested. The
story OF the man with the thumb fas-
cinated him. 1t appealed to his profess
sionai instincts.
And what do you want to do with
him?" Steel asked.
We'll. you see, I have him in my
power Chris explained. I'VE can get
the other Rembrandt any time we like
now; but that is quite a minor consid-
GRAFTON. What 1 want is for Merritt to
know that / can have him arrested at
any time for stealing my star. It's
Ends star. as a matter of fact; but
that Is a detail"
voice came thin and clear. Suppose
that our dear friend chances to recog-
nize II. No; don't ring off yet"
I'm not. Oh. you are speaking to the
Exchange people. Yes, yes;
yes; we shall be a long time yet. :.
Are you there. Enid bought It just be-
fore the great trouble came, and, af-
terwsrds, she never had the heart TO
wear it,
II understand You want Merritt to
know this?'
We'll, I do and / don't" Chris ex-
planned. IT am anxious not to Brighten
the man. want to get him In my
power. and / want to prove to him that
II would be to his advantage for him to
come over to my side. Suppose Enid
gave IL out that the star had been stol-
EN-? And suppose that could save him
at the critical moment? shouldn't
mind him thinking that had stolen the
star in the first place. This Is why am
asking you. as a novelist. TO help me-"
You would have made an excellent
novelist yourself" David said, admir-
ingly. "Give me FIVE minutes. :.
Are you there? / fancy have It.
Can't you hear me, That's better. Til
see Miss Gates the first thing in the
morning, and get her to go over to
Longdean and see your sister. :.
Confound II. don't cut us off yet! What
does IL matter, so long as the messages
are paid fort Nobody else wants the
line. Well. I may for an hour more.
Are you there? Very sorry:
it's the fault of the postoffice people.
Here Is the plot in a nutshell: Your
sister has lost diamond star. She
gives a minute description of II to the
police, and drops hint that she be-
lieves II was taken away by mistake
in other words, was stolen--from her
In London by a chance acquaintance
called Christabel Lee"
"Ah." Christabel cried. ''how clever
you arel''
IT have long suspected It." the thin
voice went or. drily. THE full descrip-
tion of the star will be printed in the
Folice Gazette, a copy of which every
respectable pawnbroker gets regularly.
suppose the people where the star was
pawned are respectable7"
Highly so. They have quite Bond
Street establishment attached"
80 much the better. They will see
the advertisement and they will COM
municate with the police. The Rev.
James Merritt will be arrested"
ct don't quite like that" Chris srg-
gested.
"Oh, It's necessary. He will be ar
rested at the castle. Knowing his ante
cedents, the police will not stand upon
ceremony You will be filed with re-
morse. You have plunged back into a
career of crime again being who was
slowly climbing into the straight path
once more. You take the blame upon
yourself--it was at your instigation
that Merritt pawned the star"
"But really. Mr.. Steel"
''oh, know But the end justiffes
the means You save Mr.. Merritt,
there Is a bond Of sympathy between
you, he will regard you as a great light
In his interesting profession. You saved
him because you had appropriated the
star yourself"
And go to gaol instead of Mr.. Mer-
ritz"
"'Not a bit of IL. The star you
deemed to be yours. You had one very
like when you saw Miss Henson.
when you were staying In London at
the same hotel BY some means the
Jewels got mixed. Yeu are confident
that an exchange has been made. Also,
you are confident that IL Miss Henson
will search her jewel case she will find
a valuable star that does not belong to
her. Miss Henson does SO; she Il dis
tressed beyond measure; she offers all
kinds OF apologies Exit the police.
You need not tell Merit how you got
out OF the difficulty. and thus you In
crease his respect for you. There. that
would make very ingenius and piaus-
ibIe magazine story. 1t should be more
convincing in real life"
Capital" Chris murmurcd. What
an advantage Il is 20 have novelist to
advise onel Many thanks for all your
kindness. Goodnight"
Chris rang or with certain sense OF
relief. II was some time before she
had chance Of conveying to Bell that
had happened. He listened gravely to
all that Chris had 10 say.
"Just the sort of feather-brained
idea that would occur TO a novelist =
he said. For my part, should pre-
| fer to confront Merritt with his theft.
and keep the upper hand OF him that
| way"
"And he would mistrust me, and be-
tray me at the frst opportunity. Be
| sides, In that case, he would know az
once that wanted to get TO the bot