Daily camera., 1897-08-25

ARISING, was ABOUT 10 make HySel1
known, but before could utter wor(
he stepped bristly up to me and witt
/ smile extended his hand
81 am glad to see you," he began
"Of course you are my client, Mr.. Mel
son Conway?'
Eyes, that is my name | answered
somewhat surprised But as you have
probably never seen me before, al
though your face does seem familiar
| should like to ask how you knew"
Nothing remarkable about it at all
You wrote me from Paris, you remem
Eer, stating the probable time of youl
arrival home. And, although | have
been here only six months, | have got
to know, by sight at least, every one
about this place Therefore | knew
you were q stranger, that Mr.. Conway
was about due, and-well, there yol
have it. Have you just arrived"
II came yesterday noon"
Indeed. And where are you stop,
ping?"
"Over at the old house of course
Where else should have gcne?"
"Oh, l supposed you would have put
up at the hotel here in Twineburgl
until we could get things in little
better shape for you at the homestead
How did you find things?'
"Considering that the house has beer
vacant 50 many years, was very agree
ably surprised to note the good state
of repair it is in," | replied.
Il have tried to follow out the plans
of my predecessor as far as possible
You think you will enjoy yourself il
Nelsonville?" he asked, flashing an in
curing glance at me.
"Oh, yes. I hope to have absolut
rest and peace, at any rate replied
somewhat hesitatingly, for my sojourl
at the old house had certainly not be
gun restfully. l had slept but little thc
night before.
Nothing about the arrangements
have made for your comfort to preven
it, is there?" he asked
"No. You have done well. want tt
ask you, before forget it, why did yo,
have the cellar off of the old store,
room walled up?"
A look of perplexity came over his
face, and, as he did not seem to com
prehend my question, I went on more
explicitly:
ing to the storeroom and the other
leading to the outside. Both these door
ways have been built up with solid
masonry to correspond with the founda-
ton walls. l simply ask out of curios,
ity what your reasons were for having
it done-not that l have any objection.
Ny question was a simple enough
one. Mr. Sonntag seemed to think it
necessary to ponder over it, however.
"Let me see. The cellar you have
reference to is directly under the room
you proposed in your letter of instruc-
ton to me to occupy" he finally said.
eyes, and there used to be two doors
to-
"And they have been built up?" he
broke in.
Eyes Do you not know about it?'
asked in surprise.
"No" he replied. shortly.
"Ther you did not have it done"'
Certainly not. | had nothing to d.;
with it. Know nothing about it," he
answered, decidedly. "1f they are
built up, it has been done within SIX
weeks. For when I received your letter
announcing your intention to occupy
the house for time, went all through
the place, and those doorways were not
built up then. I even went into thai
cellar. 1t was damp. musty hole. alt
intended to call your attention to il
and ask what wished done about it.
'Well, that's strange! Who could
have done it, I exclaimed, thorough
perplexed. "How did you ge' ir'" ths
store com? had TO kick open the door
"Oh, I had key to the outside door
and got in that way. HIN! Itis, as you
say, very strange, indeed. But resume
your seat, Mr.. Conway"
Again the thought occurred to me
that l had met Mr.. Sonntag, or at least
seen him, somewhere before.
did l ever meet you?" l asked, voic'
ng my thought.
He glanced quickly at me, and then
smiled as he said: Look like some one
YOU know, do L? One often meets peo
pie who put them in mind OF some one
Else. Now, regarding this cellar affair
Is there anyone you know who is in
terested in your property| he asked
in brisk, business-ike manner.
mo one," replied. II am the las
of my race-a lonely man, and ont
who is sick at heart, 1 was about t
add"
Mr.. Sonntag's face became serious
and 1 thought there was touch of pit.
on it.
Cheer up, Mr.. Conway. The tables
-ill turn some day, and you will for
! get the time of trouble and desponden
~" the old lawyer said. cheerily ant
! hopefully; perhaps sooner than yo'
have any idea of. Now, then" he con
'tinued, returning to his brisk, business