The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-09-27
%s Crimson
BY Fred n. Ahite hHn0
By Fred N. Uhits
CHAPTER xLvI. tCoatinued.)

CHAPTER xLvI. (Continued.)
IT am sorry If 1 have lone So" Chri,
said, but I should no have done *
unless I had been taken by surprise. I
was so not that I had taken of m,
glasses and put my hair UP. Their
Frank came up and surprised me-"
You have grown an exceedingly
pretty girl, Chris" Littimer said crit
ically. OF course. I recognize you now
You are nicer looking than Miss Lee
Chris put her glasses on and rollet
Ter hair down resolutely.
You will be good enough to under.
stand that I am going to continue Miss
Lee for the present, she said. my tasl
is a long way from being finished yet
Lord Littimer, you are not going &c
send FRANK away"
Littimer looked undecided.
II didn't know" he said. Frank,
have heard a great deal to-day to cause
me to think that I might have done q
great injustice. And yet I am not sure
lin any case, 1t would be bad policy
for you to remain here. II the news
came to the ears Of Pnginald Henson
it might upset Miss Machiavellis
Z plans"
THAT had not occurred to me for the
moment" Chris exclaimed. On the
whole, Frank had better not stay. But
I should early like 20 see you two shake
hands,"
Frank Littimer made an involuntary
gesture, and then he drew back.
ibid rather not" he said. "At
least, not until my character is fully
indicated. Heaven knows I have suf-
.fered enough for a boyish indiscretion."
And you have youth on your side,"
Littimer said, gravely. Whereas L"
Il know, I know 1t has been terrible
all round. I took those letters Of poor
Claire's away because they were sacred
property, and for no eye but mine
mo eye but yours saw them. I was
going to send them back again. 1 wish
I had"
AYE. so do I. I took them and de-
7stroyed them but I take Heaven to wit
ness that I touched nothing else b.
sides. If it was the last word I ever
uttered-!what Is that fellow doing
here in tibet garb? 1t is n of Hen
sons most disreputable TOOLS" )
Merritt was coming across the ter.
race. He paused suspiciously as he
caught sight of Frank, but Chris, with
a friendly wave of her hand, encour
aged him to come on.
Its all a part of the game" she
said. Il sent for our friend, Merritt.
out when l did so l had no idea that
Frank would be present. Since YOU
are here you might just as well stay
and hear a little more of the strange
doings of Reginald Henson. The time
has come to let Merritt know that J
am not the clever lady burglar he takes
ue for"
Merritt came up, doggedly. En,
IDENTIFY the presence of Frank Littimer
disturbed him. Chris mOtioned him to
a seat quite gaily.
you are very punctual," she said.
II told you l wanted you to give Lord
Littimer and myself a little advice and
assistance. In the first place, we want
to know where that gun-metal, dia
mond-mounted cigar-case, at present
for sale in Rutter's window, came
from. We want to know how it got
there and who sold it to Rutter's peo-
pie. Also, we want to know why Van
Sneck purchased a similar cigar-case
from Walen's of Brighton.
Merritt's heavy jaw dropped, his
face turned a dull yellow. He looked
around helplessly for some means of
escape, and then relinquished the idea
with a sigh.
s"Done!" he said. "Clear done. And
by a woman, too! A.smart woman, I
admit, but a woman, all the same. And
yet, why didn't you"
Merritt paused, lost in the contem-
plation of a problem beyond his intel
lectual strength.
"You have nothing to fear" Chris
said, with a smile. "Tell us all you
know, and conceal nothing, and you
will be free when we have done with
you"
Merritt wiped his dry lips with the
back of his hand.
~ come %peaceably," he said, hoarse-
~. "And I'm going to tell you all
about it."
.