The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-05-14

mot doubt of it; and there is no
reason to suppose that the conspira-
tors will quietly allow this paper to
remain out of their possession. They
will do some dark scheming to get
hold of it. | think, therefore, that
we had better take copy of it,
The lawyer got from his desk a
piece Of paper, old and somewhat
soile6, which could very easily be
taken for the paper on which the !,
original agreement had been written,
and then he instructed Warde to
make copy just as much like 1T as
deft penmanship could contrive. Irv-
ing was expert enough to make one
that could hardly have been told from
its prototype. This was held before
the fire so as to dry the ink and
draw out its blackness. 1t was then
folded and backed with the words,
John t. Wright's Copy Of the Agree
ment," Just as the original had been.
Hardly had this task been accom-
! plished when the door bell rang and
soon afterward the servant an
nounced that Col Franklin desired
an audience with Mr.. Everett. The
| lawyer saw that it would arouse
Franklins suspicious If he declined
an interview, and he was not averse
! to a contest of wits with that astute
individual At first he was puzzled
to know what to do With Irving IL
would not do for him to go out in
the hall and risk being seen by the
colonel.
The left side of Mr. Everett's IL
brary was covered with book shelves,
but one of the cases was revolving
door and bookcase combined.
slight push turned it sideways and
permitted entrance to the next apart
ment which was a sort of lounglng
room for the lawyer. There were
great MANY easy chairs therein,
lounge. and all the facilities for the
dreamy recreation of reading When
the lawyer wanted to work he occu-
pied the library; when he wanted to
read he sought the luxurious chair in
the lounging room.
1t was the work of moment TO
throw back this door, which had been
contrived purely as convenience,
and not for the purposes of weird
romance, and thrust Irving into the
next room.
A moment afterward Col. Franklin
and Mr. Everett confronted each
other like two intellectual gladiators
in the library. The latter was cool
keen and collected He had his wits
well in hand and his emotions firmly
in check.
There was glitter in Franklin'i
dark eyes, and suppressed excite
ment in his manner which placed hin
at disadvantage, though he was no
: aware of it.
Franklin had an intense personal
itv. He was full of the magnetism
that repels. Even men of the stead
, lest nerves and most phlegmatic ten
; perament were surprised to fin
u themselves trembling in his presence
: not from fear, but simply from tn
= disturbing atmosphere that SCENE
3 to surround the man. The persona
= ity of some men is pacifying an
= soothing, while that of others is irr
( tating and discordant. Franklin
I. dominating nature came in the la
~ ter category Everett was aware {
n this quality in his antagonist and b
"a at once forced himself TO become fl
!, miliar with it, in much the same wa
II, that the bather inures himself to I'll
~ cold water by placing first an arr
~ then leg and gradually the who
body into it. The chill, once a
90 cusuomed to, is virtually worn o.
- In few minutes Everett had tho
~ oughly neutralized the mesmer
~ quality radiating from Franklin, al
"a the two men were now on even term
~ But Everett was hardly prepared Il
80 the reckless audacity of the ma
90 who, without any concealment, we
nd straight to the object of his bu'
all ness.
80 81 presume said Franklin in /
90 most overawing manner, that y
To are perfectly aware of the object
nv my visit?"
"a Mr.. Everett came very near bel
he thrown off his guard, but he rec'
or cred in second and replied inditf'
re- emily: mot being mind read
No colonel, 1 should not undertake
"a say what the object of your vi
ror was. Be kind enough to explain yo1
20 self"
n II came after that paper"
I'd Mr.. Everett did not display
20 slightest emotion of surprise, G
;ch barrassment or Indignation, but thu
I'D was a cold defiance in his blue
;nt and metallic hardness in his vo
ter as he replied: "Col. Franklin, J
the will have to adopt some other metf
Nv if you wish to transact any busin
inc with me. have never allowed
d;s' man to take that tone with me
arc shall make no exception in y
18th case"
tha Franklin laughed a nervous,
no--oan llo lauoh and then snln: