The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-12-19
CHAPTER XIV.
A Concession.

''It Is true; there seems to be some
thing extraordinary in the coinct
dence."
Thus Mr. Brotherson, in the pres
ence of the inspector.
But that is all there is to it," he
easily proceeded. II knew Miss Chal
Toner and I have already said how
much and how little l had to do with
her death. The other woman did not
know at all; l did not even know her
name. A prosecution based on grounds
SO fiimsy as those you advance would
SAVIOR of persecution, would it not?'
The Inspector, surprised by this I'm.
expected attack, regarded the speak
err with an interest rather augmented
than diminished by his boldness. The
smile with which he had uttered these
concluding words YET fingered on his
lips, lighting up features of mold too
suggestive of command to be associ.
ated readily with guilt. That the i'm.
preston thus produced was favor
able, was evident from the tone of the
inspectors reply:
"We have said nothing about prose
eution, Mr.. Brotherson. We hope to
avoid any such extreme measures,
and that we may the more readily do
so, we have given you this opportun-
ity to make such explanations as the
situation, which you yourself have
characterized as remarkable, seems to
call for"
81 am ready. But what am called
upon to explain? really cannot see,
SIR
"You can tell us why with your
seeming culture and obvious means,
you choose to spend so much time in
a second-rate tenement like the one in
Hicks street."
Again that chill smile preceding the
quiet answer:
Have you seen my room there? 1t
is piled to the ceiling with books.
When I was a poor man, chose the
abode suited to my purse and my pas
sion for first-rate reading. ! have new
er seen the hour when | felt like NOV
ing that precious collection. Besides,
/ am man of the people. have led
Il may say that am leading-a dou-
BILE life; but of neither am / ashamed,
nor have l cause to be. Love drove
me to ape the gentleman in the halls
of the Clermont; a broad human inter.
est in the work of the world, to live
IS fellow among the mechanics of
HieWs street."
"But Why make use of one name as
a gentleman of leisure and quite a diff
ferent one as the honest workman"
"Ah, there you touch upon my real
secret. I have a reason for keeping
my identity quiet till my invention is
completed"
"a reason connected with your an.
archistic tendencies?"
Possibly" But the word was ut
tered in way to carry little convic.
ton. II am not much of an anar
chist," he now took the trouble to de
clare, with careless lift of his Shout
6ers.
1--WE are glad to hear it, Mr. Dunn.
Physical overthrow carries more than
the immediate sufferer with it,
I'VE have no WISH" continued the
inspector, ito probe too closely into
concerns seemingly quite removed
from the main issue. You will prob
ably be anxious to explain away dis
crepancy between your e,word and
your conduct, which has come to our
attention. You were known to have
expressed the intention of spending
the afternoon of Mrs. Spots death in
New York and were supposed to have
done so, yet you were certainly seen
In the crowd which invaded that rear
building at the first alarm. Are you
conscious of possessing a double, or
did you fail to cross the river as you
expected toy
Il am glad this has come up" The
tone was one Of self-congratulation
which would have shaken Sweetwater
sorely had he been admitted to this
unofficial examination. II did mean to
go to New York and even started on
my walk to the bridge at the hour
mentioned. But / got into a small
crowd on the corner Of Fulton street,
IN which-a poor devil who had robbed