Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-12

thanking the doctor, walked up to the
door, sonntag was walking back and
forth with his hands behind him ear.
nestly conversing with some one in.
side. There was also rear door to the
lawyers office. A man was standing
near this door, and when entered the
office he quickly stepped out; not SO
quickly, however, but that / caught a
glimpse of his face. 1t was Hunter. OF
Skinner, as you please.
The thought of the treachery he had
been guilty of toward her in whose pay
he was came to me and inflamed me
with sudden and uncomfortable anger.
Uttering an expletive, under the spur
OF strong impulse, made spring fol
him. Out through the door followed
lin. and down through the yard. He
had too much the start, however, and
was over a high board fence at the hot
tom of the yard before could come up
to him.
retraced my steps to the lawyers
Office. The old fellow was standing in
the door and seemed to have been high
ly diverted by witnessing the chase,
judging by his face.
1.-THE rascal! the villain!" I ex-
claimed, pushing past the lawyer into
the office and sinking down, painting
for breath. "If ever l get my hand on
him, I'll wiring his neck!"
Sonntag closed the door and then
turned toward me. what have you
against him." he asked.
recounted the shooting incident.
to which Sonntag listened with whim-
steal expression.
Him! And he shot at you when you
called him Skinner, eh?" he remarked,
when had finished. "Must be some.
thing in his former life; but then-well,
it's strange, certainly. Why, l always
address him as Skinner, and he never
attempted to shoot me; indeed, he
never seemed to notice."
"Then it is evident his ATTEMPT to
shoot me was not for my calling him
by his right name. See here, Mr.. Sonn-
tag" continued, earnestly, ''do you
suppose he is in any way concerned in
the cellar AFFAIR.""
"Who, Skinner9 Good gracious, no!
that is, can't say, but think not"
what were you talking to him
about?" asked, eying the old fellow
with some impatience, for the more I
oanyersed with him the less could un.
derstand him.
"Oh, about matter of freight" my
agent replied, inditferently.
1t was trivial, them"
YES, yes, of no Importance what
ever"
"Alr. Sonntag. it is from no wish to
know the subject of your conversation
with that wretch of Skinner that i
ask the question. But happened ia
see you just before entered the office,
and am trifle curious to know if you
usually speak as earnestly on unimpor-
tant topics as you evidently did to him."
The lawyer regarded me moment.
He seemd to be debating some question
in his mind.
"Was l earnest?" he finally inquired.
Everything about me seems to be
mysterious" exclaimed, piqued to
Impotence at his wholly lodging my
question. There's one mystery that
will be cleared up soon, however," l
added, decidedly.
Eyes? And that is"
"The cellar mystery"
sonntag again cautioned me against
being too precipitate.
"Then give me some good reason for
your caution!" exclaimed. Its get
ting monotonous following peoples adj
vice without having a reason for so
doing. I'll do SO no more. have half
notion to get out of the place. Ever
since my arrival, petty trivial circum-
stances have harassed me and kept
me in IN irritable mood"
well, maybe it would be best for
you to visit some of your friends in
town." Sonntag said, refectively, eff
only for few days"
'.No, sir. have no friends, and your
seeming desire to have me away makes
me the more determined to stay. But
q course of supineness is done with.
Now I'll take the reins, and see what1s
to be made out Of the driving"