The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1912-05-18

teenth century Europe a-roar with
| laughter at the discounted
monks; and he cleansed himself
from that tainted atmosphere in
the fresh air and free English of
splendid Audubon "first"-and
all the time he was conscious
that the Roman watched, watch
ed, watched. More than once
Livius offered aid, seeking to APP
prise himself of the supposed
mute's line of Investigation; but
the other smilingly Tended him
off. At the end of four days, Av-
erage Jones had satisfied himself
that If Livius were seeking any
thing in particular, he had an
Indefinite task before him, for the
colonel's bound treasures were in
indescribable confusion. Appar-
emily he had bought from far and
near, without definite theme or
purpose. AS he bought he read,
and having read, cast aside; and
where volume fell, there it had
license to lie. No cataloguer had
ever sought to restore order to
that photographic riot. To seek
any given book meant blind
voyage, without compass or chart,
throughout the mingled centuries.
Often Colonel Graeme spent
hours in one or the other of the
huge book-rooms talking with his
strange protege and making copi-
Gus notes. Usually the old gen.
tleman questioned and the other
| answered. But one morning the
attitude seemed, to the listening
Advisor, to be reversed. Livius,
In the far corner of the room, was
speaking in a low tone. To Judge
from the older mans impatient
| manner, the Roman was inter
rupting his hosts current of quer-
les with interrogations of his own.
| Average Jones made mental
note, and, in conference with
| Warren that evening, asked him
to ascertain from Colonel Graeme
whether Livius' inquiries had in
dicated a specific interest in any
particular line of reading.
On the following day, however,
an event of more immediate i'm
port occupied his mind. He had
spent the morning in the upstairs
library, at the unavailable sug-
gestion of Colonel Graeme, while
the colonel and his Roman col
| logued below. Coming down
about noon, Average Jones enter
ed the colonel's small study just
in time to see Livius, who was
alone in the room, turn away
sharply from the desk. His ell
bow was held close to his ribs in
a peculiar manner: He was con-
cealing something under his coat.
With a pretense of clumsiness,
| Average Jones stumbled against
him in passing. Livius drew away
his high forehead working with
suspicion. The Advisors express
sion of blank apology, eked out
with bow and a primace, belied
the busy-working mind within.
For, in the moments contact, he
had heard the crisp rustic of pa
per from beneath the ill-fitting
coat.
What paper had the man from
B. G. taken furtively from his
benefactor's table? It must be
large; otherwise he could. have
readily thrust it into his pocket.
| No sooner was Livius out of the
room than Average Jones scanned
the desk. His face lighted with
a sudden smile. Colonel Graeme
never read a newspaper; boosted,
in fact, that he wouldn't have one
about the place. But, as Average
Jones distinctly recalled, he had,
himself, that very morning
brought in a copy of the Globe
| and dropped 1t into the scrap
basket near the writing-table. 1t
was gone. Livius had taken 1t.
eff he's got the newspaper
reading habit" said Average
Jones to himself, "I'll set trap
for him. But Warren must fur
nish the bait"
He went to look up his aide.
The conference between Them was
long and exhaustive, covering the
main points of the case from the
beginning.
did you find out from Colonel
Graeme," inquired Average Jones.
whether Livius affected any par
ticular brand of literature?"
Eyes. He seems to be special
izing on late seventeenth century
British classicism. Apparently he
considers that the flower of Brit
ish scholarship of that time wrote
a very inferior kind of dog
Latin"
Late seventeenth century Lat
nifty" commented Average Jones.
"That-er-gives us a fair start.
Now as to the body-servant."
"Old Saul? questioned him
about strange callers. He said he
remembered only two, besides an
occasional peddler or agent. They
were looking for work"
what kind of work."
Inside the house. One wanted
to catalogue the library"
What did he look Mke?"
Saul says he wore glasses and
worse tall hat than the colonel's
and had full beard.
And the other?"