Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-08

| He was q man of such strong dislikes
40 not wonder that | was an eyesore to
| hlm What Is more. / was a little imp.
and as soon as ! found that uncle dis
4 liked me. / took pains to irritate him.
| Did such a condition of affairs exist
up to the time of Mr.. Somhers' death?"
There was a little difference. / had
| perceived the folly Of trying to irritate
4 him, and had learned to contain myself
| but my self-control seemed to help mat
tiers very little. and life was far from
peaceful between u.s.
Milbrath was breaking down uncon-
sciously every sprout OF theory that had
nurtured and raised My thoughts turned
to Philander Summerfield, who seemed
| to have come into the case in a new way.
Had Mr.. Somhers BROTHER" i asked.
Yes. Uncle Francis"
Still living. l suppose?"
'Oh. no. He died years ago."
Did he leave a family?"
He was a bachelor"
Was there resemblance between him
and MIR. Somhers?"
Milbrath considered
HE was shorter and fairer, I believe.
My recollection Of him is. however. rather
vague. i was only little chap when he
died.
You know. then. that he died?'
Milbrath regarded me with amazement.
Il have seen his grave in Mount Au-
burn several times. and remember when
Uncle Peter went to the funeral-soon
after came to live in Winton."
There was nothing in this brother s
life that the family would wish to con-
ceal?"
Not so far as / ever heard. Indeed, /
never heard much about him in any way.
gathered somehow that relations between
the brothers were somewhat strained.
know that Uncle Peter was pretty
grouchy when it came to paying the old
uncle's debts after his death. but he re-
Tented and put q monument over the
you holding? Are you theorizing that
Uncle Francis Is still alive and that it
was he who killed Uncle Peter?'
1T is a notion too fantasticai. perhaps,
TO call theory. ! think, however. that
We shall find q connection between this
Philander Summerf1eld, who engaged me
to come here. and Mr.. Somhers' DEATH"
Then l quoted Hutton as to the similar
ity of voice between the curious old
| train catcher and Mr.. Somhers, and
added that the description Of the man
tailed with my remembrance of Mr.. Sum-
| merfield
Granting. however," went on. that
Francis Somhers lived instead Of having
died at the time you supposed, and grant
| ing also that for sufficient reasons II was
agreed between the brothers to keep his
existence a secret, we have a plausible
hypothesis as to Mr.. Somhers death and
tile present cuTlOuS COnOltlOuS- we see,
| then, that the library. hiding the door to
| the outside, could admit this brother un-
seen and unknown to every one but Mi.
| Peter Somhers: and because he is the
one who knew the secret entrance. and
| because bitter disagreements seemed to
be a feature between the brothers. we
| surmise that IL was he who in a moment
| of anger. became an assassin. IL is pos
| sibe that having committed a crime he
| longs to atone for IL, vet has not the
moral rive himself to the
law Having engaged me to discover
| him he fears that l will do so. and en-
deavors. by intimidation, to force me TO
/, leave the place."
Il wish to be encouraging but
Yes: / know. 1t sounds fantastic
more like Frankenstein tale than q
possibility. / am going to Boston tomor-
put up the south wing. My idea has been
that the secret room lies between the IL
brary and the parlors, and | cannot yet
| understand why four by six feet OF space
back OF the entry was allowed to go 10
waste. So far, however. I have not been
| able TO find place where the walls
sound hollow"
well tear the wing down II you say
SO. l should prefer IL. II that VIII help
you"
Not unless fail in Boston. While |
am there I mean to look up our friend.
Summerheld / have asked MN TO re-
| lease me, and as he declines 10 40 SO lie
must submit to whatever investigation
turns his way.
II should like to join YOU In the trip
to Boston and help you IL ] can. Will
act under your instructions.
Good! Can you start on the o'clock
morning train?'
Milbrath hesitated. II fear not" he
answered. There is purpose In my
| trip to Winton just now nave come
| indeed. to have q few words with Mr.
Kilbourne If I am able to see him to-
right I will accompany YOU OtnerWise
| 1 will follow on the early afternoon
train" G
In the ensuing silence il came to me
suddenly WHY Milbrath. was in Winton
| to see KiibUIrne Dolly had, of course.
| sent for him to inform Kilbourne that. as
| the prospective Mrs. Milbrath. she could
no longer accept the aIdent a.ten,ion
which Kilbourne was lavishing upon her
In that ynoment there was no question
| In my mird as to Doiiy's relation to Mil
brath.
This reyerie merged-as We smoked in
| intermitting silence-into review OF the
tSomhers case. and q new Po,n' uanc az, -
deed. Francis Somhers. was 1t not prob
| able that his money was acquired through
Peter Somhers? In that case there must
| be evidence to that effect somewhere.
Perhaps the Winton bank could help me
start for Boston for half day and de-
vote the following morning to an Inquiry
surely YOU will remain at Overlook to-
night / said as Milbrath rose.
| He shook his head little sadly
| ~ have registered at the winton House
this time he said. and It is best that
| I should return there.
l sThen plan to lunch here tomorrow.
You can talk with Kilbourne before or