Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-07

urally follow the discovery by Broth
erson Of this attempted interference
with his privacy.
But all was still on his side Of the
wall. A rustling of leaves could be
heard, as the inventor searched for
the poem he wanted, but nothing
more. In withdrawing the book, he
had failed to notice the hole in the
plaster back of It, But he could hard
the book book Meantime, suspense
for Sweetwater.
1t was several minutes before he
heard Mr.. Brotherson's voice again,
then it was in triumphant repetition
of the lines which had escaped his
memory. They we're great words
surely and Sweetwater never forgot
them, but the impression which they
made upon his mind, an impression so
forcible that he was able to repeat
them, months afterward to Mr.. Gryce.
did not prevent him from noting the
tone in which they were uttered. nor
the thud which followed as the book
was thrown down upon the floor
Fool" The word rang out In bit
ter irony from his irate neighbours
lips. What does he know of woman!
Woman! Let him court rich one
and see-but that's all over and done
with No more harping on that string,
and no more reading of poetry I'll
never" The rest was lost In his
throat and was quite unintelligible to
the anxious listener
Self-revealing words, which an in
slant before would have aroused
Sweetwater's deepest INTEREST," But
they had suddenly lost all force for
the unhappy listener The sight of
that hole still shining brightly before
his eyes had distracted his thoughts
and reused his liveIiest approximations.
If that book should be allowed to lie
where 1t had fallen, then he was in
for period of uncertainty he shrank
from contemplating. Any moment his
neighbor might look up and catch
sight of this hole bored in the backing
of the shelves before him Could the
liicl VIM Afju OCClL guilty. VI
ting him to this outrage stand the
strain of waiting Indefinitely for the
moment of discovery? He doubted it,
If the suspense lasted too long.
Shifting his position, he placed his
eye where his ear had been He could
see very little. The space before him,
limited as it was to the width of the
one volume withdrawn, precluded his
seeing aught by what lay directly
before him. Happily. it was in this
narrow line of vision that Mr.. Broth
erson stood. He had resumed work
upon his model and was so placed
that while his face was not visible
his hands were. and as Sweetwater
watched these hands and noticed the
delicacy of their manipulation, he was
enough of workman to realize that
work SO fine called for an undivided
attention. He need not fear the gaze
shifting. while those hands moved as
warily as they did now
Relieved for the moment, he left
his post and, sitting down on the edge
of his cot, gave himself up to thought.
Suddenly he started upright. He
would go meet his fate-be present
in the room itself when the discovery
was made which threatened to upset
all his plans. He was not ashamed
OF his calling, and Brotherson would
think twice before attacking him when
once convinced that he had the de-
partment back of him.
Excuse me, comrade," were the
words with which he endeavored to
account for his presence at Broth
ersons door. my lamp smells SO,
and I've made such a mess of my
work today that I've just stepped in
for chat. If Pm not wanted, say so.
I'd like big room like this, and a lot
of books, and-and pictures"
Look at them, then. like to see
man interested in books. Only. I
thought If you knew how to handle
wire, | would get you to hold this end
while l work with the other"
Il guess | know enough for that"
was Sweetwaters gay rejoinder. But
when he felt that communicating wire
in his hand and experienced for the
first time the full influence of the
others eye. 1t took all his hardihood
to hide the hypnotic thrill it gave
him. He found himself gazing long
and earnestly at this mans hand. and
wondering II death lay under 1t. It
was strong hand, deft, clean-cut
member, formed to respond to the
slightest hint from the powerful brain
controlling it. But was this It's whole
story. Had he said all when he had
said this?
Fascinated by the question, Sweet
water died hundred deaths in his
awakened fancy, as he followed the
sharp, short instructions which fell
with cool precision from the others
lips. hundred deaths, say. but
with no betrayal of his folly. The
anxiety he showed was that of one
eager to please, which may explain
why on the conclusion of his task,
Mr. Brotherson gave him one of his
t. o.