Nebraska Newspapers

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ANNA KATHARINE GKEEN
Author of "mm leavenWorth case"
THE FILIGREE IfcALlTTItEHOOSfi OFTHEWHISPERmG PINES
ILLUSTRATIONS .JDY
CHARLES W. QOSSWl x
COPYRIGHT J3JI toy 5TMEET & .SMITH
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SYNOPSIS.
Or-orpp Andernon anil wife nee. n. ro
tmitknblp looking mnn romc out of tho
Clermont hotel, look around furtively.
wiimIi Ills hand In the pnow nnil nana on.
Commotion nttrm-ta them to the Clermont,
whore It In found that tho beautiful Mls
Kdlth ''lui Honor Iihh fallen deml, Antler-
Mill ilcnrrlhen the man 1)8 now wiihIi hi"
himdn in tin1 snow. Tho hotel manaKAr
declnreH him to he Orlundo Ilrotherswn.
IMnalrluns find that MIsh Challoner wn.
nUibbed nnd tint Bitot, which Hoemii to
i-lciir Hrotheroou of mniplulon. Clryco. an
afed detective, ajid Sweetwater, til ub
nlntnnt. take up the phho. Thoy bfllsvo
Atf (.'hnllciiii-r stabbed htmelf A pnpnr
cutter found noar the srene of tragedy I
bcllev.'il to hp. thn weapon uned. Mr. dial
lomr toll of u hntch of letter found In
IiIh ilauKhtcr'n desk. slcnnd "O. IJ." All
fire love letters exrept one which Miown
that tho writer was diHnlonund. This le.t
ter won nIkopjI by Orlando Ilrotherson.
Andrrnon Koofl with Hweolwuter to Iden
tify llrothcrHon, who Ih to nddrrm n moot
ing of nnari'lilHtR The plane Is raided by
I ho pollen and Hrathermm eoapen with
out belritf Identified. Hrothcrnon Is found
living in a tenement umlnr the nntno of
Burin llo l mi Inventor. Brotherson
tellH the voronor of hi apqualntnnco with
MIkh Chnlloner nnd how nhn repulsed him
with scorn when ho offewid her IiIh love.
fiweetwater recall thn mvntery of tho
murder of a washerwoman In whleli noino
Iptallx were Nlmllar to tho Chnlloner uf
falr. CHAPTER XII. Continued.
Only the Dunn of today Beemnd to
have nil IiIh wits nbout lilm, while tho
huge follow who brushed bo rudely by
mo on that occasion had the peculiar
look of a man struggling with horror
or Bomo othor grave agitation. This
was not surprising, of course, undor
tho circuuiHtancoB. 1 hud mot mora
than ono man and woman In thoso
hall who had worn the game look;
but nnno of them had put up n sign
on hlu door that ho had loft for New
York and would not bo back till fit 110,
nnd thon changed his mind so sudden
ly that ho was back In tho touomont
at three, untiring the curiosity and the
terrora of Its horrified Inmates.
"Hut tho idlurovnry, whllo possibly
suggestive, was not of so pressing n
nature as to demand Instant action;
and more immodlato duties coming
tip, I let the matter slip, from my
mind, to bo brought up again tho noxt
day, you may woll bollevo, .when all
tho circumstances of tho death at tho
Clermont enmo to light nnd I found
myself confronted by a problem very
nearly tho counterpart of tho ono thon
occupying mo.
"But I did' not boo any real connec
tion between the two casos, until, In
my hunt for Mr. Urothorsou, I carno
upou tho following facts; that ho was
not always thn gontlnmnn ho up
penrcd; that thn apartment in which
lie was supposed to llvo was not hjs
own but n friend's named Conway;
and that ho was only thon) by spoils.
iWhcu ho wns there, ho dressed like a
prlnco and it was whllo so clothed ho
nto his meals In tho enfoot tho Hotel
Clermont.
"Of Ilrothorson hlmsolf I saw noth
ing. Ho had como td Mr. Conway's
apartment tho night bofore tho night
of Miss Challoncr's death, you under
Htand but hud remained only long
enough to chnrjgo his clothes. Where
ho wont nftorwnrda Ib unknown to Mr.
