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Show H i. ii - ! i , i . - ,i ii in ' ''" - .. Kri I ANNA K4JHAI GREEN 1 ""A V 9Bm " ' I IH &!m( vn 1 ( AUTHOR OP TOB LBAVBNWOUTH CASE C?" raX S Z2&vSMMM 1 H M) ml Q ILLUSTRATIONS J&Y , s lllma&PQ 1 1 5?PrrflV nLZ J CHARLES .W. R0SSE2 f 6Lu&Bmp I I H BYNOPSI8. H George Anderson ami wife ace a rn- BBBBJI markablo looking man coma out of thn H Clermont hotel, lonk around furtively. j wash hla hands In llio miow and pass on. BBBK Commotion attracts them to tho Clermont, BSSE whero It Ii found that tho boautlful Miss BSSM Kdlth Chnlloner has fallen dead. Ander- iiiH son describes tho man ho saw wash his BBBBM hands In tho snow. Tho hotel manogor BBBBI declares him to bo Orlando Hrotherson. BBBBJ Physicians Hnd that Miss Challonor was BBBBJ stabbed anil not shot, which seems to IBBBB clear Hrotherson of suspicion, dryco, an BBBBJ aged detective, and Sweetwater, Ills as- BBBBJ slstant, tako up the caso. They bellove BBBBJ Miss Chnlloner stubbed herself. A paper BBBBJ cutler found near tho sceno uf tragedy Is BBBBn bolleved to bo the weapon used. Mr. Choi- BBBHj loner tells of a batch of letters found In BBBM his daughter's desk, slKiied "O. II." All BBBM nro lovo lottors except orto which shows BBBBJ that the writer was displeased. This let- BBBBJ tor wns signed by Orlando Hrotherson. BBBBJ Anderson goes with Hweolwator to Idon- BBBBJ tlfy Hrotherson, who Is to address a mcot- BBBBj Ing of anarchists Tho place Is raided by BBBBJ the pollco and Hrotherson escapes wlth- BBBH put being Irtim tilled. Hrotherson Is found BBBBJ living In a tunometit under the namo of BBBHi Dunn. IJo Is an Inventor. Hrotherson BBBBJ tells tho coroner of his acquaintance with BBBH Miss Chnlloner and how aim repulsed him BBBBJ with scorn when ho ottered her his love, BBBH Sweetwater recalls tho mystery of tho BBBBJ murder of a washerwoman In which somo BBBM details wore similar to tho Challonor nf- V"r-. Challonor admits hla daughter was BBBH deeply Intorcsted, If not In lovo with BBBH llrothnrpon. Hrothonion gives tho pollco BBBBJ a plauslblo oxplanatlon of his conduct. BBBM Sweetwater plans to disguise hlmsulf as H " carpenter and seek lodgings In tho snmo BBBH building with Hrotherson. Ho watohes BBBH the Inventor at work at night and Is do- BBBM tcctcd by tho latter, Tho detective moves- BBBM to a room adjoining Hrothcrson's. He I bores a liolo In tho wall to spy on Hroth- BBBH rson. llo visits hint and nsslsto tho In- ventor In IiIh worlc. H CHAPTER XVIII. What Am I to Do Now? H Early morning saw Swcotwntor H peering into tho depths of his closot. H . Tho liolo wns hardly vlslblo. Thlq B mentit that tho book ho had pushed B across it from tho other sldo had not H boon romoved. H Mr.' Ilrotliornon's bctl was In a ro- H moto- corner from tho loop-holo mado H T by Swcotwntor; but In tho stlllnoSB H nov porvndlng tho wholo building tlo H latter could hear his evon breathing H vory dlsttncriy. Ho was In a deop J amc!. "tho partition. An instant of uuroT B llatonlng. then ho touched a Bprlng HH In tho sldo of tho box and laid his ear, r In haBto, to his loop-holo. M A strain of well-known music broko M loftly from tho box and sont Its vl- M bratlons through tho wall. M It was nnswored instantly by a ottr M within; then, as tho noblo air con- H tlnucd, nwakonlng momorlos of that H i fatal Instant when It crashed through H tho corridors of tho Hotel Qlormont, M drowning Miss Challoncr'o cry If not H tho sound of hor full, a word burst H from tho sleeping man's lips which H carried its own messago to tho Uston- aajjj ing uoiecuTo. H It waB Edith! Miss Challonor's H first namo, and tho tono bespoko u H shaken soul. H Sweetwater, gasping with excite- H tuont, caught tho box from tho Bho)f H and slloncod It. It had done Its' work H and It was no part of Swootwator's H plan to havo this strain located, or H oven to bo thought real. Hut its echo otlll Ungorcd In Urothorsou's other- -wIeo unconscious oars; for anothor H "Edith 1" escaped his lips, followed by H a smothored but forcoful