The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-09-27

| COLulAuulty ~ 0IS0s '110 40 uOI 0A6SI
ly a phianthropist, for he is well re
warded for his labors both by the po'
lice and his clients. Suppose Mr.,
Merritt here. had done some wrong?'
IA great effort of imagination" Lit
timer. murmured, gently.
"Had done something wrong, and an
| enemy or Quondam friend wants to
put him away l believe that is the
| correct expression. In that case, he
does not go to the police himself, be.
cause he Is usually of a modest and re-
firing disposition. No; he usually
puts down a few particulars in the
way Of q letter, and sends 1t to Reuben
Taylor, under cover, to q certain adj
dress. Is not that quite correct, Mr..
Merritt?"
Fright" Merritt said, hoarsely.
Some day. we shall find out who Tay-
lor is, and"
"Never mind that. Do you know
that the night before your friend, Mr..
Henson, left the castle he placed in the
postbag a letter addressed to Reuben
Taylor? In view Of what I have read
recently in the paper alluded to, the
name struck me as strange. Now, Mr..
Merritt, is it possible that letter has
anything to do with you?"
Merritt did not appear to hear the
question. His eyes were fixed on
space; there was a sanguine clenching
of his fists, as If they had been about
the throat of a foe.
IF l had him here!" he murmured.
IF I only had him here! He's given
me away. After all that / have done
for him, he's given me away"
His listeners said nothing; they fully
appreciated the situation. Merritt's
presence at the castle was both dan
gerous and hazardous for Henson.
eff you went away to-day you might
be safe?" Chris suggested. 2
Aye, l might" Merritt said, with a
cunning grin in his eyes, 1T l had q
hundred pounds"
Chris glanced significantly at Litti-
mer, who nodded and took up the par
able.
"You shall have the money" he said.
and you shall go as soon as you have
answered Miss Lees questions"
Merritt proclaimed himself eager to
say anything. But Merritt's informa-
ton proved to be a great deal less than
she had anticipated.
ri stole the picture" Merritt con-
fessed. II was brought down here on
purpose. Henson sent to London, and
said he had a job for me. It was to get
a picture from DR.. Bell. I didn't ask
any questions, but set to work at
once"
"Did you know what the picture
was?" Chris asked.
HD11ca xyno . ~ uyoc a pornhYQn6f
engraving. Why, it was I who, in the
first place, stole the first Rembrandt
from his lordship, yonder, In Amster-
dam. I got into his %lordships's sit
ting room by climbing down a spout,
and I took the picture"
"But the other belonged to Van
Sneck," said Chris. l.
ut did; and Van Sneck had to leave
Amsterdam hurriedly, being wanted by
the police. Henson told me that Van
Sneck had a second copy of the Grim
son Blind and 1 had to burgle that, as
well; and I had to get into DR.. Bells
room and put the second copy in his
portmanteau. Why? Ask somebody
wiser than me. It vas all some deep
game of Henson's, only you may be
pretty sure he didn't tell me what the
game was. 1 got my money and re-
turned to London, and, till pretty re-
Gently, l saw no more of Henson"
"But you came into the game again."
said Littimer.
"Quite lately, you lordship. I went
down to Brighton. I was told as Bell
had got hold of the second Rembrandt,
owing to Henson's c~arelessness, and
that he wal pretty certain to bring 1t
here. He did bring it here, and I tried
to stop him on the way, and he half
killed me-"
CHOSE half.measures are SO unsat-
isfactory," Littimer smiled.
Merritt grinned. He fully appreci-
ated the humor of the remark. .
"That attack ard the way 1t was
brought about were suggested by Hen.
son." he went on. If 1t failed, 1 was
to come up to the castle here without
delay and tell Henson 30. 1came, and
he covered my movements while I
pinched the picture. I had been told
that the thing was fastened to the wall,
but a pair of steel pliers made no
odds to that. I took the picture home,
and two days later 1t vanished. And
that's all I know about it."
Lame and impotent conclusion"
said Littimer.
wait a moment" Chris cried. "You
found the diamond star, which you
pawned-"
"At your request, miss. Don't go
for to say as you've forgotten that"
Il have forgotten nothing" Chris.
said, with a smile. 81 want to know
about the c~igarcase."
Merritt looked blankly1 at the speak
er. Evidently this was strange ground.
to him.
II don't know anything about that
he said. What sort of a cigar-case?"
""Gun.metal set with diamonds. The
same case, or q similar one, to that
purchased by Van Sneck from Walen's
In Brighton. Come, rack your brains
"a bit. Did god ever see anything Of.
Van Sneck about the time of the acci-
dent? You know where he isY?"
Eyes. He's In the county hospital
at Brighton. He was found in MI.
SteeIs house, nearly dead. It's com
ing back to me now. "A gun.metal2 CT
gar case set In diamonds. That would
be q dull thing with sparkling stones
sailSover It. OF course! Why, I saw
gEit In Van Sneck's hands the day he
was assaulted. I recollect asking him
where he got 1t from, and he said that
It was q present from Henson. He
was going OF to meet Hens0nSthen By
the corner Of Brunswickssquare.ss
Did roy nee sYana neck aGsaing tl,al
AovSU Ms sssss5 9ETas RSs#S II 3hsxS4a