Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-06-18
(COpyTight. BY Bo6Ss-MeTTIIi ca
Continued from second Page.)

that Mr.. Andrew Bronson followed
you TO your rooms last Monday eve.
ming"
Stuart looked at us and flushed
No. I don't deny it," ne said. but
there was nothing criminal about il.
on my part, at least Mr. Bronson has
been trying 20 induce me TO secure
the forged notes for him But I did
not even know where they were"
And you we're not on the wrecked
Washington Flier?" persisted Hotch.
kiss. But Mcknight interfered.
There is no use trying to put the
other mans identity on Stuart. Mr.
Hotchkiss." he protested "He has
been our confidential clerk for six
years. and has not been away from
the office a day for a year am
afraid that the beautiful fabric we
have pieced out of all these scraps is
going TO be a crazy quilt" His tone
was facetious. but 7 could detect the
undercurrent Of real disappointment.
I paid the constable for his trouble.
and be departed Stuart. stin indig.
nant. left TO go back 20 Washington
Knight and myself magnanimouslv.
but he hurled a look Of utter hatred
at Hotchkiss. sunk crestfanen in his
chair.
"As for as can see" said Nc
knight dryly. were exactly as far
along as We were the day we met al
the Carter place. Were not a step
nearer 20 finding our man"
we have one thing that may be OF
value" 7 suggested He Is the hus.
band OF a bronze-haired woman az
Van Kinks hospital and IL Is Just
possible We may trace him through
her. I hope We are not going 10 lose
your valuable cooperation. Mr.. Hotch-
kiss" asked
He reused at that 20 feeble interest
T-oh. OF course not. Il YOU stin care
20 have me. II was wondering about
the man who Just went out Stuart.
you say? l. told his landlady to
night that he wouldn't need the room
again. I hope she hasn't rented fl 81,
somebody else"
We cheered him as best We could.
and j suggested that we 70 to Baiti-
more the next day and try 20 find the
real Sullivan through his wife lie
left sometime after midnight and
Richey and / were alone.
He drew a chair near the lamp and
lighted cigarette. and for a time we
were silent. ! was in the shadow. and
j sat back and watched him II was
not surprising, I 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; il was the
lads nature TO give and crave affec-
ton. ONLY was different. I had
never really cared about a girl be-
fore, and my life had been singularly
loveless. I had fought a Lonely bat
tie always. Once before, in college.
we had both laid ourselves and our
callow devouons at the feet OF the
same girl. Her name was Dorothy
/ had forgotten the rest-but I re-
membered the sequel. In a spirit OF
quixotic youth I had relinquished my
claim in favor OF Richey and had
gone cheerfully on my way. elevated
by my heroic sacrifice 20 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, recall her now. why?"
Nothing" he said Il was think
ing about her. That's all. You re-
member you were crazy about her,
and dropped back because she pre-
ferred me?"
I 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
nimicked. He tossed his cigarette
in the general direction OF the hearth
and got up. We were both a little
conscious. and he stood with his back
TO me, lingering a japanese vase on
the mantel
I was thinking" he began, turning
the vase around. that, II you feel
pretty well again. and-and ready TO
take hold. that I should like to go
away for a week or So Things are
fairly we'll cleaned up at the Office"
DO you mean--you are going to
Richmond" I asked, after a scarcely |
perceptible pause. He turned and |
faced me, with his hands thrust in |
his pockets.
NO. That's OF, Lonie. The /
Seiberts are going for weeks cruise /
along the coast. 1.-THE hot weather /
has played bob with me and the cruise |
means seven days breeze and bridge"
/ lighted a cigarette and offered |
him the box, but he refused. He was
looking haggard and suddenly tired.
could not think OF anything 20 say,
and neither could he. evidently. The
matter between us lay too deep for
speech.
"How's Candida ?" he asked.
Martin says a month, and she will
be all right" ] returned, in the same
tone. He picked up his hat. but he
had something more TO say. He
olurted 1t out, finally, half way to the