utterance of H these words, "You know I prom- VaWaWfl Isod vou " H Promised hor what? Ho did not say. H Would ho havo dono so had tho music lasted a trldo longer? Would ho yet H completo hla eontonco? Swootwntor H trembled with eagerness and listened H breathlessly for tho next sound. Broth- H orson waB awako. Ho was tossing n H his bod. Now ho has loapod to tho Bl floor. Swootwator hoars him groan, H then comes anothor sllonco, broken H at last by tho sound of his body fall- H lng back upon the bed and tho H troubled ejaculation of "Good God" iB wrung from lips np torture could havo H forced into complaint under any day- H tlmo conditions. H Swootwntor continued to Uston, but H ho had hoard all, and nftor Bomo fow B9HI minutes longor of fruitless waiting, ho RHUS vlthdrow from hla post. Tho eplsodo WimM was over. Ho would hear no more OSKI tbRt night. EvjH Was ho Batlsflod? Sweetwater lB lmaglnod tho scono Baw tho flguro of Wm. Hrotherson heBUatlng nt tho top of 3BBRM tho Btairs saw bora advancing from ?m$M tho writing-room, with startled and XmGM uplifted hand hoard tho music tho WWM crash of that great flnalo and docld- MtHnll xl. without hesitation, that tho words mm$M ho had Just heard woro ihdoed tho IfSS thoughts of thot moment. "Edith, vS$wS8 you know I promiBed you" What W$ffik hid ho promised? What sho rocolved mV&Wl was deathl Had this boon in his VitcMiM mmd7 Would this have boon tho tor-jJkWwI tor-jJkWwI ' mlnatlon of tho sontonco had ho wak- sWPffl encd le8H 800n t0 conBclouHn08a nncl wWti"im Swootwator dared to boliovo It. ffFfSmm K, , Could it bo? Wob It ho who was tfftSllH droaming now, or waB tho event of HBH tho night a moro farce of his own fjSKm -" rmn&minfc? Mr. nrotherson was HH -' 'fiiKtling in his room, gaily and with IHH ivsr Increasing verve, and tho tuno HB v'itik billed tho wholo floor with musld was tho same grand flnalo from William Tell which had seemed to work such magic in tho night. As Swootwntor caught tho mollow but In-dlfferont In-dlfferont notes sounding from thoso lips of brass, ho dragged forth tho music-box ho hold hidden In his cout pocket, and flinging It on tho floor stamped upon It. "Tho man 1b too strong for mo," ho cried. "Hla heart Is granite; ho meets my every movo. What am I to do now?" CHAPTER XIX. The Danger Moment. For a day Swootwator acknowledged acknowl-edged hlmsolf to bo mentally crushed, crush-ed, disillusioned nnd dofeated. Then his spirits regained tholr polso. His opinion waB not changed in ro-gnrd ro-gnrd to his neighbor's secret guilt. Hut ho saw, vory plainly by this tlmo, that ho would havo to omploy moro subtlo methods yot ore hla hand would touch tho goal which so tantal-izlngly tantal-izlngly eluded him. HIb work nt tho bench suffered that week; ho mado two mistakes. Hut by Saturday night ho had satisfied hlmsolf hlm-solf that ho had reached tho point whoro ho would bo Justified In making uso of Miss Challonor'B lottors. So ho telephoned hla wishes to New York, nnd nwaltod tho promlsod developments de-velopments wlt.h nn anxiety wo can only understand by realizing how much greater woro his chances of fall-uro fall-uro than of bucccsb. To onsuro tho lattor, every factor In his schomo must work to jiorfoctlon. Tho modlum of Communication (a young, untried girl) must do hor part with nil tho skill of nrtlst and nuthor combined. Would Bho disappoint thorn? Ho did not think so. Women possess a marvoloua adaptability for this kind of work, nnd thlB ono wbb Fronch, which made tho caso stlllf moro hopeful. Hut Drotbtorson! In what spirit would ho ioetlHtiroposndj HiiloRrrors of tho night by a carolcbs ropotltlon of a Btraln instinct with tho moht aacred momorlos, waB not to bo depended upon to show much fooling at Bight of a doparted woman's writing. nut no other hope remained, and Swootwator faced tho attompt with horolc determination. Tho day was Sunday, which on-surod on-surod HrothorBon'fl being at homo. Nothing would havo lurod Swootwator Swootwa-tor out for a moment, though ho had no reason to oxpoct that tho affair ho was anticipating