Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-11
"Nothing," Steel said. "He is utterly

Nothing" Steel said. "He is utterly
and hopelessly puzzled over the whole
businaSS. And Bell has managed to
convince him that he is not suspected at
all. That business over the Rembrandt
was really a brilliant piece of comedy.
But what has Henson found out?"
THAT Chris is not dead. He has seen
Walker and the undertaken. But he
does not know Vet that Bell was In the
house that eventful night, which is a
blessing. AS matter of fact. Reginald
has not been quite the same man since
Rollo nearly killed him that exciting
evening. His nerves seem to be greatly
| shaken"
THAT is because the rascal feels the
net closing rouni him.. Steel said. 1T
| was a fine stroke on Your sisters part
to Win over that fellow Merritt to her
side. ! supplied the details per tele-
phone. but the plot was really Miss
| Chris. How on earth should we have
managed without the telephone over
this business?"
Il am at a loss to say" Enid smiled
"Euo tell ME about that plot. I am
quite in the dark about that side of the
| matter"
David proceeded to explain his own
and Chris ingenious scheme for getting
Merritt into their power. Enid followed
the story With vast enjoyment. tenn
| Hered With the fact that Henson was so
near.
Il should never have thought of that"
| she said: but Chris was always so
clever. But. tell me. what was Henson
doing in the garden just now? Will
Jams says he has been ill-treating my
aunt: but that seems hardly possible,
even in Reginald"
1t was over ring that Mrs. Henson
had" David explained. She was run
ming away With it. and Henson was try
iEg TO get it back. You see"
"A ring" Enid gasped. Did you
happen to see it? Oh. if it was only
But he would not be so silly as that. A
ring is the cause OF all the troubles. Did
YOU see it. -
Il not only saw it. but have it in my
possession. David replied.
Enid turned up the llaring little lamp
with q shaking hand Quite unstrung.
she held out her fingers for the ring.
1t is just possible she said, hoarse-
ly. that YOU possess the key Of the sit
uation. II that ring is What hope it is
we can tumble Henson into the dust to-
morrow. We can drive him out of the
country, and he will never. never trou-
bic us again. How did you get it?''
Mrs. Henson dropped it and picked
it up"
"Please let me- see it?" Enid said,
pleaeingly. Let me be put out of my
misery"
David handed the ring over; Enid re-
sarded it long and searchingly. With
little sigh OF regret. she passed it back
to David once more"
You had better keep it," she said
AT any rate, it is likely to be valuable
evidence for US later on. But it is not
the ring l hoped to see. 1t is a clever
copy. but the black pearls are not so
Ene. and the engraving inside is not so
Worn as II used to be on the original.
1t is evidently copy that Henson has
had made 10 tease my aunt With, to
offer her at some future date in return
for the large sums of money that she
gave him. No: the original of that
ring is popularity supposed to be at the
bottom of the North Sea. If such had
been the case-seeng that Henson had
never handel it before the great TRACE
dy cam@the original must be in en-
istence."
Because the ring must have been
copied from it, Enid said. 1T is a
Very faithful copy indeed, and could
rot have been made from mere direc-
ton take the engraving inside. for
instance. The engraving forms the
cipher Of the house of Littimer. If
Hensen has the real ring, if We can
find it. the tragedy goes out of our
lives for ever
L should like to hear the story said
Steel
Enid paused and lowered the lamp
IS a step was heard outside. But it
was only Williams.
Mr.. Henson is in his bed ro\ ,l STILL
he said. Il have just taken hin. the ci-
CARS. He's got a lump on his head as
big as billiardball. Thinks he hit it
against bench. And my lady have
locked herself in her room and refused
to see anybody"
Go and look at your patient" Enid
commanded
Williams disappeared. to return pres
emily With the information that Van
Sneck was still fast asleep and lying
very peacefully.
Looks like waiting till morning. it
do he said, And now Til go back
and keep my eye on that ere distin-
guished philanthropist.
Williams disappeared, and Enid turned
up the Lamp again. Her face was pale
and resolute. She motioned David to-
wards a chair.
IN tell YOU the story" she said st
am going to confide in you the saddest
and strangest tale that ever appealed
to an imaginative novelist"
CHAPTER XLIy.
Enid Speaks.
Il am going to tell you the story Of
the great sorrow that has darkened all