Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-09-11

Nothing" steel said. "He is utterly
and hopelessly puzzled ove the whole
business. And Bell has managed to
convince him that he is not suspected at
all. That business over the Rembrandt
was really a brilliant piece of comedy.
But what has Henson found out?"
THAT Chris Is not dead. He has seen
Walker and the undertaken. But he
does not know yet that Bell was In the
hcIse that eventful night, which Is a
blessing. AS a matter Of fact, Reginald
has not been quite the same man since
Rollo nearly killed him that exciting
evening. His nerves seem to be greatly
shaken"
THAT is because the rascal feels the
net closing round him." Steel said. TT
"a a fine stroke on you sisters part
to win over that fellow Merritt to her
side. I supplied the details per tele-
rhone. but the plot was really Miss
Chris. How on earth should we have
managed without the telephone owe
this b~usiness?" .r"r .
II am al a loss to say" Enid smiled.
but tell me about that plot. / am
quite in the dark about that side Of the
matter" ~s.s t.~''
David proceeded to explain his own
and Chris ingenious scheme for getting
Merritt into their power. Enid followed
the story with vast enjoyment, tenn
pered with the fact that Henson was so
z
IT should never have thought Of that"
she said; but Chris was always so
clever. But, tell me-, what was Henson
doing in the garden just now? Will
Jams says he has been ~ill-treating my
aunt; but that seems hardly possible,
even in Reginald"
1T was over a ring thai Mrs. Henson
had" David explained. She was run
ming away with 1t, and Henson vas try
ing to get II back. You see"
"A ring!" Enid gasped. Did you
happen to see IT? Oh, If it was only
But he would not be so silly as that. A
ring is the cause of all the troubles. Did
you see it,"
II not only saw 1t, but I have 1t in my
possession David replied.
Enid turned up the faring little lamp
with a shaking hand. Quite unstrung,
she held put her fingers for the ring.
1T is just possible" she said. hoarse-
ly, that you possess the key of the sit
SH'AShs ~ NiicN AAb6 10 ltoN u AA1PS ~ -
we can tumble Henson into the dust to-
morrow. We can drive him u of the
country. and he will never, never trou-
BILE us again. How did you get it,"
Mrs. Henson dropped IL and I picked
it up"
"PIease let me see it?" Enid said.
pleadingly. Let me be put put Of my
misery"
Da,i5 horaoa H. r4ou o,,a.. Eo;5 10
garded 1t long and searchingly. With
a little sigh OF regret, she passed 1t back
to David once more"
You had better keep it," she said.
any rate, 1t is likely to be valuable
evidence for us later on. But 1t is not
the ring / hoped to see. 1t is a clever
copy, but the black pearls are not so
fine, and the engraving inside is not so
worn as 1t used to be on the original.
1t is evidently a copy that Henson has
had made to tease my aunt with, TO
offer her at some future date in return
for the large sums OF money that she
gave him. No: the original Of that
ring Is popularity supposed to be at the
bottom of the North Sea. If such had
been the case-seeing that Henson had
never handel IL before the great TRACE
dy came-the original must be in ex-
istence."
Because the ring must have been
copied from It," Enid said. TT is a
very faithful copy indeed, and could
not have been made from mere direc-
tion take the engraving inside, for
instance. The engraving forms the
cipher OF the house of Littimer. II
Hensen has the real ring. If we can
find 1t, the tragedy goes out OF our
lives for ever"
II should like to hear the story" said
Steel.
Enid paused and lowered the lamp
as a step was heard outside. But it
was only Williams.
Mr.. Henson is in his bed TO IN still"
he said. 81 have just taken him the CT
gars. He's got a lump on his head es
big as a billiard ball. Thinks he hit 1t
against a bench. And my lady have
locked herself in her room and refused
to see anybody"
60 and look at your patient" Enid
commanded.
williams disappeared, to return pres
entity with the information that Van
Sneck was still fast asleep and lying
very peacefully.
Looks like waiting tin morning. IT,
do" he said. And now I'll go back
and keep my eye on that ere distin-
guisbed philanthropist."
Williams disappeared, and Enid turned
up the lamp again. Her face was pale
and resolute. She motioned David to-
wards a chair. =.
I'm tell you the story" she said 81
am going to confide in you the saddest
and strangest tale that ever appealed
to an imaginative novelist"