would conio off till enrly evening. But It did. Lato In tho afternoon ho hoard tho expected stops go by his door a womnn'B stops. Hut thoy woro not alono. A man'B nccompanlod thorn. What man? Swootwator hastened to satisfy hlmsolf on this point by laying his oar to tho parti- tlon. Instantly tho wholo conversation becamo audlblo. "An errand? Oh, 700s, I havo an orrand!" explained tho evidently un-wolcomo un-wolcomo lntrudor, in hor broken English. Eng-lish. "ThlB 1b my brothor Plorro. My namo la Colesto; Coloato Lodru. I understand English vor well. I havo Uliuumvu"" -...r" - worked much In families. But ho un-dorstanda un-dorstanda nothing. Ho la all Fronch. Ho accompanies mo for for the what you call It? los convonaucoB. Ho knows nothing of tho booslness. Swootwator In tho darkness of his closot laughed In his glooful appreciation. apprecia-tion. . "Groat!" waB his comment. Just groatl She hns thought of ovorythlng or Mr. Qryco has." Mcanwhllo, tho girl waB proceeding proceed-ing with Increased volubility. "What Is this boeslnoss, monsieur? . 1 hnvo something to soil so you Americans speak. Somothlng you will want much vor sacred, vor proclous. i A souvenir from tho tomb, monsieur. Will you glvo ton no, that is too ) lootle fifteen dollars for It? It la 3 worth Oh, moro, much moro to tho truo lover. Plerro. tu es boto. Tolna- tu droit sur ta chalso. M. Hrotherson est un monslour commo 11 faut." This adjuration, uttored In sharp roprlmand and with but llttlo of tho French grace, may or may not havo been understood by tho unsympathetic man thoy woro meant to Impress. Hut tho namo which accompanied them hla own namo, novor heard but onco before In this houao, undoubtedly caused tho sllonco which nlmcat reached tho point of embarrassment, boforo ho broko It with tho harsh re- mnrk: "Your French may bo good, but it dooB not go with mo. Yet Ib It moro lntolllgiblo thnn your English. What do you want horo? What havo you In that bag you wish to opon; and what do you moan by tho sentimental trash with which you offer it?" "Ah, monsieur has not memory of irwo," came In tho awaotoat tonoa of a really seductlvo volco. "You astonish mo. monsieur. I thought you know ovorybody elso does Oh, tout lo mondo, monslour, that I was Miss Challonor'B maid near hor when other oth-er peoplo woro not noar hor tho vory day sho died." ' A pauso; thon an angry exclamation exclama-tion from somo ono. Swootwator thought It from tho brothor, who may havo mlsintorpretod somo look or gesturo on Hrotherson's part, Hroth-orson Hroth-orson hlmsolf would not bo npt to show surprlso In any such noisy way. "I I saw many things Oh, many things " tho girl proceodod with an admlrablo mlxtura of suggestion nnd rosorvo. "That day and othor days too. Sho did not talk Oh, no, sho did not talk, but I aaw Oh, ye, I saw that she that ou I'll havo to say It, monsieur, thnt you woro tres bons nmlB after that weok In Lenox." "Wcll7" His uttoranco of UiIb word was vigorous, but not tondor. "What aro you coining to? What can you havo to show mo In this connection thnt I "will boliovo In for a moment?" "I havo thoso 1b monslour certalno that no ono can hoar? I wouldn't hnvo anybody hoar what I havo to tell you, for tho world for nil tho world." "No ono can ovorhonr." For tho first tlmo that day Swcot-water Swcot-water breathed a full, doop broath. This assurance had soundod honrttolt. "Hlesslngs on hor cunning young bond. Sho thinks of ovorythlng." "You nro unhappy. You havo thought Mlas Chnlloner cold; that eho hnd no rcsponso for your vor ardent paBslon. Hut " thoso words woro uttored sotto voco nnd with tolling pauses "but I know ver much hotter than that. Sho was vor proud. Sho had a right; sho was no poor girl llko mo but alio apond hours hourB In writing letters Bho novalro send. I Baw ono, Just onco, for a leetlo mlnuto; whllo you could broatho bo short as thnt; nnd It began with Chorl, or your English for that, and It ondod with wordn Hi, vnr Tnllnli tn thnnn Vnll mnV " Oh, vor much hko tnoso: jou may T Which and look, and ono,, day-TTH