The Huttig news., 1910-07-23

l mistake"
 Poor Hotchkiss tried bravely to justify the fiasco.
 You can not deny he contended. that Mir Andrew Bronson followed you to yonr rooms last Monday eve hing"
 Stuart looked at us and flushed
 No l don't deny it" he said, but here was nothing criminal about it, n my part. at least Mir. Bronson has aeen tryin. to induce me to secure he forged notes for him. But did ot even know where they were" | And you were not on the wrecked Washington Flier?" persisted Hotch- kiss But Mcknight interfered
 There is no use trying 10 put the other mans identity on Stuart, MT. Hotchkiss," he prote stcd He has been our confidential clerk for six years, and has not been away from the office a day for year am aired that the beautiful fabric we have pieced out of all these scraps is going to be crazy quilt" His tone was facetious, but l could detect the undercurront of real disappointment.
 paid the constable for his trouble, and he departed Stuart, still indig. nant. left to go back to Washington Circle. He shook hands with Me Knight and myself magnanimously. but he hurled look of utter hatred at Hotchkiss, sunk crestfallen in his chair.
 As for as I can sec said Me Knight dryly, we're exactly as far along as we were the day we met at the Carter place We're not step nearer to finding our man"
 We have one thing that may be of value I suggested. He is the hus- band of a bronze haired woman at Van Kirks hospital, and it is just possible we may trace him through her. I hope we are not going to lose vour valuable cooperation, Mir Hotch- kiss?" I asked.
 He reused at that to feeble interest "T--ob. of course not if you still care to have me. 1-l was wondering about the man who just went out, Stuart. you say? r. told his landlady to night that he wouldn't need the room again l hope she hasn't rented it to somebody else
 We cheered him as best we could and 1 suggested that we go to Balti more the next day and try to find the real Sullivan through his wife. He left sometime after midnight, and Riehey and I were alone.
 He drew chair near the lamp and lighted a cigarette, and for time we were silent. I was in the shadow, and l sat back and watched him. It was snot surprising, 1 thought, that she cared for him; women had always loved him, perhaps because he al ways loved them. There was no dis loyalty in the thought; it was the lads nature to give and crave affec- tion. Only--l was different I had never really cared about a girl be- fore, and my life had been singularly loveless had fought a lonely bat tie always. Once before. in college. we had both laid ourselves and our i callow devotions at the feet of the
 
 l I had forgotten the rest-but I re- membered the sequel. In spirit of quixotic youth had relinquished my claim in favor of Richey and had gone cheerfully on my way, elevated by my heroic sacrifice to a somber, white-hot martyrdom. As is often the case, Meningitis first words showed our parallel lines of thought.
 'I say, Lollie,' he asked. do you re- member Dorothy Browne? Browne! That was it."
 Dorothy Browne?" I repeated. "Oh why yes. I recall her now. Why?e
 Nothing" he said. "I was think ing about her. That's all. You re- member you were crazy about her, and dropped back because she pre- ferred me?'
 '1 got out" I said with dignity, be cause you declared you would shoot yourself if she didn't go with you to something or other."
 "Oh, why yes, I recall now," he mimicked. He tossed his cigarette in the general direction of the hearth
 
 conscious, and he stood with his back to me, lingering Japanese vase on the mantel.
 q was thinking" he began. turning the vase around, that, if you feel pretty well again. and-and ready to take hold. that l should like to go away for a week or so. Things are fairly well cleaned up at the office"
 Do you meen-you are going to Richmond?" I asked, after a scarcely nerceptible pause. He turned and laced me. with his hands thrust in his pockets.
 No That's of. Lollie The Seiberts are going for a weeks cruise aloIsg the coast I-the hot weather has played bob with me and the cruise means seven days breeze and bridge"
 I lighted cigarette and offered him the box, but he refused. He was looking haggard and suddenly tired could not think of anything to say, and neither could he, evidently The matter between us lay too deep for speech.