Couwuy, nor can ho toll ub when to
look for his return. When ho does
nliow up, my message will bo given
Itlm, etc., etc. I havo no fault to tlntl
with Mr. Conway.
"You havo hoard how JJrothorson
bore hlmtiolf at tho corouor'a oillco;
what his explanations were and how
completely thoy fitted In with tho pro
'Conootvotl notions of the Inspector and
itlm dUtrlct attorney. In consequence,
"Minn Chullonor's doath 1b loolcod upon
hb u suicide. A reapon wnti In hor
hand sho Impulsively used It, and an
other doplorable sulclda wns added to
tho melancholy list. Had I put lit my
oar nt tho confuronco held In tho coro
ner's qfllco; had I recalled to Doctor
II tin th tho curious casu of Mrs. Spotts,
and thon Idonttflod Drothorson us tho
mnn whoso window fronted hers from
tho opposite tenement, a diversion
-might have been croutcd and tho out
tcomn boon different. Hut I foarod tho
oxpt'rhnont, I'm not sulllclontly In
with tho chief as yot, nor yot with
tho Inspector. Thoy might not havo
called, ma n foolyou may; but that's
different and thoy might havo lis
tened, but It would doubtloBB havo
boon with un air I could uof. havo hold
up against, with that fellow's oyes
fixed mockingly on mino. For ho and
1 nrb pitted for a struggle, nnd I do
not want to glvo him tho advuutngn
of oven a momentary triumph. IIo's
tho moHt complete mastor of himself
of any muu I over mot, and It wilt
tnkn tho united brain und resolution
of tho whole forco to bring llin to
book If he over Ib brought to book,
which I doubt. Whut do you think
About UV"
"Thut vjsu havo given mo an antidote-
against did ago," was tho ringing
nnd unoxpoctod roply, as tho thought
ful, half-puzzlud aspect of tho old man
yielded impulsively to a burst of his
oarly enthusiasm. "If wo can get a
good grip on tho, thread you speak of,
and can work ourselves along by It.
though It bo by no moro than Inch
at a time, we shall yot muko our way
through this labyrinth of undoubted
crlmo nnd cum for oursolvoa a tri
umph which will inako soma of theaa
raw and Inoxporlonced young fellows
nbout ub stnro. Swoetwaler, colncl
donees arn possible. Wo run upon
them every luy. nut coincidence In
crime! that should make work for a
dotoctlvo, nnd woitro not afraid of
work. Thero'u my hand for my end
Of the bUBlllCBB."
"And hero's mine."
' Noxt minuto thn two bonds wero
closer than over together, unci . tho
business hud begun. - y
CHAPTER XIII.
Time, Circumstances, and a Villain's
HearO
"Our first difficulty Is this. Wo
must provn motive. Now, I do not
think It will bo so very hard to tihow
that this Hrothorson cherished feel
ings of rovongo townrds Miss Choi
lonor. IJUt I havo to acknowledge
right here nnd now that the most skil
ful nnd vigorous pumping of tho Jani
tor nnd such other tonantB of tho
Hicks Btroot tenement as I havo dared
to approach, fails to show that ho has
ovor hold any communication with
Mrs. Spotts, or even knew of her ex
istonco until her romarkabln death at
tracted his attention."
"Humph! Wo will sot Hint down,
then, as so much against us."
"Tho noxt, and this is n bitter pill
too, is tho almost Insurmountable dif
ficulty already recognized of determin
ing how a man, without approaching
his victim, could manage to Inflict n
mortal stab in hor breast. No cloak
of complete Invisibility has yet been
found, oven by tho cleverest criminals,
nut hero's an answer to everything
nnd I'm suro there's an answer to (his.
Homombor his business, lie's an In
ventor, with stnrtllng Ideas. Oh, I
know that I am prejudiced; but wait
and see! Miss Chnlloner wns well rid
of him even at tho cost of hor life."
