Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-14
~ Fred m. Uhfe


steel stays which had been clamped on
20 the iron frame. Look at them"
she said. 1T was my suggestion that
the stays should be attached 10 the
frame TO prevent anything like this
robbery. I made the stays secure my
self. And what happened TO justify my
p~rudence7 Why, the very same night
somebody came here after the picture"
"Henson!" Littimer cried. "Ah! But
he could have come openly"
ct is not I'm the nature Of the man
10 DO things openly Chris went on.
II know more about the man than you
imagine, but that you are to keep 10
yourself. He comes here I'm the dead of
the night and he gets into the u
through an upstair window. A man or
his bulk, IL you please! And he comes
here hot-foot and breathless at a time
when common prudence should have
kept him I'm bed. Why? Because he
knows that DR.. Bell has the other REM
brandt and win come to prove 1t, and
because he knows that If he can steal
the Littimer Rembrandt he can preci-
pitate the very inpasse that he has
brought about. But he could not steal
the picture because IL was fast"
You are a very clever young lady,
Littimer said drily. You win tell me
rext that you expected Henson TO try
this thing on"
II did" Chris said. coolly. II had a
telegram e, warn me so"
Littimar smiled. All this mystery
and cleverness was after his own heart.
He lighted his cigarette and rendered
his case n the friendliest possible a
ner to Bell.
go on" he said, Il am deeply inter-
ted"
II prefer not to go into details"
Chris resumed. "All / ask o TO do
is to be entirely guided by ms when o
have heard my story. I beve admitted
TO you that ! knew when Henson was
coming. and why + am interested. Be-
cause IL happens that Reginald Henson
has greatly injured someone I cared
for deeply. Well, I fastened up the
picture-he came. He sneaked In like
the thief that he was. because his ac-
ccmplioe and tool had failed to save
him the trouble. Lord Littimer, I Will
not pain you by saying who Henson's
accomplish Is"
Littimer nodded gloomily.
'sNot that i blame that accomplish;
ne could not help himself. All, when
the whole truth ZONES to be told. what
q black business 1t will be. Well, Hem
son came to steal the picture, and |
caught him In the act. II you had
seen his fat, greasy, crestfallen c
Then he pretended that 1t was all done
FOR a Jest and as a warning to Lord
Littimer. And Lord Littimer, h most
cynical OF men. allowed It to pass,
'I couldn't SEE what he had to gain"
Iittimer pleaded. II don't low, as O.
matter OF fact"
Neither will you. for the present
said chris. "Still, you will be so good
as 10 assume the same hospitality and
courtesy toward Henson as you extend
at present
II daresay I can manage Il" said
Iittimer, cynically. IT used TO be q
society man once"
clemson did not deceive me for a
moment" Chris went on. "He was
bound to have the picture, and. being
bafied one way, he tried another.
Look here. Lord Littimer. Let me as
sumo for a moment that DIR. Bell came
down here to steal you picture. get
rid Of the frame, and palm Off your
w engraving for another. Now, in
The name of common sense, let me ask
YOU a simple question. Could DIR. Bell
have possibly known that the frame of
the Rembrandt was fastened securely
20 the wall, and that I had attached 1t
quite recently And could he, In the
short time at his disposal have pro-
cured the necessary tools to u away
the stays? Again, DIR. Bell can prove,
/ uppose exactly what time he left
London to-day. NO; we must look
farther for the thief"
There is something else. also, we
have to look for" said DIR. Bell. And
thalt Is the frame. You say IL was OF
iron. and, consequently. heavy. The
thief would discard the frame and roll
up the print"
THAT is q brilliant suggestion" said
Chris, eagerly. And IL we only a
that ia the frame. You saygit was or
doubts at rest entirely. I happen to
know that the real thief came n
went by the cliff under the terrace. IL
the frame was thrown into the gorse.
there IT."
might stay for ages" Littimer ex-
claimed. tBy Jove. I'm just In the
mood to carry this business a stage or
two farther before i go tn bed. Bell.
there are two or three cycle-lamps IL
the gun-room. You used to be q pref
" fearless climber. What do you say
20 a hunt round for an sour or two.
while the house Is quietf"
Bell assented. eagerly. Chris waited
with what patience she could command
till daylight began TO show family and
redly in the east. Then she heard the
sound OF voices on the outside. and Lit
timer n Bell staggered in, carrying
the frame between them.
SCOT itt- Littimer exclaimed, with
the trium 3hant exultation OF a school
boy who has successfully looted a rare
birds nest. we found II halfway
down the Cliff. hidden In a patch of
samphire. And II doesn't seem to be
any the worse for the adventure. Now.
Mrs. wissacre, seeing that we have the
frame. perhaps you will fulfill your
promise or convincing me. once and for
al. that yonder Rembrandt cannot
possibly belong to me?"
IT am going to do So" Chris said.
quietly. You told me you had TO cut
the margin OF your print by an inch or
70 round to ~ the quaint old frame.
g. D.. - - - fAN ~rfnf fnNnrn .,s.t