Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-07
By Fred M. Uhite
CHAPTER XXI.
Bell Arrives.

seemed TO him that he had pretty well
all t&e threads in his hands. but he
would have been astonished to know
how much more Hatherly Bell and
Enid Henson could have told him.
But il seemed to Bell that there was
n very importAat thing to be done
before he proceeded any farther. He
was interested In the mystery as he
was interested In anything where crime
and cunning played a past. But he was
Rtil more intent upon clearing his
good name; besides, this would give
him a wider field of action.
In the light OF recent discoveries 1t
had become imperative that he should
once more be on good terms with
Lord Littimer. Only this was accom-
plished, Bell saw his way to the clear
ing UP of the whole complication 1t
was a great advantage TO know who
his enemy was; it was a still greater
advantage to discover that the hero OF
the cigar case and the victim OF the
outrage in steel's conservatory was the
graceless scamp Van Sneck. the picture
dealer, who had originally sold THE
Crimson Blind TO Lord Littimer.
1t was all falling out beautifully. Not
only had Van Sneck turned up IN the
nick of time, but he was not in a posi-
ton to do any further mischief. 1t
suited Bell exactly that Van Sneck
should be hors de combat for the
moment,
The first thing TO be done was to see
Lord Littimer without delay. Bell had
no idea OF humbly soliciting an inter-
view. He proceeded TO a telegraph
Office the first thing the following
morning and wired Lfttimer TO the
effect that hi must sec him OF import
ant business. He had an hour or W
at his disposal, so he took a cab as far
as Downend Terrace. He found Steel
slug -hunting in the conservatory, the
atmostphere OF which vas blue with
cigarette smoke.
$50 you are not working this morn
ang2" he asked.
'How the dickens can ] work."
David exclaimed, irritably. mot that
j haven't been trying. I might just as
well AXE q long holiday till this mys-
terry Is cleared up for all the good ]
am. What is the next mover"
my next move is TO so to Littimer
and convince him that he a done me
q great wrong. / am bound to have
Littimer's ear once more"
'syau are going to how him the
snare Rembrandt, chr"
.Tsat,s ii. I flatter myself ! shall
astonish him. I've sent a telegram to
say I'm coming to-day, after which /
shall proceed TO storm the citadel. l
feel all the safer because nobody knows
I have the engraving"
my lear chap, somebody knows you
have the picture"
impossible" Bell exclaimed. only
yourself and Enid Henson AN posi-
bly, be aware that"
aAll the same, I am speaking the
truth, David said. Last night when
YOU went into the hospital you gave
me the print TO take care OF. At the
same time I noticed a rough-looking
ma presumably asleep on h seat In
h road facing the hospital. After
wards when / looked around he hal
disappeared. AT the time / thought
rcthing of II. When I came in here
i placed the precious roll OF paper on
my writing table under the window
wonder. The window is a small one,
as you can see. and was opened about
a foot at the top. I sat here with the
light down and the room family Hum
mated by the light In the conservatory.
After a little I saw a hand and arm
cropping for something on the table.
and I'm quite sure the hand and arm
were cropping for your Rembrandt.
The fellow muttered something that I
failed to understand. and ! made a
grab for him and got him. Then the
the hand made O dash for my head
.vith~an ugly piece OF gas-piping, and
j had 20 let go"
"And you saw no more OF the fei-
iow?" -.
"No: I didn't expect TO. I csuidn't
see his face, but there was n pecun-
arity he had that I might tell you TOT
your future guidance. He had a thumb
smashed as fiat al the head OF a make.
with one tiny pink in the middle OF IL
So, II you meet a man like that on your
Journey to-day. look TO yourself. On
the whole. o see. that our enemies
are q little more awake than you give
them credit for"
Hell nodded, thoughtfully. The in
formation was OF the greatest possible
value to him. IT told him quite plainly
thu he&lnAiu I1tHSOh hhSW '1~S
what had happened. Under ordinary
circumstances. by this time Henson
would be on his way to Littimer Castle.
the-. tc checkmate the man he had so
deeply injured. but, fortunately, Hem
son was laid by the heels. or 30 Bell i'm
agined.
II am really obliged to you" Bell
said. your information 70 likely to
be Of the greatest possible service to
me. I am sorry you can't work"
..Don't worry about me-" David said.
grimly. ''I'm gaining a vast quantity
of experience that will be OF the great
est value to me later on. Besides, ! can
go and compare notes with Miss Ruth
Gates while you are away. h Is
soothing."
$50 j should Imagine" Bell said, drl-
IL. EMO, I must be of. I'LL let yoa
know what happens at Littimer Castle.
Good luck to you here"
And Bell hustled OF. He was pleased
20 ind a recent telegram OF acceptance
from Littjmer awaiting him, n be-
fore s o'ci ,ck he was on the train for
T,nndon.. II was only after he left Lon