The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-04

room since the tragedy, were, of
themselves, enough to excite the
most turgid suspicion.
Bat the thing that seemed to me
most portentous. was the fact that
he was the recipient of letter
which | felt sure had come from
Carl Bergheim.
In the early evening, BEFORE re-
tired. the landlord stopped for
moment and chatted at the door.
BY hazy inquiry l learned that
iKnowlton had been Miss Duns-
meir's guardian upon her fathers
death, and at her coming of age,
her agent and manager, and in the
light of his recent action ! thought
should like to investigate his
affairs.
After breakfast next day I pro-
cured the Times. 1t noted the re-
opening of the Dunsmeir home, but
Jumped the guests as party of
friends So far as names go, |
was as we'll of as on the day
before.
Impatient and disappointed, l
swung away toward Dunsmeir,
keeping for the most part to the
fringe of forest that skirted the
road.
Once in the vicinity of Dunsmeir,
sought a secluded knoll which |
had located on the occasion of my
visit FIVE years before. From its
leafy Sides one could look directly
down upon the fine old place, and
on tie Knowlton grounds, which
were opposite.
| Three people, whom l recognized
asp Ashton, Miss Dunsmeir and her
chaperon, were sauntering about
the grounds. While | was watching
them | saw,in the same line of
Vision Knowlton being driven
down the cliff road in the direction
of the wharf A turn in the road
brought the rear of the cart in view
|
A sudden intuition came to me to
follow him. If his business in any
way concerned Bergheim and en-
dangered my self, | knew enough
of the old miser and his methods to
force a confession from him.
1t was early evening when
signed name to the register of the
Metropole, just below his own.
After dinner took position
where the view commanded the
front entrance and at about half
past s, Knowlton, who had beer
pacing the lobby, with the restless
aissof man awaiting an important
engagement, stopped suddenly and
turned eagerly to meet a man who
was advancing from the doorway.
1t had been some years since /
had last seen Carl Bergheim, and it
was with no little trouble that
now believed my own eyes. He
carried his three score and ten
more like man of so; as briskly
and as erect as Knowlton himself,
the old fellow crossed the lobby to
the elevator
1t was a good hour before they
came down the corridor. The old
man seemed immensely tickled. His
rapid fire method of conversation
was punctured by frequent high ex-
plosive cackles. Arm in arm. they
came slowly down to the landing it.
self. Th(re they hesitated, and the
old man sobered his tones.
Tell me again about Dunsmeir."
he was saying; you say he has not
come back since the old nick of a
brother got his face slashed?"
THAT he has not" affirmed
Knowlton, and may the devil have
flown away with him anyhow.
WAS his money all spent?"
asked the old man.
Long ago. He has had very lit
tie to so on for eight years or
more
"Why didn't he SELF" queried
Bergheim.
From my position could see
Knowlton's grimace.
| "If. old as you are, and used as
you are to having everything that
you may desire. do you suppose
that with starvation staring you in
face oSou would part with a single
one of those treasures YOU have
scouned the earth to obtain"
Bergheim placed a thin hand on
Knowlton's arm.
| s''l am miser when it comes to
my hobby" he said, "all men are
misers over some one thing--a lit
tie thing--a foolish thing; their
wife's affection, perhaps, and the
old man chuckled. but between
Dunsmeir and myself there exists
this difference; | am rarely sep
arated from my treasures, while he
is always away from his. Why
doesn't Dunsmeir return? ask
you that. Where the devil Is the
man all these years." His voice
had risen with the length of the
| tn,