The Washington times., 1908-07-05
By MICHAEL WILLIAMS.
CHAPTER ". lContnued3

He himself viii have 20 SAY yes.
or no to that III 60 20 him now
and put Il up 20 him TN even advise
him to let you see him But 1 want
70 tell you. HoIbrook. that nay client
though extremely nervous and man
in whom the susceptible artistic tenn
permanent is very strong. has never
theless much force of character.
take no step I'm my handling os HlS
case except with his approval and.
IN many instances. under his own d
rection."
Il am glad 10 know that. said i'"l-
brook warmly. lit increases my ag-
sire to know him and help him
"AlI right Come, we vii step over
TO the Tombs."
Ten minutes later Hoi1rook was
shaking hands with Acton ClouEh-
He was familiar with pictures Of tile
artist, but this was the first time he
had met him and he was aEreeab'v
surprised to find that he was not at
AL the Iimp-wristed, laCkadalsica-
creature he had pictured. but, on the
contrary, a tall. II slight. and well
set-up young fellow, handsome and
even strengthening.
The reporter lost no time, bgt
plunged directly into his subject.
.{rYou understand my object in seek
IN this interview. Mr.. Clough.' he
said. your counsel has told you that
do not, at this time, look for an i'm
tsrview TO print. but that l am anN-
ious 10 talk over the situation witt
you. believing. as I do, In your enNr'
Innocence and hoping that you cas
tell me something that will assist H.e
to discover the real criminal
4 understand and thoroughly apD-c-
ciate your attitude" said Clougl.
and thank you. It's mighty enCOura-
going 10 find a champion. Now. what
IS II you want me to tell your
You won't mind. then, If / am blunt
IN my Quesuons?"
Go on. Mr.. HOlbrook-'
WAS your quarrel with your uncle.
or the night Of his death, bitter2
at was. But It arose from an en-
tirely different and unknown cause.
''Yes?''
CIough had hesitated; HoIbrook bent
forward breathlessly-
The artists next words astounded
the reporter.
The world sUVpOSes that I QuaTreled
with my uncle because Of the fact that
he caused ny picture, The Snake, to
be removed from the gallery where II
was on exhibition and then mutiliated
it. AS a matter Of fact, the picture
was not mine and II was my hand that
destroyed iti''
who. then. painted that terrible
pioture?"
my uncle-John B. Clough."
What? Impossibler'
1T is true"
But your uncle-at his age-a life
long business man-One who had so
violently voiced disapproval Of that
picture. Pardon my expressions Of
porter. quite bewildered by this turn
Of the affair.
Il can prove it and will, at the
proper time" said the artist firmly
"Ah, that IS eood." exclaimed Hol-
brool- fervently-
you see" continued Clough. my
uncle was a very strange man What
artistry may possess certainly owe
TO him
''The facts are that all through his
youth he desired 10 be an artist. Cir
cumstances so went against him that
he was never able to secure the sort Of
life he liked. He being the oldest OF n
large family, had his mother brothers.
and sisters tC support. So he went
into business from a sense Of duty and
turned all mis- great energy into com
metciai channels.
you know how the newspapers OF
the country often alluded to him as
the Great Business Dreamer. because
Of hiss breadth of imagination. his dar-
ing commercial schemes He was a
true creator, who built new cities and
opened up new countries instead of
making pictures. Yet for many years
ne INDUCED himself secretly in paint
Ing.
After a time he became very pecU-
lar In his tastes and whims-perhaps
another circumstance that proves his
artistic nature. For years he main
tanned a studio under an assumed
name. where he would lock himself IN
and give himself over 10 the painting
Of bizarre and fantastic pictures. lie
abhorred the literal, the usual; per
haps because he had 50 much Of IT in
his daily life
''At last he became completely OBJ
sessed by his within: It was a mono
mania with MIN not only TO indulge
n = n