Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-10-23
ne Crimson
By Fred no. Ghte AnHH

ness, Sne a nlScarueQ nST disguise,
and stood confessed before all the
world, like the beautiful creature that
che was.
what does it all nean?" David
asked. What will LongGean village
say?"
What does Longdean village known"
Chris retorted. They are vaguely
aware that somebody was taken away
from the house a short time ago to be
buried; but that is all their know
ledge. And there is no more need for
disguise, Lord Littimer says. He
knows pretty well everything. He has
been very restless and uneasy for the
past day or two, and yesterday he left,
saying that he had business in Lon
don. Early to-day / had a character
istic telegram from him saying that he
was at Longdean and that | was neces-
sary 10 his comfort there. ] was to
come. clotherd In my right mind, and /
was to bring Mr.. Steel and DIR. Bell
along"
"It can't be managed" said Bell.
We've got Van Sneck here"
And | had forgotten all about him, "
said Chris. WAS the operation u
| c~essfui?"
Bell told his budget Of good news
down to the story Of the ring and the
mysterious manner in which 1t had dis
appeared again. David had followed
Ruth into the conservatory, where she
stood with her dainty head buried over
d S
She looked up, with a warm, shy
smile on her face.
II hope you are satisfied" she said.
"You are safe now"
Il was nev very much alarmed,
dearest" Steel said. "If this thing had
never happened / might never have
met o And as soon as this bust
ness is definitely settled I shall come
and e your uncle. am a very impa.
tient man, Ruth"
And you shall see my uncle when
you please, dear" she said. You will
find him quite as charming as you a
your mother is. What will she say?"
Say? That You are the dearest and
sweetest girl in the world, and that /
am a lucky fellow. But you are not
going off already?"
Indeed, we must. We have a cab at
the door. And | am going to brave the
horrors of Longdean Grange and spend
the night there. Only I fancy that the
horrors have gone forever. I shall be
very disappointed II you don't come to-
morrow"
Behind a friendly palm David bent
and kissed the shy lips, with a vow
that he would see Longdean Grange on
the morrow. Then Chris caught up
Ruth with a whirl, and they were gone.
1t was after ten that Bell and Steel
managed to convey Van Sneck to the
conservatory. The place was filled
with brightness and scent and color
and the afterglow Of the sunshine. The
artistic eye of the Dutchman lighted
up with genuine pleasure.
They say you islanders are crude
and cold ana have no sense of the beau
tiful," he said. But there are no
houses anywhere to compare with
those of the better-class Englishman.
look at those colors blending"
Hang those colors!" said Bell, Wig
orously. Steel, there is nothing like
moisture to bring out the full fragrance
of flowers. Turn On your hose, and
give your plants a good watering"
It's the proper time" David replied.
Turn on the tap for me-"
A cooling stream played on the fiow-
ers; plants dropped their heads, filed
with the diamond moisture. Then the
air seemed laden with the mingled
scent.
Il can smell the soil!" Van Sneck
cried. "How good 1t is to smell any
thing again! And / can Just catch a
suggestion of the perfume of some
thing familiar. What's that red bloom?''
He pointed to a creeper growing up
the wall. David broke of a spray.
That's a kind OF Japanese passion
flower" he said. ut has a lovely, full
favored scent, like a mixture OF yio-
lets and almonds. Smell it."
Van Sneck placed the wet, dripping
spray to his nose. Just for an instant
1t conveyed nothing to him. Then he
rose, with a ha~lf-triumphat cry.
STEADY, therei" said Bell. "You
mustn't get up, you know. I see you
are excited. Has it come back to you
again?"
That's the scent" Van Sneck cried.
Tie air vas full of that as / fell back.
wards. And Henson stood over ms
exactly by that cracked tile where Mr.
Steel now is. Give me a moment. ana
shall be able TO tell yo ueverything.
Oh, yes; the first time I slipped on
purpose. I told you / stumbled. But
that was q ruse. And as / fell I took
the ring from my waistcoat pocket,
Let me have another sniff at that
bloom. Yes; I've got 1t now, quite
clear!"
"You know where the ring is?" Da.
vid asked, eagerly.
"Well, not quite that. I took II from
my waistcoat pocket and pitched 1t
away from me. / saw IL fall on a pot
covered with moss, but I can't a
which pot or in which corner. I only
know that | threw 1t over my shout
der, and that it dropped into the thick
moss that lies on the top of all the
pots. ! laughed to myself as 1t fell,
n reJoiced to see that Henson knew
nothing OF It."
And 1t is still there?" Bell demand
ed.
Van Sneck nodded, solemnly.
Il swear It." he said. Prince Ru-
perts ring Is In this conservatory"
CHAPTER Nv.
Kicked Out.
Reginald Henson had had more than