Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-12
By Fred M. Uhite
CHAPTER xIr-econtinued.,

H#a..." chhkthh ueusy ...
Another one Bell replied. ''Ohlige
me by opening yonder parcel. There
you see is the print that / purchased to-
day for G5. 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
nre supposed to be blood-spots from a
cut finger of the artist. / am prepared
to swear that this is the very print,
frame and all. that was pu chased in
Amsterdam from that shady scoundrel,
Van Sneck.''
but Littner is credited with having
n 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 / 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 aid low, for the picture. but no
where could IL 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
gian frontier, and business called me
home. ] packed my solitary portman-
teau and departed. When / arrived at
the frontier / opened my luggage for
the customs officer, and the whole con-
&c. - .2kl
On the bottom was a roll of paper on a
stick that l quite failed to recognize.
An inquisitive customs house officer
opened 1T, and Immediately called the
lieutenant In charge. Strange to say. he
proved to be Won Gulden. He came up
to me-, very gravely. with the paper in
his hand.
MAY I inquire how this came
among your lugglge?' he asked
II could say nothing. / was dumb.
For there lay the Rembrandt. The red
spots had been smudged out OF the cor
ner, but there the picture was.
well, / lost my head then. I accused
Won Gulden of all kinds OF d~isgraceful
things. And he behaved like a gentle
mamie made me ashamed of myself.
But he kept the picture, and returned it
u LAlltlIltIg anu 4 was TulHSl hUIu
Littmer declined to pros cute. but he
would {. see ms 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 / was ruined.
Some enemy had one this thing. and
from tina, day to this I nave been a
marked man"
but o on earth was II done?" Steel
cried.
FOR the present / can only surmise,"
Bell replied, Van Sneck was a slip
perry dog. or course he had found two
OF those plates. He kept the one back,
Sc as to sell the other at a fancy price.
My enemy discovered this, and Van
Sneck's sudden fieht was his opportu-
nifty. He could afford TO get rid of me
at ar apparently dear rate. He stole
Littmer's p~icture-in fact, he must have
done 50. or I SHOULD not have 1t at this
moment. Then he smudged out some
Imaginary spots on the other, and hid
Il in my baggage, knowing that II
would be found. Also. he knew that II
would be returned to Littmer, and that
the stolen plate could be laid aside. and
pIOuuCGd al SOIue TNIiIplG udlG rs dH
original find. The find has been mine,
and IL will go hard IL I can't get to the
bottom of this mystery now. Tt is
strange hat your mysterious trouble
mine should be bound up so closely
together. but in the end 1t win simplify
matters, for the very reaso that we
are both on the hun for the same
man."
(which man we have got to find,
Bell"
Granted. We win bait for him as
one does for a willy old trout. The fly
shall be the Rembrandt. and you see
M will rise to II In time. But beyond
this l have made one or two important
discoveries to-day. We are going to the
house OF the strange lady who owns 21S
and 219 Brunswick Square. and / shall
be greatly mistaken IL she does not
prove to be an old acquaintance OF
mine. There will be danger"
You propose to go to-night?'
IT propose to go at once" Bell said.
Ozark 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 It, is TO be our destination!
a must SoAhSSo khoh TIC pAoSS haS WI
held a strange fascination for me. We
will 60 over the golf links and behind
Ovingdean village. II is a rare spot for
o tragedy"
Bell rose and lighted a cigar.
''Cone along" he said. Poke that
Rembrandt behind your books, with its
face to the wall. ! would not lose that
for anything, now. No, on second
thoughts. I find l shall a to take IT
with me-"
David. closed the door carefully be-
hind him. n the two stepped out into
the night. (
CHAPTER XIII.
"Good Dog"
Two dancing eyes of fame were
streaming up the lane towards the