Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-21

ing by Pugin, and an ingie-nook filled
with rare Dutch tiles. They had the
beautiful old place by themselves, SO
that they could talk freely. Chris
crumbled her bread and slipped her
soup with an air Of deep abstraction.
"A great idea IN forming Itself in my
mind" che said.
What, another one9' Bell smiled.
"Is II the air OF the place, or what?
Really. there is a briliiancy about you
that Is striking"
Chris laughed. She was full Of the
Joy OF life to-day.
ut In the freedom she said. eff
you only knew what IL is to feel free
after the dull. aching. monotonous
misery OF the last few years. To be
constantly on the treadmill, to be in
the grasp OF q pitiless scoundrei. At
first you fight against 1t ~passionately,
with a longing 70 DO something, n
gradually you give way to despair.
And now the weight Is Off my shout
ders, and I am free to act. Fancy the
reward OF finding Reginald Henson
OUT"
Reginald Henson Is the blight upon
your house. In what way?"
"Ah, I cannot tell you. IL Is a Sc
cret that we never discuss. even among
ourselves. But he has the power over
US, he has blighted all our lives. But
IL I could get hold of a certain thing
the power would be broken. That is
what I am after, what I am working
for. And II is In connection with my
endeavor that the new idea came to
me-"
Cant you give me some general idea
OF it?" Bell asked.
well, I want to make Merritt my
friend. I want him to imagine that I
am as much Of an adventures as he is
an adventurer. ! want to let him see
that ] could send him to prison"
$50 you can, by telling the police Of
the loss OF your star"
And getting Merritt arrested and
sent to gaol, where I couldn't make use
of him2 No, no. The thing is pretty
vague In my mind at present. I hav
to work II out as one would a story; as
David Steel would work 1t out, for in
stance. Ali"
CHS clapped her hands ra~pturously.
and a little cry Of delight escaped her.
THE very thing!" she exclaimed.
eff I could lay all the facts before Mr..
Steel, and get him to plan out all h
details! His fertile imagination would
see a way out at once. But ne is far
away, and there is 40 time TO be lost.
Is there NJ way of getting at him?"
Chris appealed, almost imploringly,
to her companion. She made a pretty
picture, with the old BAL e~ngravings
behind her. Bell smiled as he helped
himself to asparagus.
why not adopt the same method
by which you originally introduced
yourself to the distinguished novel
list" he asked. why not use Litti-
mer's telephone?"
Chris pushed her plate away, impetu-
ously.
IT am toe excited to eat any more"
she said. 1T am filled with a new idea.
OF course, I could use the telephone to
speak to Mr.. Steel, and to Enid, as
well. II the scheme works out as I
anticipate I shall have to hold a long
conversation with Enid, a dangerous
thing so long as Reginald Henson is
about"
I'll keep Henson out Of the way.
The best thing is to wait until every
body has gone to bed tonight, and call
Steel up then. You will be certain TO
get him after eleven, and there will be
no nance of your being cut of at that
hour of the night in consequence OF
somebody else wanting the line. The
same remark applies to your sister,"
Chris nodded, ~radiantiy.
Thrice blessed telephone" h said.
ct can get In all / want without COM
hitting myself TO paper o. moving
from the spot where my presence Is
urgently needed. We will Zdve Mr..
Steel a pleasant surprise tonight, and
this time I shall get him into no trou-
BILE"
The luncheon was finished at length.
and an intimation sent to Merritt that
his friends were waiting FOR him at the
Lion. As his powerful figure was seen
entering the big Norman porch Hen
son came down the street driving a
dog-cart at a dangerous rate Of speed.
"our man is going TO have his trou-
BILE for his pains" Bell chuckled. HE
has come to interview Merritt. Flow
pleased he will be to see Merritt at din
ner time"
Merritt shambled In awkwardly, OBJ
viously suppressing a desire to touch
his fo-elock. There was a sheepish
grin on his face, a suppressed triumph
In his eye. He had been recently
shaved and his hair cut; but, despite
these improvements, and despite his
clerical garb. he was not exactly the
class of man TO meet In a dark lane
after sunset.
Chris, however, showed nothing Of
this in her greeting. Long before Lit
timer Castle was reached she had suc-
ceeded In putting Merritt quite at his
ease. He talked OF himself and his
past exploits. he boosted Of his Gun
ming. 1t was only now and again that
he pulled himself up and piously refer
red to the new life that he was now
leading. Bell was studying him care
fully: he lead the others mind like an
open book. When the wagonette final
ly pulled up before the castle. Littimer
strolled up and stood there. regarding
Merritt quietly.
s this is the gentleman you were
going to bring to dinner?" ne said,
grimly. II have seen him before, in
the company Of our dear Reginald. I