Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-05-30

proper channels, but the successful
villain is necessarily an intellectual
being. In his room Holbin gradually
evolved from his discoveries the CON
clusion that he had an active enemy
near at hand, and that a plot was
thckening about him. Yet who was
there in Richmond that knew enough
of his history to place a finger upon
the blackest spot in his life? And
why the enmity? Two theories pre-
sented themselves, and only two
love for Frances Brookin and love for
the Brookin wealth. Since it was
clear that the girl had been too long
secluded, and too recently grown to
have formed many friendships in Rich
mond, evidently the money was the
potent influence in the secret opera
tions about him. But who had been
shot, and why?
Holbin labored under the immense
disadvantage of a man without init
mate friends. He had gravitated rap
idly during his short stay in the city
towards the fast set; men classed
him quickly as sporty" and women
looked on him with doubt. People
who had at heart the interests of the
latter looked even more coldly upon
the debonair man of the world. The
| fact that he was the son of Mrs. John
| Brookin was a disadvantage, for So
cety had never been enamoured of the
successor to the gentle little lady who
once presided over the Brookin man
sion. Intimates he had, but friends,
none. In his perpleXity over the mys-
| terry into which he had been plunged
| Holbin turned at length to DIR. Brod-
mar. He had seen the doctor upon
rare occasions only, and in some way
he had understood that he was not
favorably regarded by Mrs. Brookin 4;
but the basis of this lady's dislikes
was, as he knew, not legitimate. DIR.
Brodnar, in succeeding to his fathers
practice some years before, had in a
way inherited old Mr. Brookin, and
that individual had firmly resisted his
new wife's efforts to substitute her
own physician for him. The doctor
was distant relative of the dead
wife. one of the few links which
bound the old man to a happy past;
and as people grow old they dislike
new family physicians.
No one is quicker to recognize a
straig ghtforward, honest man than
one who is himself dishonest and
tricky. Holbin estimated Brodnar as
a clear-headed, blunt, impoltic fell
low, beyond the comprehension OF
| nlntS and arn1nt n he
used if his confidence could be gained
He was, most likely, in a position to
serve him; for it was Raymond's con-
clusion that the shortest way to ar
rive at the truth of the shooting lay
in the discovery of the wounded man
And if the victim were not actually
Brodnars patient, Brodnar might cas-
lily identify him. 1t was a tribute to
Richmond's popular physician that
Holbin decided at once that the best
chance for success lay in seeming
ly frank and open statement of the
main facts. The doubtful point was
Louise. Brodnar had been present
at the reading of the will when the
question concerning her was asked
but, he concluded, over hastily
Brodnar could hardly know anything
about her beyond the name that haG
been uttered. He determined, with 6
gamblers quick decision, to play the
stake, supposing that if he did not
win his loss would be small.
He entered the doctors Office upor
the afternoon of the funeral an6
presently the door between the inner
and outer offices opened. Brodnal
stood upon the threshold looking al
him. At once Holbin remarked a sin
gular expression in the physician''
face. Afterwards he recalled thai