Oakes Republican., 1902-06-06
CHAPTER XII.
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Hatherly Bell turned up at Downend
Terarce, gay and debonaire as if he had
not single trouble in the world, His
evening dress was of the smartest and
he had a rose in his buttonhole From
his cab he took a small square brown
paper parcel, which he deposited in Da-
Vids study with particular care
He made no allusion whatever to the
sterner business of the evening; he was
gay and light-hearted as IL child. so
that Mrs. Steel sat up quite an hour
later than her usual time, absolutely
unconscious Of the fact that she had
broken rigid rule of ten years. stand
ing.
"Now, let us go into the study and
smoke cigar,'' David suggested.
Bell dragged along deck-chair into
the conservatory and lighted a Massa.
Steel's offer of whisky ard soda was
declined.
An ideal place for a novelist who has
a keen eyes for the beautiful" he said.
There you have your books and pic
lures, your stained glass and china, and
when you turn your eyes this way
they are gladdened by green foliage and
lovevly flowers. It's hard to connect
such room with a tragedy"
"And yet, the tragedy was worked
out close by where you are sitting.But
never mind that; come to your story,
and let me see if we can fit it into
mine.'
Bell took a fresh pull at his cigar and
plunged into his subject.
About seven years ago professional
business took me to Amsterdam;
brilliant young medical genius who was
drinking himself prematurely into the
grave had made some wonderful dis
coveries relating to the brain and psy-
chology generally, so decided to learn
what could before it was too late. I
found the young doctor to be an exceed
ingly good fellow. only too ready to
speak Of his discoveries, and there 1
stayed for a year. My word, What do /
not owe to that misguided mind! And
what revolution he would have made
in medicine and surgery had he only
lived!
"Well, in Amsterdam I got to know
everybody who was worth knowing
medical, artistic, social. And among
the rest was an Englishman called
Lord Littmer, his son, and an exceed
ingly clever nephew Of his, Henson by
name, who was the sons tutor. Litt-
mer was a savant, a scholar and fine
connoisseur as regarded pictures. He
was popularity supposed to have the
finest collection of old prints in Eng
land. He would travel anywhere in
search of something fresh, and the ru
NOR of some apocryphal treasure in
He and I were friends from the first,
as indeed We're the son and myself.
Hensen. the nephew was more quiet
and reserved, but fond, as I discovered,
of a little secret dissipation.
In those days I was not averse TO a
little life myself. I was passionately
fcnd of all games of cards. and I am
afraid that I was in the habit of gam
bling to a greater extent than I could
afford. I don't gamble now, and don't
play cards; in fact, shall never touch
| card again as long as I live. Why
you shall hear all in good time.
1--WE We're all getting on very well to-
gether at lrat time when Lord Lit
mcr's sister paid us visit. She came
accompanied by daughter called Enid.
I will not describe her. because no
words of mine could do her justice. In
a word, L fell head over heels in love
with Enid, and in that state have re-
mained ever since. OF all the crosses
| that have to bear, the knowledge that
/ love Enid and that she loves-and de-
spises-me, is by far the heaviest. But
I don't want to dwell upon that.
"We were very happy party then,
until Van Sneck and Won Gulden
| turned up. Enid and | had come to an
understanding, and though we kept our
| secret we wepe not to do so for long.
From the very first, Won Gulden ad-
mired her. He was a handsome, swag-
gering soldier. n good looking. wealthy
man, who had n grent reputation for
gallantry, and something worse. Per-
haps the fellow GUESSED how things lay.