"Sho loved him. Evnn hor father be
HoveH that now. Bomo lutoly dlficov
orod letters havo como to light to
prove thut sho was by no means bo
heart free as ho supposed. One of
hor friends, It scorns, has iiIho con
lldod to him thnt once, while sho and
Miss Challonor wore sitting together,
sho caught Miss Chnlloner In tho act
of scribbling capitals over a shoot of
paper. Thoy wore afl ll.'s with tho
oxcoptlon of hero and thoro n Pearly
turned O, nnd when her friend twitted
hor with her fondness for thoso two
lottors, and suggostod a pleasing
monogram, Miss Chnlloner answered,
'O D, (transferring th) letters, as you
boo) aro the initials ofXthe fluent man
In tho world.' "
"Oosh! Has ho hoard this story?"
"I don't think so. It wns told mo In"
oonlldonco."
"Told you. Mr. Qryce? I'nrdou my
curiosity."
"I)y Mr. Chnllonor."
"Oh! by Mr. Chnllonor."
"Ho la grontly distressed at having
tho dlsgracoful suggestion of sulcldo
ntta'chod to his daughtor's name. Ho
sent foi mo In order to inqutro If any
thing could bo dono to. reinstate her
In public opinion. Ho evidently does
not llko Ilrothorson olther,"
"And what what did you -say?"
usked Swootwator, with a halting ut
torauco and hla faco full of thought.
"I 'simply quoted tho Intest author
ity on hypnotism, that no poraon even
In hypnotic sleep could bo lullucnced
by another to do what was antagonis
tic to his natural Instincts."
"Latest authority, Thut doesn't
moan u tlnnl ono. Supposing that It
was hypnotism! Hut that wouldn't
account for Mrs. SpottB' death. Hor
wound certainly wan not a Bolf-lnlllct-ed
one."
"How can you bo suro?"
"Thoro wnB no weapon found In tho
room, or In tho court, Tho snow was
searched and tho children too. No
weapon, Mr, Qryco, not ovon a paper
cutter, nesldos but how did Mr.
Chnllonor tnlco what you said? Was
ho satisfied with this assurance?"
"Ho had to bo. L didn't daro to hold
out uny hopo bnsod on so unsubstan
tial a theory. Hut tho Interview hurl
this offect upon mo. If tho possibility
romalns of llxlng guilt elsewhere than
on Miss Challoner'H Inconsldornto Im
pulse, I am ready to dovoto any
amount of time- and strength to tho
work. To soo this grieving father ro
llovod from tho wrut part of IiIh bur
don Is worth sotno offort and now you
know why I havo listened so engorly
to you. Swootwator, I will go with
you to tho superintendent. W may
not gain his attention and again wo
may. If wo don't but wo won't ciobs
that bridge prematurely. When will
you bo roady for this business?"
"I must bo at hoadquortors tomor
row," "Good, then lot It bo tomorrow. A
taxtcub, Sweetwater. Tho subway for
tho young, 1 can no longer muungo
tho stairs."
CHAPTER XIV.
A Concession.
"It Is truo; thoro scorns to be some
thing extraordinary In tho coinci
dence." Thus Mr. nrothorsoty In tho pros
onco of tho Inspector.
"Hut that is nit there Is to it," ho
easily proceeded. "I knew Miss Chnl
loner nnd I havo already said how
much nnd how little I had tq do with
hor death. The other woman I did not
know nt till; I did not even know her
itmo. A prosecution bnsod on grounds
so Illmsy ns those you advance would
savor of persecution, would It not?"
Tho Inspector, surprised by this un
oxpoctod attack, regarded tho spong
er with an Interest rather augmented
than diminished by ills boldness. Tho
smile with which he had uttered thoso
concluding words yet lingered on his
lips, lighting up features of n mold too
suggostlvo of command to bo associ
ated readily with guilt. That tho Im
pression tlniB produced was favor
able, was evident from tho tone of the
Inspector's reply:
"Wt have Bald nothing about prose
cution, Mr. Urotherson. We hope to
avoid any such extreme moasurcB,
and that we may thn moro readily do
o, wo havo given you this opportun
ity to make such explanations as tho
situation, which you yourself have
charncterlzad as remarkable, seems to
call for."