thorn. Sho had a lootlo lVpry fH Oh, vor nlco, vor protty. I thought M waB Jowols Bho kept locked up MH tight. But, non, non, non. It was lH tors thoso letters. I heard tho1" Bf tie, rattle, not onco but many UlR You boliovo mo, monsieur?" "I boliovo you to havo taken evoi t-advantngo t-advantngo possible to spy upon yoi ob. mlstroBS. I boliovo that, yes. "From Interest, monsieur, fro 7 great interest." "SolMntarost." "As monslour ploasos. Dut It wi n Btrango, vor strango for a gram dnmo llko that to wrlto letters sheots on sheots-and then not sei is .t nnnim i dronmod of thoso li 10 them, novnlro. l ureamuu ui iu tors I could not help it, no; a when sho died so quick with no wo for any ono, no word at all, 1 thoug of thoso writings bo secret, so of t heart, and when no ono notlced-thought notlced-thought about this box, or or tho k sho kept shut tight, oh, always tig In hor lectio gold purso, I Monsler do you want to boo those lottorsWy asked tho girl, with n gulp. Evident ly his appearanco frlghtonod her V; had her acting reached this point oxtromo finish? "I had novalre tB-chnnco tB-chnnco to put thorn back. And aff .. i.inni tn inmiHtcur. Thoy asV thoy bolong to monsieur, muy w his nil his and so beautiful I AS JUBt llko poetry." "I don't consldor thorn mine. haven't a pnrtlclo of confidence in yB or In your story. You nro a thleS Bolf-convlctcd; or you'ro an agent W tho pollco. whoso motlvos I nettip understand nor caro to lnvestlgt Tako up your bag and go. I hav( a cent's worth of Interest In Its cB tonta." K Sho Btarted to hor feet. SweetwaP heard her chair grato on tho palnS floor, aB Bho pushed It back In risjK Tho brother roso too, but more c ly Drotherson did not stir. $MP wntor felt hla hopoa rapidly dy? down down Into ashes, when sB donly hor volco broko forth In panBJ "And Mario said ovorybody sal that you loved our great lady; tp vmi nf tho peoplo, common, U: you, or tno peupiu, ., - mon. working with tho hands, 1B wlth mon and women working tho hands, that you had soul, Beljj mont what you will of tho good nV tho great, and that you would gH your oyoa for her words, el flnesJB fiplrltuollos, so llko dos vors do pofl Falso! falso! all false! Sho was m angol. You aro read that!" sho I homciitly broko In, oponlng her I nnd whisking a pnpor down bofl him. "Head and understand my pr nnd lovely lady. Sho did right to You aro hard hard. You would h killed hor If alio had not" "Sllonco, woman! I will road n ii nnmn hlsHlng from the etr Ing! CnmO niaawiK lium niu bit man'B teeth, Bot In almost ungov ablo anger. "Tako back this let as you call It, and loavn my room I "Novnlro! You will not read? you shall, you shall. Hohohl anotll One, two, thrco, four!" Madly tl flow from hor hand. Madly she Jt In- tlnuod her vltuporntlvo attack. "DeaBt! boast! That oho should pour out hor Innocent heart to you, yout I do not want your monoy, Monslour of tho common stroot, of tho common houso. It would bo dirt. Plorro, It would bo dirt. Ah, bah! Jo m'oubllo tout a fait. Plorro, 11 est boto. II ro-fUBO ro-fUBO do les toucher. Mala 11 faut qu'll los toucho, si Jo los lalsse sur lo planchor. Va-t'on! Jo mo moquo do lul. Canalllo! L'hommo du pou-pie, pou-pie, tout a fait du pouplo!" A loud alam tho akurrylng of foot through tho hall, accompanied by tho slower and heavier tread of tho so-called so-called brothor, thon Bllonce, and such sllenco thnt Sweetwater fancied ho could cntch tho sound of Brothorson'B heavy breathing. Hla own wna silenced si-lenced to a gasp. What a trensuro of a girl! How natural hor Indignation! What an Instinct Bho showed nnd what comprehension 1 But had Bho Imposed on Brother-son? Brother-son? As tho Bllonco continued, Sweetwater Sweet-water began to doubt. Ho undorstood qulto woll tho lmportanco of hla noighbor'B first movement. Wero ho to tear thoso lottora Into shreds! Ho might bo thus tomptod. All depended on tho strength of his presont mood nnd tho real naturo of tho secret which lay burled In his heart. Therowas a sound aa of Bottling coul. Only at night would ono expect to hear