Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-09

II think he might rise possibly to
f15.OoO, Mr. Greatorex, II you Will al
low me to communicate with my ell
emit" he said softly. But my client Is
n poor man, and it Is rutnous price
"Then why ruin your client, my dear
sir?" said I.
Mr.. Barnett laughed pleasantly, as II
at my little joke, but, becoming serious
again, shook his head.
"a stiff price, but think l can man
age it, he said.
Il have little doubt that you can
manage anything" said, bowling.
"You agree?" he asked.
at is not necessary" said /, "since
you seem to have agreed for me-"
ut is monstrousr' he said gloomily.
"But my client has set his heart on 1T.
You shall have your 100000, Mr.. Great
oreX"
He sighed resignedly and, having Sc
iected a document in his pocketbook,
proceeded to unfold 1t and smooth 1t
upon the table. All the spirit was out
of him. He had been worsted and
owed me grudge. could perceive.
"If you have a pen, Mr.. Greatorex,
he said sullenly, II will fill In the fig
ures. have the agreement here"
Pardon me-" said l.
He looked up and, meeting my gaze,
offered an explanation against my pro-
test. There's no time like the pres
ent"
''You misunderstood me, sir" / said
cheerfully. ~ have no intention of
selling the CASTLE"
He leaped to his feet. "What" he
yelled, and his sallow face spread with
color. you said f2O,OOO!'
Excuse me; no." said. "Your eli
ent, Mr.. Barnett, did me the honor to
suppose should be willing to sell, and
l was polite enough to suppose SO with
him.
There was never man In SO afro
cious a temper Us my little attorney.
His color went, and he grew liviG
yellow with passion, and, being now
no longer at the necessity Of civility.
he broke into covert invective, pre-
senting to me surly demeanor. ig-
nored his unmannerliness, but kept my
placid smile all the time that he was
arranging his departure On the thresh-
old Of the door he paused and, turn
ing, demanded:
lis your decision finalI"
assured him that 1t was absolute.
He gave me an extremely vicious look
as he disappeared.
You will regret this, Mr.. Great
orex," he observed.
l understood that the phrase was not
uncommonly used in similar circum-
stances, but in truth need hardly say
that I should not have turned sar-
casm at the expense of Mr.. BarnettS
inoffensive client, despite Mr.. Barnetts
offensive manner, if had not been alb
solutely certain that Mr.. Barnett's eli
ent did not exist. At least would
have gone bail that he was no relation
to the departed vyvians, and would
even have ventured to doubt If he
knew much more Of them than did Mr.:
Barnett himself, for it was plain
enough to me by this time that some
person or some persons had particular
reasons for desiring to obtain posses.
sion of my Inheritance. So much being
clear 1t only remained to determine
those particular reasons, reasons which
I could now perceive were involved in
the secret of my dead friend and prob
ably also in the eliminating tragedy OF
his death.
When I was rid of my visitor set
forth upon stroll in the woods. 1t
was 4 in the afternoon, and the sun
shone very iercely upon the white
roads, throwing black shadows from
the trees. l dropped from the roadway
into a rude moss grown track that raj,
into the heart Of the valley, and pres
emily, leaving the more open parts of
the forest, struck into the deeper
brakes and tangles below. The littla
stream ran here in the bottom very
pleasantly, sometimes brawling over
shadows and at other parts more ST.
lently in eddies and drifts over darker
and deeper pools. AS I followed its
course l came shortly upon a spot
where the channel made an elbow al.
most at right angles with its former
direction, and here deserted the form
Of Captain Sercombe A sound OF
voices reached me, and, cheered by the
prospect of companion with whom
to exchange sentences, uttered short
"Hello! and dived through the under
growth toward him. When l emerged
upon the open space upon which the
captain stood my attention was caught
by rustling among the branches, and
I had glimpse of some one just dis
appearing into the wood. l stopped
with my eyes fastened upon the point,
for something familiar in the incident
struck me all Of sudden. That lean,
slim figure, that swift, precipitate rush
these were as impressions recovered
from some past experience. Captain
Sercombe was lazily whipping a deep
pool, a pipe between his teeth, and,
turning his head, he hailed me:
"You have frightened my fish, SIR"
said he.
1 begged his pardon somewhat alb
stractedly, and, raising himself, he
looked at me, following the direction
Of my glance.
"Oh, that's my worthy and very OBJ
sequious host" said he, with smile,
taking his pipe from his mouth. Il
wish he would let me alone, but he's