"I am ready. Hut what nm I called
upon to explain? I really cannot see.
sir."
"You can tell us why with your
seeming culture und obvious means,
you choose to spend so much time In
a second-rate tenement llko tho ono In
Hicks street."
Again that chill smile preceding tho
quiet answer;
"Have you seen my room there? It
is piled to tho celling with books.
When I wns a poor man, 1 chose tho
abode suited to my purae nnd my pas
sion for first-rate reading. I have nev
er soon tho hour when J felt llko mov
ing that precious collection. Hesidcs,
I am n man of the people. I, have led
I may say thnt I am lending a dou
ble life; but of neither am I ashamed,
nor havo I cnuso to bo. Lovo drove
me to npo tho gentleman In .tho halls
of tho Clermont; a broad human Inter
est In tho work of the world, to llvo
as a fellow among tho mechanics of
Hicks street."
"Hut why innlto use of one name as
a gentleman of lolsuro and quite a dif
ferent one ub tho honest workman?"
"Ah, thoro you touch upon my renl
secret. I havo a reason for keeping
my Identity quiet till my invention is
completed."
"A reason connected with your an
archlBtlc tendencies?"
"I'OBRibly." Hut the word wns ut
tered in n way to carry little convlc-
jnfij?.
"Gryce, You Shall Have Your Way."
tlon. "I am not much of an anar
chist," ho now took tho trouble to do
claro, with a cureless lift of his shoul
ders. "Wo aro glad to hear It, Mr. Dunn.
I'hyslcul overthrow carries moro than
tho Immediate sufferer with It."
"Wo havo no wish,", continued tho
inspector, "to probo too closely Into
concerns seemingly quite removed
from the main Issue, You will prob
ably bo anxious to explain away n dis
crepancy between yout' word and
your conduct, which has como to our
attention. You wero known to havo
expressed tho Intention of spending
tho afternoon of Mrs. Spotts' doath In I
.New York and wero uupposod to have
dono so, yot you wero certainly seen
In tho crowd which Invaded that rear
building at tho first alarm. Aro you
conscious of possessing h double, or
did you ,fall to cross tho river as you
expected to?"
"I am glad this haB como up." The
tone wnB one of self-congratulation
which would have shaken Swootwator
sorely hnd he been admitted to this
unolllclnl examination. "I did mean to
go to Now York and I ovon started on
my walk to tho brldgo at tho hour
mentioned, nut I got Into a small
crowd on tho. corner of Fulton street,
In which a poor dovll who had robbed
a vendor's cart of a fow oranges, was
being hUBtlod nbout. There wns no
policeman within sight, and so I
busted myself thoro for a minuto pay
ing for tho ornugoB and dragging tho
poor wretch away Into an alloy, whoro
I could havo the pleasure of seeing
him ent them. When I canto out of
the alley tho small crowd had van
ished, but a big ono was collecting
up the street very neur my homo I
always think of my books when I see
nnythlng suggesting fire, and natural
ly I returned, nnd equally naturally,
when I heard what had happened, fol
lowed tho crowd Into tho court and so
up to the poor woman's doorway. Hut
my curiosity satisfied, I returned at
once to the street and went to New
York as 1 had planned."
"Do you mind telling tin where you
went In Now York?"
"Not at all. I wont shopping. I
wanted n certain very flno wire, for
ail experiment I had on hand, and I
found It In a little shop on Fourth
avenue. If I remember rightly, the
nnmo ovor tho door was Grippus. Its
oddity struck me."
Thoro was nothing left to tho in
spector but to dismiss him. Ho hnd
answerod all questions willingly, and
with a eountonanco Inexpressive of
guile. Ho even Indulged In a parting
Bliot on his own account, us full of
frank accoptanco of the situation as it
wns fearless in Its attack. As he halt
etl In the doorway before turning his
back upon tho room, ho smiled for tho
third tlmo as he quietly said:
"I havo ceased visiting my friend's
apartment. In upper New York. If-you
ever want mo again, you will And me
amongst my books."