bo Blight a sound as that In a tenement full of noisy chlldron. But tho moment chanced to bo propitious, and It not only attracted tho attontlon of Swootwator on hlB sldo of tho wall, but It struck tho oar of Brothorson also. With nn ejaculation ob blttor aB It woa Impatient, ho roused himself him-self nnd gathered up tho lottors. Sweotwator could hear tho successive rustlings ns ho bundled thorn up, in his hand. Thon camo anothor Bllonco then tho lifting of a stovo lid. Swcotwater had not been wrong In his secrot nrtnrehenslon. His idontl- ma sucrui uiiprunuiiHioii. xiia tuuuii- ilcajion with his unlmpresslonablo igiAiior'B mflfltLIlIliLBhown him what HVM1I1IJM' yA ,rd- IPJKoiI nnturnu found hlf X pitted against, would soon bo rcfei.tfd Into a vanishing puff of smoko. ? But tho lid waB thrust back, and tho letters remained In hand. Mortal strength has Its limits. Even Brother-son Brother-son could not shut down that lid on words which might havo boon meant for him, harshly ns ho had repolled tho Idea. Tho pauso which followed told llttlo; llt-tlo; but whon Sweotwator hoard tho man within movo with characteristic onorgy to tho door, turn tho koy and stop back ngaln to his placo at tho table, ho know that tho dangor moment mo-ment had passed and that thoso lottors lot-tors woro about to bo read, not casually, casual-ly, but' sorloualy, aB Indeed tholr contents con-tents merited. ThlB caused Sweotwator to foel serious seri-ous hlmsolf. Upon what result might ho calculato? Impossible to toll. Tho balance of probability hung even. Swootwator recognized this, and clung, broathloss, to his loop-holo. Fain would ho havo soon, as well aa heard. Mr. Brotherson road tho first letter, standing. As It Boon becamo public property, I will glvo It horo, Just aa It afterwards appeared In tho columna of tho groedy Journala: "Beloved: "When I alt, aa I ofton do, In perfect per-fect quiet under tho stars, and dream that you aro looking at thorn too, not for hours as I do, but for one full mo- f jlgl slM V) l5xftlffl'ii!u'L F In .ratsM v Am, n Ii I ' "Tako Back This Letter, as You Call It, and J.cave This Room," ment In whlc'n your thoughta aro with mo aB wholly as mlno nro with you, 1 fool that tho bond botweon us, unseen by tho world, and possibly nqt wholly recognized by oursolves, Is Instinct with tho snmo power which links together to-gether tho otarnltieB. "It Boema to hnvo nlways been; to havo known no beginning, only a budding, bud-ding, an ofllorescoDco, tho vlslblo prod uct of a hlddon but always presont reality. A month ago and I waB Ignorant, Igno-rant, ovon, of your namo. Now, you seem tho best known to mo, tho beBt understood, of God's creaturoa. Ono afternoon of perfect companionship ono flash of strong emotion, with Its deop, truo lnalght Into each other's soul, and tho miracle waB wrought Wo had mot, and honcofortb, parting would moan separation only, and not tho severing of a mutual bond. Ono hand, and ono only, could do that now. I will not namo that hand. For ua there is nought ahead but llfo. "ThuB do I onso my heart in tho b1; lonco which conditions lmposo upon us. Somo day I ahnll hear your volco again, and thon " f Tho pnpor dropped from tho read-er'B read-er'B hand. It wna several minutes before be-fore ho took tip another. This ono, ns it happened, antedated tho othor, as will appear on reading It: "My frlond: "I cnld that I could not wrlto to you that wo muat wait You wero willing; will-ing; but thoro Is much to bo accomplished, accom-plished, nnd tho sllonco may bo long. My fnthor la not an easy man to plenso, but ho desires my happiness and will listen to my plea whon tho right hour comes. Whon you havo won your plnco whon you havo shown yoursolf to be tho man I fool you to bo, then my father will recog-nlzo recog-nlzo your worth, nnd tho way will bo cleared, despite tho obstacles which now intervene. "But meantime! Ah, you will not know It, but wordB will rlin tho heart must find utterance. What tho Up cannot utter, nor tho looks reveal, these pages shall hold In sacred trust for you