The Lamar register., 1901-09-18
CHAPTER VII, continued

You wrote me from Paris, you remem-
Der, stating the probable time of your
arrival home. And, although 1 have
been here only six months, l have got
to know, by sight at least, every one
about this place. Therefore l knew
you were n stranger, that Mr.. Conway
was about due, and-well. there you
have 1t. Have you just arrivedf'
"I came yesterday noon."
"Indeed. And where are you stop
ping?"
"Over at the old house, Of course.
Where else should have gomez"
"Oh, I 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 things3"
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," 1 replied.
81 have tried to follow out the plans
of my predecessor as far as possible.
You think you will enjoy yourself in
Nelsonville?" he asked. flashing an in
quiring glance at me.
"Oh, yes. hope TO have absolute
| rest and peace, at any rate" replied,
somewhat hesitatingly, for my sojourn
Mt the old house had certainly not be-
gun restfully. 1 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 we'll. Iwapt to
ask you. before forget it, why did you
have the cellar off of the old store
room walled up?"
face, and, as he did not seem to COM
prehend my question, went on more
explicitly:
There were two doorways, one lead.
ing to the storeroom and the other
leading to the outside. Both these door
ways have been built up with solit
masonry to correspond with the founda
tion walls. simply ask out Of curios
ity what your reasons were for having
1t done-not that have any objection
My question was simple enough
one. Mr.. Sonntag seemed to think II
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-
tion to me to occupy" he finally said.
ayes, and there used to be two doors
to-"
''And they have been built upf' he
broke in.
Eyes. Do you not know about it7"
asked, in surprise.
"No." he replied, shortly.
''Then you did not have It donef
Certainly not. 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. I even went into that
cellar. 1t was damp, musty hole, and
intended to call your attention to II
and ask what you wished done about 1t. "
swell, that's strange! Who could
have done i'll" exclaimed, thoroughly
perplexel. "How did you get into the
storeroom7 had to kick open the door y
"Oh, I had a key to the outside door,
and got in that way. H'ml tits. as you
say, very strange, indeed. But resume
your seat, Mr.. Conway"
Again the thought occurred 70 me
that had met Mr.. Sonntag. or at least
seen him, somewhere before.
ibid l ever meet your asked, voao
ing my thought.
He glanced quickly at me, and ther
smiled as he said: Look like some on
you know, do 1? One often mests peo
pie who put them in mind of some ont
else. Now, regarding this cellar AFFAIR
Is there anyone you know who IL IN
terested in your property7" he asked
in brisk, business-like manner.
mo one," replied. IT am the las
OF my race-a lonely man, and on
who is sick at heart. was about y
add"
Mr.. Sonntag's face became serious
and thought there was touch Of pit,
on it.
"Cheer up, Mr.. Conway. The table
will turn some day, and you will for
get the time of trouble and desponden
cy," the old lawyer said, cheerily an'
hopefully; perhaps sooner than yo'
have any idea of. Now, them" he con
tinued, returning to his brisk, business
like manner, "some one has walled vi
those doorways. Who was 1t, and TO
what purpose7 Fit was done with tn
idea of hiding-place. what was tn
thing to be hidden? Something whicl
was never again to be reproduced, svi
IDENTIFY, or the room would not hav
been wholly sealed. Perhaps there wa
a secret entrance provided. But then
why should your property have bee,
selected? Were you alone when tn
discovery was nader"
mo, sir. A woman who used to &C
as nurse girl when was young on