Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-16
CHAPTER XIII
Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED.

CHAPTER XIII.
Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED.
It was another day before the search
could be begun for the calcined bones Of
the supposedly consumed owner OF the
Roost" 1t was three days or more before
the searchers came to the conclusion that
no human being lost life within those blaz-
ing walls Cart Hazlett had earlier ex-
pressed his doubts land the journalist his
opinions, on that head. The Schwartzkopfs,
male and female, declared that Stetson had
appeared there early the previous evening
just after dark. just before the wind arose;
found 1t dangerous to attempt to 80 back,
and SO determined to spend the night at
1.-THE Roost" one room In which was always
ready for him. Nevertheless, they had their
Instructions to admit nobody, and to deny
at any time his presence. They had retired
as early as 8 o'clock. leaving him smoking
and reading In the bar. A friend OF his
sick gentleman, they said, occupied the ad-
Joining room. He had been there four or
five days already. There had been another
gentleman-a big, elderly gentleman like
Herr Stetson-some days earlier, but he had
gone. oh, several days already. and this
gentleman he had something wrong with
his leg and could not walk and was all the
time in bed-he was all that was left. ex-
cept themselves-and of this man they
could tell next to nothing except that they
eat three times day, and sometimes he
would not eat it, and the doctor had been
out to see him. No, they knew not the doc
tors name. They would not believe Herr
Stetson had gone. despite their contrary as
sertions to the visitors, until the fact was
thoroughly established that not only Stet-
sons dinghy. but Traeumer's boat. had
either slipped the mOorings or been spirited
away The dinghy, bottom up was washed
ashore at the east end Of the lake by dawn
of the first day to break after the fire, and
Traeumer's boat was encountered empty,
tossing on the troubled waters hundred
yards from shore, by barge load of daring
young fellows pulling out to the scene of
the fire, perhaps twenty minutes after the
alarm
Then search was made at Stetson's home,
and he was rot there, and the domestics
declared he had not been there. Then GER
tain correspondents drove out to the farm
of the friend twelve miles in the country,
and found that young Stetson, supposed to
be there, had left the evening of the fire;
had driven cross country six miles to a
railway station, where he had bought
ticket and taken a train for Chicago. Then
the Chicago Journalist, his hands and face
still swathed in bandages, was seen by
Captain Hazlett and a fellow newspaper
man. and told them something of his Views.
Then young fellow but little known in
the neighborhood because he had been sew
eral years away, either at sea or in the
army. came into the hospital and asked to
be allowed to see the broken-legged semi
scorched and somewhat scratched and mutt
lated patient brought thither for treatment
after the fire. too craZed with pain, terror
and fever even to give his name. Thinking
to get information, the doctors admitted
this caller, who looked and was apparently
satisfied with glance, but declared he did
not recognize the man. and declared 1t with
such mendacity of mien that the doctors
believed he did. That night, late, Miss
Hoyt, boarding now at Jones' near the
Jamiesons got queer note that brought
w oV1n 70 10 ~
the following day. 1t said in so many
words: There's been foul play at the
Island. Your help came too late. He didn't
get away In time. Go and look at the man
brought to the hospital from Stetson's
ROost."
All they could see was a bandaged head
and form. The hair was singed off, said
the attendant, but Miss Hoyt took one
restless, twitching hand, glanced at it just
one moment, and bathed 1t with her tears
Then she knelt and whispered in the suf-
ferer's unheeding ear. and then the carriage
took them to the telegraph Office whence
Hoyt, esq, care Brevoort House, New
York, also to Captain Hazlett, recruiting
office Clark street, Chicago, and that night
tho former, despite the infrmities of years.
was on his way; that night the latter was
again on the spot.
Three days later a conference took place
at Groveton. 1t followed close upon a
scene at the hospital. An elderly gentle
X, j
company with Miss Hoyt and was taken
to the bedside of the still unconscious suf-
ferer. who seemed burning away in fever
and delirium. There the elder bowed his
head and knelt in wordless sorrow. There
father and daughter spent some twenty
minutes, sometimes mutely watching the
restless tossing of the patient, sometimes
murmuring words Of hope and comfort to
each other, for even Mrs. Hazlett would
not now intrude upon their grief The house
physician came at the call of an attendant,
and to him, in taking leave, the old man
spoke briefly: II have rescued but little"
said he. from the wreck Of what was once
a large fortune, but have enough and to
spare. and ] beg you to command me II
money can save this poor boy. l beg you
to spare no expense for anything that may
restore him. We shall be here now-to the
end, whatever 1t may be-
More than this the gentleman did not say,
as. leaning on his daughters arm, they
took their way into the wintry sunshine.
Miss Hoyt had moved to still other quar-
tiers at Groveton's one hotel deserving of
the name, and this move was made only
at the fathers urgent plea.
A few hours after their visit Captain Haz-
lett in company with the sheriff and a
member of the local police force, appeared
and was shown to the same bedside His
visit had been expected and arranged for.
Some of the face bandages had been re-
moved, and Hazlett bent and examined the
pinched and still discolored features then
rose and nodded aff1rmativeiy as he glanced
at the sheriff
You recognize him, them" asked the lat
ter In low tone.
Eyes. l knew him as a private trooper in
the cavalry in Arizona. He was serving
there under the name of Hayden"
After which-he-deserted?' asked the
official.
After which he was reported a deserter.'.
The conference referred to came later
STILL The confinement was telling seriously
on the health OF Captain Fame. Bail had
been rendered by Captain Hazlett, REIN
forced by others, and in any reasonable
amount. and bail had been refused. Grove
ton had had no such distinction In the way
of crime in all its previous history, and
Groveton could not let Its captive go.
Something, therefore, had to be done, and
certain officers of the law were called into
conference with certain local lights of the
law to listen to new phase of the case,
and. before this counsel, yelled and sor-
rowing. yet calm and self-possessed. her
aged father by her side. appeared Ethel
Hoyt. All that passed was known, until
long after only to those few. and these
kept their own counsel. and her confidence.
On the morrow, It was decided, Miss Hoyt
should be heard by the district attorney.
and by an eminent Jurist long a friend of
Colonel West. With bowed head, weeping,
and escorted by silent. sympathetic officials.
no shown To the waiting "a ria her