till tho day whon my father will placo my hand In yours, with heartfelt approval. "Is It a folly? A woman's weak evasion of tho strong sllenco of man? You may say so somo day; but somehow, some-how, I doubt it I doubt It." . nidicreaklngofachalr tho man wakenfu ifMtrjlfpjnjqg ..' ' f tho wu'ils surrounding tho unsympa- thotlo reador. Thoy could see. Ho could only listen. A llttlo wh.Ho; thon that slight rustling again of tho unfolding sheet Tho following wna read, and thon tho fourth and last: "Dcnrest: "Did you think I had novor seen you till that day wo met In Lonox? I am going to toll you a secrot a groat, great secret such a ono aa a woman hardly whlspora to hor own hoart "Ono day, In early summer, I waB Blttlntr In St. Unrthnlnmnw'n nhurrh timing in ai. uannoiomow a cnurcn on Fifth avonuo, waiting for tho services serv-ices to begin. It was oarly nnd tho congregation waa assembling. Whllo Idly watching tho peoplo coming In, I saw n gentlomnn pass by mo up tho aislo, who mado mo forgot all tho others. oth-ers. Ho had not tho nlr of a Now Yorker; ho was not ovon dressed In city stylo, but ns I noted his faco and expression, I Bald way down In my heart, 'Thnt Is the kind of man I could lovo; tho only man I havo ovor seen who could mnko mo forgot my own world nnd my own people.' It wna a nnRHlnt? thmieht nnnn fnrcntlon Tin passing mougnt, soon rorgotten. But whon In thnt hour of embarrassment nnd peril on Groylock mountain, I looked up into tho faco of my rescuer and saw ngaln thntcountenanco which bo short a tlmo beforo hnd called Into llfo lmpulsea till thon utterly unknown, un-known, I know that my hour was como. And that was why my confidence confi-dence waa bo spontaneous and my belief be-lief In tho futuro so absoluto. . "I trust your lovo which will work wonders; and I trust my own, which sprang at a look but only gathered strength nnd permanence when I found that tho soul of tho man I lovod bettered his outward attractions, making ma-king tho ldonl of my foolish girlhood fioom as unsubstantial and ovnnescont as a dream In tho glowing noontldo." "My Own: "I can say so nov; for you havo written to mo, and I havo tho dancing words with which to sllonco nny unsought un-sought doubt which might subduo tho exuboranco of thoso secrot outpourings. outpour-ings. "I did not expect this. I thought that you would remain as silent na myself. But men'a ways aro nof our ways. Thoy cannot exhaust longing In purposoloss words on scraps of soulless papor, and I nm glad that they cannot. I lovo you for your lm-patlonco; lm-patlonco; for your purpose, nnd for tho manliness which will win you yot all that you covet of famo, accomplishment accom-plishment and lovo. You expect no reply, but there nro ways In which ono can keop silent and yot speak. Won't w,.. ..iu. M..U..I. ...... j. wj'biini nun i you bo surprised whon your nnswer comes in a manner you hnvo novor thought of?" CHAPTER XX. Confusion. In his Interest In what wna going on on tho other Btdo of tho wall, 8woet-wntor 8woet-wntor hud forgotten hlmsolf. Day light had declined, but In tho dark-moss dark-moss of tho closot this chungo had assod unhoeded. Night Itself mlghl como, but (tint should not forco htm ta Ieavo hla post so long aa his neighbor neigh-bor remained behind Ills lockod door, brooding ovor tho words of lovo and dovotlon which had como to him, as 11 - , wero, from tho othor world. But was lm brooding? That sound of Iron clattering upon Iron I That ' smothered exclamation and tho .laugh I which ended it Angor nnd doiermln- t ntlon rang In that laugh. It had a hideous sound which prepared Sweet- f water for tho Bmell which now renched j his nostrils. Tho letters were burn- I Ing; this tlmo tho lid had been lifted f from tho stovo with unrelenting pup I Pqso. Poor Edith Chnlloner's touch- I Ing words had met a dlfferont fate F from any which she, In her Ignorance jf of this man's nature a nature to f which sho had ascrlbod untold perfe ' I tlons could poBslbly havo concolved. ' As Sweetwater thought of this, ho ' b stirred nervously In the