Ho was half-way out tho door, but
his name quickly spokon by tho In
spector drew him back.
"Anything more?" ho asked.
Tho Inspector smiled.
"You aro a man of considerable
nnalytlc power, ns I take It, Mr. Hroth
erson. You must huvo decided long
ago how this woman died."
"Is 'that a question, Inspector?"
"You may take It ns such."
"Then I will allow myself to say
that there Is but one common-sense
vlow to tako of the mntter. Miss
Challoncr's death was duo to sulcldo;
so wns that of tho washerwoman. But
thoro I stop. As for tho means tho
motive such mystories mny be with
in your province but they aro totally
outsldo mine! Cod help us all! The
world Is full of misery. Again I wish
you good-day."
Tho air seemed to havo lost Its vi
tality and the sun Ub sparkle when he
was gone.
"Now, what do you think, Gryce?"
Tho old man rose nnd camo out of
his corner.
"This; That I'm up against the hard
est proposition of my lifetime. Noth
ing In the man's appearance or man
ner evinces guilt, yet I bellevo him
guilty. I must. Not to, is to strain
probability to tho point of breakage.
But how to reach hint is a problem
and one of no ordinary nature. If ho
is not Innocent ns tho day, he's as
hard as unquarrlod marble. Ho might
bo confronted with reminders of his
crime at every turn without weaken
ing or showing by Iobs of nppotltc or
Interrupted sleep nny offect upon blB
nerves. That's my opln'lon of tho gen
tleman. Ho Is olthor that, or a man
of uncommon forco nnd solf-restrnlnt."
"I'm Inclined to believe him tho lat
ter." "And so give the whole matter tho
go-by?"
"What do you Avant? You say tho
mino Is unworkable"
"Yea, In a day, or In a week, pos
sibly in n month, But persistence and
a protean adaptability to moot his
moods might accomplish something.
I don't sny will, I only say might. If
Sweetwater had the Job, with unlim
ited tlmo In which to carry out any
plan ho may have, or oven for a
change of plans to suit a changed Idea,
success might bo his; and both ttme,
effort and outlay justified,"
"Tho outlay? I am thinking of the
outlay."
"Mr. Chnlloner will seo to that I
have his word that no reasonable
amount will daunt him."
"But this Ilrothorson Is suspicious.
Ho has an Inventor's secret to hldo. If
nono other. Wo canst saddle hbit with
a guy qf Sweetwater's appearance and
abnormal loquaciousness."
"Not readily, I own. Uut tlmo will
bring counsel. Are you willing to help
tho boy, to help mo und possibly your
Belf by this venture In tho dark? Tho
department shan't lose money by It;
that's all I can promise."
"But It's a big one. Gryce, you shall
havo your way. You'll bo tho only
loser If you fall; and you will fall;
take my word for lt.,f
"I wish I could speak as confidently
to the contrary, but I can't. I can glyo
you my hand though, inspector, and
Swootwater's thanks. I can moot tho
boy now. An hour ago I didn't know
how I waa to do It."
CHAPTER XV.
That's the Question.
"How mnuy times hos ho seen
you?",
"Twice."
"That's unfortunate"
"Damned unfortunate; but ono must
expect soma sort of a handicap in a
game like this. Bcforo I'm dono with
him, he'll look mfe full In the faco
nnd wonder If he's over seen mo bc
foro. I wasn't always a detective. I
wnB a carpenter onco, ns you know,
and I'll take to the tools again. Aa
soon ns I'm handy with them I'll hunt
up lodgings in Hicks street. Ho may
suspect me at first, but ho won't long;
I'll bo such a confounded good work
man. I only wish I hndn't such pro
nounced features. I want to deceive
him to his faco. He's clover, this
snmo Ilrothorson, nnd there's glory to
bo got In making a fool Of him. Do
you think It could bo done with a
board? I've never worn u board.
While I'm settling back Into my old
trade, I can let tho hair grow."
"Sweetwater! We'd better give tho
task to another man to. somo ono
Brotherson hns never seen and won't
bo suspicious of?"
