The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-06-14
~. Crimson
By Fred m. A)hhe AHn1
By Fred m. Mhi's
CHAPTER x11-toontinued.,


CHAPTER xlI-(Continued.)
Another one" Bell replied. "Oblige
me by opening yonder parcel. There
you see is the print that I purchased to-
day for E5. This, this, my friend is the
print that was stolen from Littmer's
lodgings in Amsterdam. If you look
closely at it, you will see four dull. red
spots in the left-hand corner. They
are supposed to be blood-spots from a
cut finger Of the artist. I am prepared
to swear that this Is the very print,
frame and all, that was purchased in
Amsterdam from that shady scoundrel,
Van Sneck."
"But Littmer Is credited with having
one in his collection" David urged.
He has one in his collection" Bell
said, coolly. "And. moreover. he is
firmly under the impression that he Is
at present the happy possessor of his
own lost treasure. And up to this very
day l was under exactly the same delu-
sion. Now I know that there must
have been two copies of the plate, and
that this knowledge was used to ruin
me-" ....
"But,' Steel murmured, II don't ex-
actly see
81 am coming to that. We hunted
high and low. for the picture, but no
where could it BE- found. The affair
created a profound impression in Am
sterdam. A day or two later Van Gull
den went back to his duty on the Bel
q gian frontier, n business called. me
home. ] packed my solitary portman-
teau and departed. When I arrived at
the frontier I opened my luggage for
Al ~~l W. ryhoI0 o~r-
tents was turned out without ceremony.
On the bottom was a roll of paper on a
stick that l quite failed to recognize.
An inquisitive customs house officer
opened it. n Immediately called the
lieutenant in charge. Strange to say. he
proved to be Von Gulden. He came up
to me, very gravely, with the paper IN
bis hand.
MAY I inquire how this came
among your lugglge?' he asked.
II could say nothing. I was dumb.
For there lay the Rembrandt. The red
spots had been smudged out of h cor
ner, but there the picture was.
well, I lost my e then. I accused
Won Gulden of all kinds of ~lisgraceful
things. And he behaved like a gentle
mamie made me ashamed of myself.
But he kept the picture, and returned 1t
to Littmer, and I was ruine1. Lord
Littmer declined to pros cute, but he
would not see me and he would hear of
no explanation. Indeed, I had none to
offer. Enid refused to see me. also, or
reply to my letters. The story Of my
big gambling debt, and its liquidation
got about. Steel, and I was ruined.
Some enemy had lone this thing, and
from that day to this I have been a
marked man."
But how on earth was it done?" Steel
cried. T7
For the present I can only surmise,"
Bell replied. evan Sneck was a slip
perry dog. OF course he had found two
OF those plates. He kept the one back.
20 as to sell the other at a fancy price.
MY enemy discovered this, and Var
Sneck's sudden flight was his opportu-
nifty. He could afford to get rid of me
at an apparently deal rate. He stole
Littmer's picture-in fact, he must have
done so, or I should not nave it at this
moment. Then he smudged out some
Imaginary spots on the other, and hid
It in my baggage, knowing h a 1T
would be found. Also, he knew that it
would be returned to Littmer. and that
the stolen plate could be laid aside, Inc
produced at some remote date as an
original find. The find has been mine,
and it will go hard If I can't get to the
bottom of this mystery now. 1t Is
strange that your mysterious trouble
and mine should be bound up so closely
together, but In the end it will simplify
matters, for the very reason that we
are both on the hunt for h same.
man."
(Which man we have got to find,
BELL" =
"Granted. We will bait for him as
one does for a willy old trout. The fly
shall be the Rembrandt, and you see
h. will rise to it in time. But beyond
this I have made one or two important
house of the strange lady who owns 218
and 219 Brunswick Square, and I shall
be greatly mistaken If she does not
prove to be an old acquaintance of
mine. There will be danger"
'You propose to go tonight"
81 propose to go at once" Bell said.
spark hours. are always best for dark
business. Now, which is the nearest
way to Longdean Granger"
$50 the House of the Silent Sorrow,
as they call 1t, is to be our destinations!
I must confess that the place has ever
held a TRANCE fascination for me. We
will go over the golf links and behind
Ovingdean village. It is q rare spot for
a tragedy" A
Bell rose and lighted a cigar.
Come along" he said. "Poke that
Rembrandt behind your books, with Its
face to the wall. I would not lose that
for anything. now. No, on second
thoughts. I find 1 shall have to take 1t
with me"
David closed the door carefully be-
hind him, and h W o stepped out into
the night.
FIX CHAPTER XIII.
ssGOOd Dog"
Two dancing Eyes of fame were
streaming up the Ian towards the,
girls, q long shadow slanted across the
white pathway, the steady flick Of hoofsI
drew nearer. Then the hoofs ceased.
their shifting OF n dust and q mans
voice spoke.
better turn and wait for. US b.: the
farm, driver" the voice said. BELL, can.
you manage. MANI"
"who was that?" Enid whispered. "A|
etranger?"