Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-25

l
warded for his labors both by the pc
lice and his clients. Suppose Mr.
Merritt here. had done some wrong?'
a great effort OF imagination Lit
timer murmured. gently.
Had done something wrong. and ar
enemy or Quondam friend wants tc
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 letter. and sends it to Reuben
Taylor, under cover. to a certain ad
dress Is not that quite correct, Mr.
Merritt"
Right" 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 l have read
recently in the paper alluded TO, the
name struck me as strange. Now. Mr..
Merritt, is it possible that letter has
any tQluS 10 90 WIN YOU.
Merritt did not appear to hear the
question. His eyes were fixed on
space: there was sanguine clenching
of his fists. as il they had been about
the throat of foe.
II l had him here" he murmured.
IF only had him here. He's given
me away. After all that 1 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.
If You went away to-day you might
be safe?" Chris suggested.
Aye. might" Merritt said, with a
cunning grin in his eyes, IF had a
hundred pounds"
Chris glanced significantly at Litti-
mer. who nodded and took up the par
able.
You shall have the money" he said.
answered Miss Lees questions
Merritt proclaimed himself eager to
say anything. But Merritt's informa-
ton proved to be great deal less than
she had anticipated.
Il stole the picture" Merritt con-
fessed. Il was brought down here on
purpose. Henson sent to London. and
said he had a job for me. 1t was TO get
a picture from DR.. Bell. l didn't ask
any questions, but set to work at
once"
Did you know what the picture
was?" Chris asked.
BLESS you. yes; it was Rembrandt
engraving Why. it was l who. in the
first place. stole the first Rem hrandt
from his lordship, yonder. in Amster-
dam. l got into his lordships's sit
ting room by climbing down spout,
and took the picture
But the other belonged to Van
Sneck.'' said Chris.
1T did; and Van Sneck had to leave
Ans eerdam hurriedly, being wanted by
the police. Henson told me that Van
Sreck had a second copy OF the Grim
son Blind and had TO burgle that. as
room and put the second copy in his
portmanIeau. Why? Ask somebody
wiser than me. 1t was all some deep
game of Henson's. only you may be
pretty sure he didn't tell me what the
game was. l 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 Litrimer.
Quite lately. you lordship. I went
down to Brighton. l was told as Bell
had got hold OF the second Rembrandt.
owing to Henson's carelessness. and
that he was pretty certain to bring il
here He did bring it here. and tried
TO stop him on the way, and he half
killed me-
Those half-measures are so u1sat-
isfactorv.'' Lirlimer smiled.
Merritt grinned. He fully appreci-
ated the hunlor of the remark.
THAT attack ard the way it was
brought about were suggested b: Hen
son." he went on. ii it failed. was
to come up TO the castle here without
delay and tell Henson so. came. and
he covered my movements while l
pinched the picture. had been told
that the thing was fastened TO the wall
but pair Of steel pliers made no
odds to that. l took the picture home.
and two days later it vanished. And
that's all l know about it
Lame anu lupOleNt conclusion,
said Littimer.
Wait moment" Chris cried. "You
found the diamond star, which you
Dawned-'
AT your request. miss. Don't 20
for to say as you've forgotten that
Il have forgotten nothing" Chris
said. with smile. Il want TO know
about the cigar-case.' ....
Merritt looked blankl:' at the speak.
er. Evidently this was strange ground
to him.
q don't know anything about that"
he said. What sort of cigarscase ~
"Gun--letal set with diamonds The
same case. or similar one. TO that
purchased By Van Sneck from Walen's
in Brighton. Come, rack your brains
a bit. Did you ever see anything OF
Van Sneck about the time OF the acct.
dent? You know where he is?'
Yes. He's in the county hospita!
al Brighton. He was found in Mr..
Steel's house. nearly dead. It's com
ing back to me now. a metal ci.
gar case set in diamonds. That would
be dul! thing with sparkling stones
eli over it, OF course. Why. saw
il il Van Sneck's hands the day he
ives assaulted. l recoliect asking him
where he got it from, and he said that