"He'll be suspicious of everybody
who tries to make friends with him
now;' only n little moro so with me;
that's nil.. But I've got to meet that,
and I'll do it by being, temporarily, of
course, exactly tho man I seem. My
health will not be good for tho next
few e0l5s, Im sure of that. But I'll
be a model workman, neat and con
scientious with just a BUBplcion of
dash where dash Is needed. He knows
the real thing when he sees it, and
there's not a fellow living more alive
to shams. . I won't be a sham. I'll bo
it. You'll se."
"But the doubt. Can you dovall this
In doubt of tho issue?" -
"No; I must havo conlldonco in tho
end, and I must believe In his guilt.
Nothing else will carry mo through. I
must believe In his guilt."
"Yes, that's essential." k
"And I do. I never was surer of
anything than I am of that. But I'll
have the deuce of a time to get evi
dence enough' for a grand jury. That's
plainly to be seen, and that's why I'm
so dead Bet on the business. It's such
an even tosB-up."
"I don't call it even. He's got the
start of you every way. You can't go
to his tenement; the janitor there
would recognize you even it he didn't."
"Now 1 will glvo you a piece of good
news. They're to have a now jani
tor next week. I learned that yester
day. Tho present ono Is too easy.
He'll be out long before I'm reudy to
Bhow myself there; and so will the
womnn who took caro of tho poor
washerwoman's little child. I'd not
have tisked her curiosity. I.uck Isn't
all ngalnst us. How does Mr. Challon
er fee) about it?"
"Not very confident; but willing to
give you any amount of rope. Sweet
water, he let me have a batch of let
ters written by his daughter which he
found In a secret drawer. They nro
not to bo rend, or oven opened, unless
a greut necessity arises. They wore
written for Rrothorson's -eye or so
tho father says but she novor Bent
them; too exuberant perhaps. If you
ever want them I cannot glvo them
to you tonight, nnd wouldn't If 1 could
don't go to Mr. Chnlloner you
must never bo seen at his hotel and
don't como to me, but to tho little
house In West Twenty-ninth street,'
where thoy will be kept for you, tied
up In a package with your namo on It.
By tho way, what namo are you going
to work under?"
"My mother's Zugg'
"Good! I'll remember. You can al
ways write or even tolophonoto Twenty-ninth
street. I'm in constant com
munication with them there, and it's
quite safo."
"Thanks. You're sure the superin
tendent Is with mo?"
"Yes, but not tho Inspector. Ho
Bees nothing but- the victim of a
strange eolncldcnco In Orlando Broth
erson." "Again tho scales hang oven. But
they won't remain so. One sldo Is
bound to rise. Which? That's tho
question, Mr. Gryce."
; CHAPTER XVI.
Opposed,
Thoro wns a now tenant In tho
Hicks street tenement. He arrived
late ono afternoon and was shown
two rooms, one In tho reur building
and another in tho front one. Both
we.ro on the fourth floor. Ho do
murred at tho former, thought It
gloomy but Anally consented to try U.
The other, ho said, wns too oxpcnslvo.
Tho janitor new to the business
was not much taken with him nnd
showed It, which seemed to offend tho"
newcomer, who was evidently an Ir
ritable fellow owing to 111 health.
However, thoyaamo to terms nB I
havo said, and tno man wont away,
promising to Bond In his belongings
the noxt day. Ho smiled as he said
this and the Janltorf who had rarely
seen such a change take place In a
human faco,, looked uncomfortable
for a moment and seemed disposed to
mnko somo remark about tho room
thoy wore leaving. But, thinking bet
tor of It, locked the door and lod tho
way downstairs. As tho prospectlvo
tenant followed, ho mny havo noticed,
probably did, that tho door they had
JttBt loft was a now one tho only new
thing to bo seen In the whole shabby
place.
The next night that door was locked
on the Inside. Tho young man had
taken possession. As he put away
the remnants of a meal ho had cooked
for himself, .he cast n look at his sur
roundings, and imperceptibly sighed.
