The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-11-13

walls, q wooden spittoon filed with
sawdust on the floor. a rusty stove,
from which the discolorations Of the
fires of the last winter had not been
removed, standing in one corner, and,
lastly, the desk before which was seat
ed my agent and lawyer.
I thought the old fellow. judging
from his back, was in complete har-
mony with his surroundings; but I
soon found had misjudged the man.
For when he finally arose, turned to-
ward me and favored me with search
ing glance from a pair of the keenest
steel-blue eyes had ever seen, it was
very evident Mr.. Sonntag was not as
rusty as his surroundings.
There was something familiar to me
about him. Had / met him before?
could not remember.
Arising, / was about to make myself
known, but before l could utter word
he stepped brisltly up to me and with
smile extended his hand.
II am glad to see you," he began.
"Of course you are my client, Mr.. Mel
son Conway"
"Yes, that is my NAME" I 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-
her, stating the probable time of your
arrival home. And, although l have
been here only six months, have got
to know, by sight at least, every one
about this place. Therefore l knew
you were stranger, that Mr.. Conway
was about due, and-well, there you
have it. Have you just arrived?"
81 came yesterday noon"
Indeed. And where are you stop
ping?"
"Over at the old house, of course.
Where else should have gomez"
"Oh, supposed you would have put
up at the hotel here in Twineburgh
until we could get things in little
better shape for you at the homestead
How did you find things?"
Considering that the house has been
vacant SO many years, was very agree
ably surprised to note the good state
of repair it is in," replied.
81 have tried to follow out the plans
of my predecessor as far as possible
You think you will enjoy yourself in
jacksonville? he asked, flashing an in
curing glance at me.
"Oh, yes. hope to have absolute
rest and peace, at any rate" replied
somewhat hesitatingly, for my sojourll
at the old house had certainly not be-
gun restfully. had slept but little the
night before.
Nothing about the arrangements
have made for your comfort to prevent
it, is there?" he asked.
mo. You have done well. want to
ask you, before forget it, why did you
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. went on more
explicitly:
There ware two doo<ways, one lead.
ing to the storeroom and the other
leading to the outside. Both these door
ways have been built up with solid
masonry to correspondence the founda'
ton walls. I simply ask out of curios
ity what your reasons were for having
it done-not that have any objection
Ny question was simple enough
one. Mr.. Sonntag seemed to think il
necessary to ponder over 1t, 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.
"Yes, and there used to be two doors
| to"
sand they have been built up?" he
broke in.
"Yes. Do you not know about it?"
asked, in surprise.
mo-" he replied, shortly.
"Then you did not have It done?"
Certainly not. 1 had nothing to do
with it. Know nothing about IT," he
answered. decidedly. IF they are
built up, it has been done within six
weeks. For when received your letter
announcing your intention to occupy
the house for time, I went all through
the place, and those doorways were not
built up then. even went into that
cellar. It was damp, musty hole, and
I intended to call your attention to II
and ask what you wished done about 1t"
well, that's strange! Who could
have done i'll" I exclaimed. thoroughly
perplexed. "How did you get into the
storeroom had to kick open the door
"Oh, I had key to the outside door
and got in that way. HIN! It's, as you
say, very strange. indeed. But resume
your seat, Mr.. Conway"
Again the thought occurred to me
that I had met Mr.. Sonntag, or at least
seen him, somewhere before.
Ibid ever meet you?" l asked. voic.
ing 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-like manner.
mo one," I replied. II am the last
of nv race-a lonely man and opp