Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-03-07
CHAPTER VII.

INC pIOOeOluty JnaS naQ r1v6l In
the field, and one who had n free road
while was handicapped by the suspi-
cion OF crime. filed me with despera-
ton
Had j only follo~ed my nrst I'm
pulse, and not allowed q whole year to
intervene without making an attempt
10 clear myself If you want anything
OF consequence done, do IL yourself,
was q maxim 1 had always believed in,
and as far as possible followed out.
But In this one most important In
stance, where the circumstances affect
ed my whole life and promised to annul
I'll possibility Of future happiness, I
had held aloof with a supineness for
which I could not now condemn myself
strongly enough.
i knew the bank officials had used
every effort to recover their property.
I knew the shrewdest detectives had
been put ON the case. Notwithstanding
this, nothing had been discovered
How could j, then, hope to succeed
Where could L begir? There was not
the least slgnof clew TO work on.
I soon drove into Twineburgh, and
had no trouble In locating Mr.. Sonn-
tags offioe.
An undersized old fellow with brist-
ling gray hair was seated at desk,
his back toward the door. He took
NO NOTICE of me. and, after standing
for n few minutes gazing at the back
OF his head. made known my presence.
II wish to speak TO Mr.. Sonntag,"
said.
Take q chair; be at leisure in a
moment" came the answer, In quick,
jerky tones. He did not even turn his
head, but want on with his work.
snt down and looked around. II
was q typical small-town lawyers Of
fee I was IN. There were a few law
books In q ANAL, rickety bookcase on
one side OF the room, a few rough
wooden chairs, warranted to cause q
bsckache only to look at them, q few
old maps and calendars. most of the
latter Of former years. hanging on the
walls, wooden spittoon flled with
sawdust on the floor, q rusty stove,
from which the discolorations Of the
Ares Of the last winter had not been
removed. standing I'm one corner, and,
lastly, the desk before which was seat
cd my agent and lawyer.
thought the old fellow, tudSing
from his back, was ia comr.ete hsr-
mony with his surroundings; bat I
soon found l had misjudged the man
For when he finally arose, turned to-
ward me and favored me with a search
Ing glance from pair of the keenest
steel-blue eyes 1 had ever seen, 1t was
very evident Mr.. Sonntag was not ax
rusty as his surroundings.
There was something familiar to me
about him. Had / met him before :?
could not remember.
Arising, i was about to make myself
known, but before could utter a word
he stepped brislHly up to me and with
smile extended his hand.
II am glad to see YOU" he began.
"Of course you are my client, Mr.. Nell
son Conway"
Eyes, that is my name," 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 1t at all.
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, have got
TO know, by sight at least, every one
about this place. Therefore / knew
you were stranger, that Mr. Conway
was about due, and-wen, there you
have 1t. Have you just arrived?"
Il 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 Twineuurgh
until we could get things in a little
better shape for you at the homestead
How did you find things?"
Considering that the house has been
vacant so many years, 1 was very agree
ably surprised to note the good state
OF repair it is in" replied.
al 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.