Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-05
ne crimson
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4 - EAIhDA % AoRSN .AANNAS AANNAAR cniAt
absurdly but of place In an exceedingly
spacious office, was quite ready to give
every information. 1t was certainly
true that 2lS Brunswick Square was
TO be let az an exceedingly low rent on
a repairing lease. and that the owner
had a lot more property in Brighton. to
be let on the same terms. The lady
was exceedingly rich and eccentric; in
deed, by asking such low rents, she was
doing her best to seriously diminish
her income.
80 far as i can tell, the property came
d you know the lady at ALP Ben
asked.
Not personally" the agent admitted.
into the present owners hands some
years ago, by inheritance. The proper
ty also included a very old house.
called Longdean Grange. not far from
Nottingham. where the lady, Mrs. Hen
son lives at present. Nobody ever goes
there, nobody ever visits there, and to
keep the place free from prying visitors
a large number OF savage dogs are al
lowed to prowl about the grounds"
Bell listened eagerly. Watching him,
Steel could see that his eyes glinted like
points OF steel. There was something
subtle behind all this commonplace that
touched the imagination of the novelist.
Has 21S been let during the occupa-
ton of the present owner?" Bell asked.
No the agent replied. But the
present owner-as teir to the property
/ am told, was interested in boil 21s
and 219, which Used to be a kind of
high-class convalescent home for poor
clergy and the widows and daughters
of poor clergy in want of a holiday. The
n house was for the men and the 9TH
er for the women, and both were fur
nished exactly alike; in fact, Mr.. Gates
landlord. the tenant OF 219, bought the
furniture, exactly as ii stands, when
the scheme fell through"
Steel looked up swiftly. A sudden in
spiration came to him.
I'm that case what became OF the
precisely similar furniture in 2l8?" he
asked.
THAT I cannot tell you," the agent
said. THAT house was let as 1t stood,
to some sham ohilanthropist whose
name / forget. The whole thing was a
fraud. and the swindler only avoided
arrest by leaving the country. Prob
ably the goods were stored somewhere,
or, perhaps, seized by some creditor.
But I really can't say definitely without
looking h matter up. There are some
books and prints now left in the house
u of the wreck. We shall probably
put them in a sale, only they have been
overlooked. The whole lot would not
fetch E5."
Would you take a5 for them?" Bel
asked.
Gladly. Even II only to get them
carted away"
BELL gravely produced a E5 note, for
which he asked and received e receipt.
Then he n Steel repaired to 21S once
more, whence they recovered the Rem
brandt. and subsequently returned the
keys of the house to the agent. There
was an air of depressed excitement
about Bell which was not without its
effect upon his companion. The cold.
hard ines seemed to have faded from
Bells face; there was a brightness
about him that added to his already
fine physical beauty.
And now, perhaps. you will be good
enough to explain David suggested.
MY dear fellow, 1t would take too
long" Bell cried. presently I am GO
ing to tell you the story OF the tragedy
of my life. You nave doubtless Won
dered, as others have wondered, why I
dropped out of the road when the goal
was in sight. Well, your curiosity is
about to be gratihed. I am going to
help you, aid you, in turn, are going to
help me to come back into the race
again. BY way of a start, you are
| going TO ask me to come and dine with
you tonight"
AT half-past seven. then. Nothing
will give me greater pleasure"
Spoken like q man and a brother.
We will dine. and I will tell you my
story after the house is quiet. And IL I
ask you to accompany me on a mid
night adventure. you will not say me
nay?"
Not In my present mood, at any
rate. Adventure. with a dash OF danger
in II, suits my present mood exactly.
And IL there is to be physical violence,
so much the better. My diplomacy may
be weak. but physically, I am not to be
despised in a row."
WEI, wen try and avoid the latter,
IL possible" Bell laughed. "Stiil, for
your satisfaction. I m y ga there Is
just the chance of a scrimmage. And
now ] really must g because I have
any amount OF work to do for Gates.
Till half-past seven, au revoir."
Steel lighted a cigarette and strolled
thoughtfully homeward along the front.
The more he thought over the mystery,
the more tangled II became. And yet
ne felt perfectly sure that he was on the
right track. The discovery hat both
those houses had been furnished exact
ly alike at one time was a most import
ant one. And David no longer believed
that he had been to 219 on the night of
| the great adventure. Then he found
himself thinking about Ruth Gates
gentle face and lovely eyes. until he
looked up and saw the girl before him.
"You-you wanted to speak to me?"
he stammered.
II followed you on purpose" the girl
said, quietly. II can't tell you every
thing. because II Is not my secret to
tell. But. believe me. everything will
come out right in the end. Don't think
badly Of me. don't be hard and bitter
because"
because I am nothing OF the kind"
David smiled. 1T Is impossible TO look
into q face like yours n doubt you.