The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-03-02

"I-really, Mr.. Blakeley, the events
Of the day were SO engrossing-"
WELL" said. I'm not going to see
you drop on the floor from exhaus-
ton. Just wait minute"
went back to the pantry, only to
be confronted with rows of locked
doors and empty dishes. Downstairs.
in the basement kitchen, however,
found two unattractive looking cold
chops, some dry bread and piece q
cake, wrapped in a 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 10
appearance, but Hotchkiss ate his cold
chops and gnawed at his crusts as
though he had been famished, while
he told his story.
II had been there only o 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, Mr. Blake.
ley, and had hard work keeping
close. 1t was a relief when he jumped
on a 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 rods
from one end of the line to the other
and back again 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-uncomfor He could
have crushed me like fly, sir
had brought Mr. Hotchkiss glass
of wine and he was looking better.
He stopped to finish it, declining with
a wave of his hand to have 1t refilled
and continued:
About nine o'clock or little later
he got off somewhere near Washing
ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left n square or two, and rang bell
He had been admitted when / got
there, but guessed from the appear
ance of the place that 1t was a board
ing house,
Il waited a few minutes and rams
the bell. When a maid answered II,
asked for Mr.. Sullivan. OF course
there was no Mr. Sullivan there.
81 said was sorry; that the man
was looking for waa new boarder
She was sure there was no such
boarder in the house; the only new ar
rival was a man Ga The third floor
she thought his name was Stuart
"'My friend has cousin by that
NAME said. .I'll coup and see.'
"She wanted to show me up, but
said it was unnec essary. So after tell
ing me it was the bedroom and sitting.
room on the third floor front, / went
up.
81 met couple OF men on the
stairs, but neither OF them paid any
attention to me. A boarding house ID
the easiest place in the world to en-.
ter"
They're not always so easy te
leave" put in, to bis evident irrita.
ton
when I got to the third story
took out a bunch OF keys and posted
myself by a door near the ones the
girl had 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 ierked
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 maniaSs, h<
said. You know ] can get those
things some way: I'm not going to
threaten you 1t isn't necessary. You
know me-
cit would be no USE the other nan
said. I tell you I haven't seen the
notes for ten days
"'But you will Bronson said, say
agely, You're standing in your own
way, that's ALL IL you're holding out
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making a mistake. It's my last OFFER
Ct couldn't take 1t II it was for
million, said the man inside the room.
I'D do 1t, expect, If could. The
best of us have our price
Bronson slammed the door then
and flung past me down the hall.
after a couple of minutes
knocked at the door and a tall man
about your size, Mr.. Blakeley, opened
it. He was very blend, with smooth
face and blue eyes--What think you
would call handsome man.
4 beg your pardon for disturbing
you,' said. Can you tell me which
is Mr.. Johnson's room? Mr. Francis
Johnson?'
aT cannot say, he answered, civ
lilly. I've only been here few days.
II thanked him and left, but had
had good look at him and ! think
I'd know him readily any place"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)