Then he brightened ugaln, and Bitting
down on his solitary chair, ho turned
his eyes on the window which, uncur
tained and without shade, stared open
mouthed, ns It were, nt tho opposite
wall rising high across tho court.
In that wall, ono window only
seemed to Interest him and that was
on a level with his own. Tho shade
of this window was up, but there was
no light back of It nnd so nothing of
tho Interior could bo semi. But his
eyo remained fixed upon It, whllo his
linntl, stretched out towards tho lamp
burning near him, held Itself In readi
ness to lower the light nt a minute'
notice.
Did ho see only the opposite wall
nnd that unlllumlned window? Was
there no memory of tho time when.
in a previous contemplation of thoso
dismal paneB, ho beheld Btretchlng bo
tweon thorn and himself, a long, low
bench with a plain wooden tub upon
It, from which a dripping cloth beat
out upon tho boards beneath a dismal
note, monotonous as the tlcklnc of a
clock?
Ono might Judge that such memo
ries wore Indeed his, from the rapid
glance ho cast behind him at the
plnco where the bed hnd stood In
those days. It was plaAd differently
now.
But If he saw, and if he heard those
suggestions from tho past, ho was not
1083 alive to the exactions of tho pres
ent, for, ns his glance flew back across
the court. Ills finner suddenly moved
and the llame It controlled sputtered
and went out. At tho same histant,
tho window opposite sprang into viow
nB tho lamp was lit within, and for
several minutes the whole interior re
mained visible the books, tho work,
table, tho cluttered furniture, and,
most Interesting of all, its owner and
occupant. It was upon the latter that
the newcomer fixed his attention, nnd
with an absorption enual to that he
saw expressed in the countenance op
poslte.
But his was tho absorption of
watchfulness; that of the other of in
trospection. Mr. Brotherson (we
will no longer call him Dunn even
hero where ho Is known by no other
namo) had entered tho room clad in
his heavy overcoat and, not having
taken it off bofore lighting his lamp,
still stood with it on, gazing eagerly
down nt tho model occupying tho
place of honor on the largo centor
table. He was not touching It not
at this moment but that his thoughts
wero with It, that his whole mind was
concentrated on it, was evident to tho
watcher across the court; and, as this
watcher took in this fact and noticed
tho loving care with which tho enthu
siastic inventor finally put out his fin
ger to rcarrango u thread or twirl a
Wheel, his disappointment found utter
ance In a sigh which echoed sadly
through tho dull and cheerlosB room.
Had ho expected this stern and self
contained man to show an open In
difference to work and tho hopes ot
a Hfotimo? If do, this' Was tho first
of tho many surprises awaiting him.
Ho was giftod, however, with tho
patience of an automaton and contin
ued to watch his follow tenapt as long
ns the latter's shade remained up.
When It fell, ho rose and took a fow
stops up and down, but not with tho
celerity and precision which usually
accompanied his movements. Doubt
disturbed his mind and Impeded his
activity. He had caught a fair glimpse
of Brotherson'B faco as he "fipproached
tho window, nnd though It continued
to show abstraction, it equally dis
played soronlty .and a complete sat
isfaction with the present If not with
tho future. Had he mistaken his man
nftor all? Was his instinct, for tho
first time In his active carcor, wholly
,at fault?
Ho had , succeedod in getting a
glimpse of his quarry in tho privacy
of his own room, at homo with hlB
thoughts and unconscious of nny es
pionage and how had ho found him?
Choorful nnd natural In all his move
ments. But tho evonlng wns young. Retro
spect comes with later and moro lone
ly hours. There will bo opportunities
yot for studying this Impassive coun
tenance under much moro telling and
productive circumstances than those.
He would await these opportunities
with cheerful anticipation. Mean
whllo, ho would Jtoop up tho routine
watch ho had planned for UiIb night.
Something might yot occur. At all
events ho would havo exhausted the
situation from this standpoint.
(TO nn CONTINUED.)
Maps Antedate Columbus.
It Ib said that there are well-authenticated
mapB showing the coasts of
Florida and Cuba, one dntcd 1414 and
the othor 1492. before the return of
Christopher Columbus from America.
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