Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-31
The Crimson
By Fred M. Uhde AHH0


said. irritably. do you suppose I am
going 70 allow that scoundrel under my
roof again? The amazing impudence
of the fellow is beyond everything. He
win probably reach the Moreton Sta
ton by the 10 o'clock train. The drive
will take an hour, If / choose to permit
the drive, which / don't. I'll send a
groom to meet the train with a letter.
When Bell has read that letter he will
not come here"
81 don't think / should do that" Hen.
son said, respectfully.
Indeed! You are really a clever fell
low. And what would you do"
II should suffer Bell to come. AS a
Christian / should deem IL my duty to
do so. Ii pains me to say so, but l am
afraid that / cannot contrayert your
suggestion that Bell Is a scoundrel. 1t
grteves me to prove any man that. And
In the present instance the proofs were
o~verpowering. But there is always a
chance-a chance that we have mis-
judged a man on false evidence"
False evidence! Why, the Rem
brandt was actually found In Bells
portmanteau."
Dear friend, I know It," Henson
said, with the same slow. forgiving
smile. But there have been cases OF
black treachery, dark c~onspiracies that
one abhors. And Bell might have made
some ~stupendous discovery regarding
his character. / should see him, my
lord: oh, yes, / should most ~undoubted.
ly see him"
And so should l." Chris put in.
| swiftly.
Llttimer smiled, with all traces Of his
il-temper gone. He seemed to be con-
templating Henson with his les on
n side. as II to fathom that gentle
mans intentions. There was just the
suspicion OF contempt In his glance.
In the presence OF so much good
ness and beauty, I feel quite lost" he
said. Very well, Henson, I'll see Bell.
/ may find the interview diverting."
Henson strolled away, with a sigh of
gentle pleasure. once out OF sight, he
new to the library. where he scrubbed a
couple OF kilograms. They were care
fully worded, and related to some apoc-
Typhal parcel required without delay,
and calculated to convey nothing to
the lay mind. A servant was dis
patched to the village with them. Hen
son would have beer pleased had he
! hIONh that Tie LdSSlIldNhiS l1AtC ~
lean had waylaid his messenger and
read his kilograms. under the plea OF
verifying one of the addresses. A mo-
ment or two later ard those addresses
were carefully noted down in a pocket
book.
II was past 5 before Chris found her.
self with a little time on her hands
again. Littimer had kept her pretty
busy all the afternoon, party because
there was much to do, but partly from
the pleasure that he derived from his
secretary's society. He was more free
with her than he had been with any OF
her sex for years. 1t was satisfactory,
too, to learn tina Littimer regarded
Henson as q SNUG and oily hypocrite,
and that the latter was only going to be
left Littimer Castle to spite the owners
other relations.
Now you run into the garden and
get a blow" Littimer said, at length.
II am telling o a lot TOO much. I am
afraid you are a most ~insinuating
young person"
Chris ran into the garden gaily. De-
spite the crushing burden on her shout
ders, she felt an citation and a flow OF
spirits that she had not been conscious
Of for years. The invigorating air of
the place seemed to nave got into her
veins, the cruel depression Of the HOUSE
OF the Silent Sorrow was passing away.
Again she had youth and hope on her
side, and everything was falling out
beautifully. 1t was q rleasanter world
than Chris had anticipated.
She went along more quietly after a
time. There was a tiny arbour on a
terrace overlooking the sea to which
Chris had taken a particular fancy.
she picked her way daintily along the
grass paths between the roses until she
suddenly emerged upon the terrace. She
had popped out OF the roses as swiftly
as a squirrel peeps from a tree.
Somebody was In the arbor. two peo-
Die, taking earnestly. One man stood
up with his back to Chris, one hand
gripping the outside ragged bark OF the
arbor frame with q peculiarly nervous,
restless force. Chris could see the hand
turned back distinctly. A piece of bark
was being crumbled under a strong
thumb. Such a thumbi Chris had seen
nothing like II before.
1t was as II at some time II had been
smashed fat with a hammer, a broad.
strong. c~ruel-looking thumb, fiat and
sinister-looking as the head OF a snake.
III the CeulsI, IKE a pihh pearl y
In a filthy gutter, wa one tiny, per-
feetly-formed nail.
The owner Of the numb stepped back
the better To give way TO a At OF hoarse
laughter. He turne slightly aside, and
his eyes met those OF Chris. They were
small eyes. set In a coarse, brutal face,
the face Of a criminal. Chris thought, II
she were a Judge Of such matters. II
came quite a shock to see that the
stranger was in clerical garb. +.
I'll beg your pardon" Chris stam-
mered. "But IT,
Henson emerged from the arbor. For
once in a way he appeared confused:
there vas a fiush on his face that told
or annoyance Unsurpassed.
Please don't go away" he said.
"Mr. Merritt VIII think he has alarmed
you. Miss Lee. this is my very good
friend and co-worker In the field. the
Reverend James Merritt"
"Is Mr.. Merritt a friend Of Lord Lit
timer's?" Chris asked. demurely.
ar