Charlevoix county herald., 1910-11-26

or the day were so engrcssiSg-"
WELL" said, I'm not going 60 see
you drop on the floor from exhaus-
ton. Just wait minute"
l went back to the pantry, only to
be confronted with rows OF locked
doors and empty dishes. Downstairs,
in tho basement kitchen, however.
found two unattractive looking cold
chops, some dry bread and q piece of
cake, wrapped in napkin, and from
its surreptitious and generally hang
dog appearance destined for the coach
man in the stable at the rear Trays
there were none-everything but the
chairs and tables seemed under lock
and key and there was neither napkin,
knife nor fork to be found.
The luncheon was not attractive I'm
| appearance, but Hotchkiss ate his cold
| chops and gnawed at his crusts as
though he had been famished, while
he told his story.
IL had been there only a few min
utes," he said, with chop in one
hand and the cake in the other. "when
Bronson rushed out and cut across the
street. He's a tall man, Mf. Blake
ley, and i had hard work keeping
close. 1t was relief when he jumped
on passing car, although being well
behind. it was hard run for me to-
catch him. He had left the lady.
Once on the car, we simply rode
from one end OF the line to the other
| and back again. 1 suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when |
did once get look at his face It made
| me-er-uncomfortable He could
have crushed me like fly. sir"
had brought Mr.. Hotchkiss glass
| Of wine and ne was looking better.
He stopped TO finish IL, declining with
wave OF his hand to have it reGlled,
and continued:
About nine o'clock or little later
he got of somewhere near Washing.
| ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left square or two and rang bell.
He had been admitted when I got
there, but / guessed from the appear.
| ance OF the place that it was a board.
| ing house.
Il waited n few minutes and rang
the bell. When a maid answered il.
| asked for Mr.. Sullivan. OF course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
II said ! was sorry; that the man I
was looking for was new boarder.
She was sure there was no such
boarder in the house; the only new ar
rival was man on the third floor
she thought his name was Stuart.
"'My friend has Il cousin by that
name I said. III so up and see
"She wanted TO show me up. but I
said it was unnecessary. So after tell
ing ne it was the bedroom and sitting
| room on the third floor front, went
! up.
Il met a couple of men on the
stairs, but neither. OF them paid any
| attention to me. A boarding house is
the easiest place in the world to en-.
ter"
They're not always so easy 20
| leave" l put in, to his evident irrita-
| ton.
when ] got to the thiru story I
took out bunch Of keys and posted
myself by door near the ones the
girl bad indicated. could hear voices
in one of the front rooms, but could
not understand what they said.
There was no violent dispute, but
a steady hum. Then Bronson jerked
the door open. If he had stepped into
the hall he would have seen me fitting
a key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
you're acting like maniac he
said. You know l can got those
things some way; I'm not going to
threaten you. 1t isn't necessary. You
know me-
"It would be no USE the other man
said. I tell you I haven't seen the
notes for ten days
But you will Bronson said, saw
agely. You're standing in your own
way. that's all. If you're holding out
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making a mistake. It's my last offer
"'I couldn't take it If it was for a
Million said the man inside the room.
I'D do it, I expect, il I could. The
best of us have our price
Bronson slammed tho door then
and flung past me down the hail.
after n couple Of minutes
knocked at the door and tall man
about your size. Mr. Blakclcy. opened
it. He was very blond. wit;, snootl,
face and blue eyes-vhat think yor
would call handsome man.
"T beg your pardon for dis:urbins
YOU said. Can you tell ne which
Is Mr.. Johnson's room? Mr.. francis
Johnson
"I cannot say he answered. civ.
lily. I've only been hero few days
81 thanked him and loft, Tut had
had a good look at hi:u and I think
I'd know him readily any place"
(TO BE CONTINUED.D