Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-01

stone /, of course, cannot soy, but evil
IDENTIFY not around here. 1t is my be-
lief the stones in the two doorways
were taken from the old tumble-down
schoolhouse."
"And supposing your surmise is
correct one, does it furnish you with a
clew to the person or persons who did
the job?" I asked.
Perhaps" he replied, shortly.
AS he raised his head to answer, rec
objection flashed upon me. "Ah!" I
exclaimed. II have been cudgeling my
brain in the endeavor to remember
where 1 had seen you before"
He quickly turned toward me with q
half-smile on his face. but offered no
reply.
II have seen you in Philadelphia"
continued.
Possibly. used to live there before
coming to Twincburgh," he remarked,
indifferently.
you have been in Twineburgh but
six months" went on.
"Yes."
Sand I saw you for the first time
about q year ago. 1 almost knocked
you over as was coming out Of the
presidents office in the Safety security
bank. You were just going in, and
ran into YOU"
"Ah, possibly. have had business
dealings with that concern" the old
lawyer replied.
~
dent?" !"
eyes, slightly"
linen why did you ask me ut the
time if was the president :" asked.
Sonntag gave twitch of the shoul-
der, and his shrewd sharp eyes
twinkled.
"Did ask you that 2" he queried.
do you not remember?"
"Can't say that do" he replied.
"It seems strange you should leave
the city to engage in the practice of
law in q small town like Twineburgh,"
I said, musingly.
"Why stranger" was his curt ques-
ton.
"Oh, well, you are quite advanced in
years, and, with your long experience,
ought to have commanded larger and
more lucrative practice in large place
like Philadelphia than in a small coun-
try town."
He did not reply for few moments,
but stood with whimsical look on his
face with his eyes turned toward the
floor.
IT became tired of city life" he finally
said. "Ihave no family depending upon
me, and so am at liberty to follow out
any whim which happens to take pos
session of Inc. There is enough business
here to enable u single man to live well,
besides allowing him more leisure. 1
was looking for such business, and
and found it in Twineburgh."
"Well, you certainly are an odd fell
low, if you will excuse me for saying
So" remarked, with laugh.
eyes, am rather odd"
When we reentered my bedroom,
sonntag's quick eye caught sight of the
tools under my bed.
sGoing to cut through the floor?" he
asked.
'1That is what intended to do. I'm
going to know what is down there" ]
replied, decidedly.
Then told him about the noises /
had heard which had seemed to come
from beneath, the slamming of the
door, and the pistol shot. 1 also told
of the voices had heard both in the
attic and in my room, and all had OBJ
served regarding them.
The old lawyer listened intently, and
when had finished walked to the win
dow.
..Do you suppose that the sound of the
voices could in some way have come
from the telephone wire?" I finally
asked.
"Not being an electrical expert, I can
not say" Sonntag answered, turning
from the window.
"It seems impossible the voices could
be heard without the aid of receiver"
remarked.
Perhaps there is receiver both in
your room and upstairs-not like the
ones we are accustomed to, of course
but one formed by nature. Certainly
there are possibilities in electric force
which we have not yet discovered. You
say the sounds occurred only when a
wind was blowing which caused the
wire to swing against the lightning
rod?"
"That was surmise, for have had NO
opportunity to watch when the wind
blew. But it seemed the most natural
explanation of the rappings."
"And you had no way of ascertaining
whether the sounds in your room here
and in the attic We're produced by the
same voice and at the same time, OF
whether there were two voices indie.
pendent of each other?"
"Why, you know it was impossible for
me to be in the attic and in my room
too," I answered.
Perhaps we may be given an oppor.
tunity to find out something about the
voices" Sonntag said, with gesture to-
ward the window.
"How do you mean?" asked.
''There is thunderstorm coming up
1t will undoubtedly be preceded by a
wind" the old lawyer said.
eyes, yes! How fortunate it is that
you are here!" exclaimed, excitedly
for / comprehended his meaning
'sNow you remain here, and will go up
to the attic" went on. each Of us
must note the exact time the sound is
heard. We had better compare watches
so that there shall be no difference in
each ones estimate of the time"
Ipulled out my watch and approached
Sonntag. His hand went up to his vest
pocket and he was about to follow my
example, when upon our hearing came