The Princeton union., 1900-07-12

the Office and sinking down, painting
for breath. IF ever get my hand of
him, I'll wiring his neck!"
Sonntag closed the door and then
turned toward me. 'What have you
against him 2" he asked.
recounted the shooting incident,
to which Sonntag listened with whim- !
sical expression. =
HIN! And he shot at you when you
called him Skinner, eh?' he remarked,
when I had finished. "Must be some
thing in his former life; but then-well,
it's strange. certainly. Why, I 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" I continued, earnestly, "do you
suppose he is in any way concerned in
the cellar AFFAIR.""
"Who, Skinner? Good gracious, no!
that is, can't say, but think not" ~
"What were you talking to him
about?" 1 asked, eying the old fellow
with some impatience, for the more
derstand him.
"Oh, about matter of freight" my
agent replied, indifferently.
"It was trivial, then?"
eyes, yes. of no importance what
ever"
''Mr. Sonntag, it is from no wish to
know the subject of your conversation
with that wretch of a Skinner that l
ask the question. But I happened to
see you just before entered the Office,
and am trife curious to know if you
usually speak as earnestly on unimpor-
tant topics asyou evidently did to him."
The lawyer regarded me a moment.
He seemd to be debating some question
in his mind.
"Was 1 earnest?" he finally inquired.
"Everything about me seems to be
mysterious!" exclaimed, piqued to
i1npatience at his wholly lodging my
question. There's one mystery that
will be cleared up soon, however," l
| duueu, uecluculy.
Eyes? And that is
''The cellar mystery"
Sonntag again cautioned NE against
being too precipitate.
''Then give me some good reason for
your caution!" exclaimed. Its get
ting monotonous following peoples ad-
vice without having a reason for so
| I@ 1.
a notion to get out of the place. Ever
since my arrival, petty trivial circum-
stances have harassed me and kept
me in an irritable mood"
"Well, maybe it would be best for
you to visit some of your friends in
town. Sonntag said, refectively, "if
only for few days.
mo, sir. have no friends, and your
seeming desire to have me away makes
me the more determined to stay. But
a course Of supineness is done with.
Now I'll take the reins, and see WHAT'S
to be made out of the driving.''
"Just as you please about that, of
course, Mr.. Conway. But do beg of
you, and it is for your own interests l
| SHSohA, oNASAy IA1S oSISh1 t)U ~ CACOl I1C
cellar until Tomorrow"
"Why?" I curtly asked.
you'll know in the morning." my
lawyer replied, with smile.
Il may be dead by that time," Ire
piled. certainly if must be the tar
get for every assassin's bullet, my
coffin might as well be ordered now"
Saying which, I took my own pistol
from my pocket. "You see that? Well,
it means that after this I'll be as handy
with pistol as others are
Mr.. Sonntag eyed me rather sus-
piciously, as though not at all certain
but that I would level the weapon at
him.
'"Those things are dangerous, Mr..
Conway, and are liable to go off without
warming" he remarked, dryly, after l
had returned the pistol to my pocket.
Eyes, know that. And if there
should be occasion for it to go off in my
hand, you may be sure it will be for
the purpose of hitting something. I
believe my peace is threatened, if not
my life. How do know but what that
cellar under my room has been used,
maybe is being used, for some criminal
purpose? If that is true, my arrival
in Nelsonvillc and taking up my abode
right in the midst of hidden crime
would naturally prevent any contin-
uance of operations, and endanger the
secret. l believe that attempts are
being made to cause me to leave; if
mysterious demonstrations cannot ac-
complish it by frightening me, then
the purpose is to remove me by DEATH"
"There may be something in what
you say" Sonntag remarked, after
moments thought. But promise me
you will not attempt to shoot the sta
ton agent" he added, with deep ear
nestness.
"What? Make no defense against
his cowardly attacl>s?" 1 exclaimed, in
amazement at my lawyers request.
"He will not repeat it, you may be
sure. At least promise to defer re-
| taliation until Tomorrow
"And get shot in the meantime!":
mo, I said it wOnld not hapnen