darkness, and f broke into silent invective against tho L man who dbuld so Insult thq memory jR of ono who hnd perished undor the blight of hla own coldness and mis- I understanding. Thon ho suddenly t started back surprised and npprehon I bIvo. Brotherson hnd unlocked hla j door, and waB coming rapidly HIb way. " Swcotwater heard his stop In tho hall i- I nnd had hardly tlmo to bound from hla closot, when ho snw his own door j burst in and found himself faco to f faco with his redoubtablo neighbor, In j J a state of such rago as fow men could j moot without quailing, evon woro thoy I of hla own Btaturo, physical vigor and ( prowess; nnd Swcotwntor was a Bmall h man. ! However, disappointment such aa , '? ho had Just experienced brings with It ,j ,a desperation which ofton outdooa ( ' courage, and tho dotectlvo, Bmlllng S T"B j with nn air of gay surprise, shouted ' J out: ijk A "Well, what's tho matter now? Haa Wk B tho machine busted, or tumbled Into X Km I thoflro or sailed away to lands un- lt! ' " swjuro BJHff t or r'jint' "Bnwy "What, havo you "Rot thoro 7 Somo- Tmm thing which concerns mo, or why f -"HBV should your faco go palo at my pros- W V enco and your forehend drip with m sweat? Don't think that you've do- K celved mo for a moment a8 to your B" buslnoss hero. I recognized you lm- " mediately. You'vo played tho stranger well, but you'vo n noso nnd an eyo nobody could forgot I havo known "- nil along that I had a pollco spy for a neighbor; but It didn't fazo mo. I've .. nothing to conceal, and wouldn't mind j) a regimont of you follows If you'd only ' I ' , play a straight gamo. But whon It comes to foisting upon mo a parcel of ' ' lottors to which I havo no right, nnd then Bottlng a follow llko you to count , . my groanB or whatever elso thoy ox- "' pocted to hear, I havo a right to do- , tend myself, and dofond myself I will, t U by God! But first, lot mo bo Btiro ' jj thnt my accusations will Btand. Como Into this closot with mo. It abuts on ,.- . tho wall of my room and hns Its own " ' - secret, I know. What is it? I havo - you at an advantage now, and you shall toll." " Ho did havo Swoetwator at an ad- vantago, and tho dotectlvo know it ' and disdained a strugglo which would havo only called up a crowd, friendly to tho othor but Inimical to himself. - ' Allowing Brothorson to drag him Into tho closot, ho Btood quiescent, whllo tho dotermlnod mnn who hold him with ono hand, felt about with tho other oth-er ovor tho BholvoB and along the j . partitions till ho camo to tho holo , ,, which had offorod Buch n happy menna of communlcntlon botwoon tho two rooms. Thon, with a laugh almost aa bitter In tono aa that which rang frorq Brothorson'B lips, ho acknowledged k that business had Its necessities and I I that apologies from him wero In or- f dor; adding, as thoy both stopped out Into tho rapidly darkening room: , "Wo'vo played a bout, wo two; ana , you'vo como out ahead, Allow mo to congratulato you, Mr. Brothorson. You'vo cleared voursolf so far an I am iou vo cienrea yourself bo rar aa I am concornod. I leave thla ranch tonight" Tho frown hnd como back to tho - forehead of tho Indignant man who confronted him. "So you llstonod," ho crlod; "listened "lis-tened whon you woren't sneaking undor un-dor my oyo! A lino occupation for a ; man who enn dove-tall a corner llko nn adopt. I wish I had let you Join ' tho brotherhood you woro good onough , . ' . to mention. Thoy would know how to nppreclntq your doublo gifts and how to rewnrd your oxcollcnco In tho one, If not In tho othor. What did tho po- - ' Ilea expect to learn about me that J thoy should consider It necessary to nnll Intn nvftrplun allnli flYfrnftritlnorv call into oxorciso sucn extraordinary ( tulonts7" "I'm not good at conundrums. I wop given n task to perform, nnd I per- formed It," wnB Swootwator's sturdy reply. Then slowly, with his oyo fixed directly upon Ills antagonist, "I gui'st thoy thought you a man. And bo did I until I heard you burn those letter i Fortunately wo linyo copies," ' '( . vtt (TO HIS roNTl'.-uhOj w I |