Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20

ce1Ve handsome commission II the contract
| was awarded No doubt his share would be
at least half'of the amount stipulated. | had
reason to believe that the work could be per-
| formed at profit for less than half the figure
mentioned by the German.
@Nearly forty thousand dollars, in other
Words" said l refectively.
"They are worth ten times that amount,
Sir, said the expert gravely.
smiled specifically. The Count took in
slant alarm. He realized that was not such
fool as l looked, perhaps.
"fiohendahl was once offered two hundred
and fifty thousand, Mr.. Smart, he said.
why didn't he accept it:?' asked blunt
ly "He sold the whole place to me, contents
| included, for less than half that amount"
at was years ago, before he was in such
dire straits he explained quickly.
A terrible suspicion entered my head.
| felt myself turn cold. If the frescos were
genuine they were worth all that Schwartz
muller declared. That being the case, why
should Hohendah1 have let them come to me
| for practically nothing when there were
dozens of collectors who would have paid
| him the full price? | swallowed hard, but
managed to control my voice.
GAS matter of fact, Count Tarnowsy,"
said, resorting to unworthy means, II have
every reason to believe that Hohendahl sold
| the originals sometime ago, and had them
replaced on the ceilings by clever limitations.
| They are not worth the canvas they are
painted on"
He started intercepted the swift look
of apprehension that passed from him to the
stolid Schwartzmuller, whose face turned
shade redder.
"Impossible!' cried Tarnowsy sharply.
"By no means impossible" l said calmly,
now sure of my ground. ITO be perfectly
frank with you, I've known from the begin
| ming that they were fakes. Your friend
Count Hohendahl is nobler than you give
him credit for being. He confessed to me at
| the time Our transaction took place that the
| frescos were very recent reproductions. The
originals, | think, are in London or New
York" I looked straight into the Germans
eyes and said, "Now that | come to think
of it, am sure he mentioned the name of
Schwartzmuller in connection with the"
at is not true! 1t is not true!' roared the
expert, without waiting for me to finish.
"He lied to you. We-the great firm Of
Zumpe & Schwartzmuller- could not be
tempted with millions to do such a thing!"
"Moreover, Count Tarnowsy, you are
fully aware of all this!'
"My dear fellow"
"I'll not waste words. You are damned
scoundrel!'
He became perfectly livid. @You shall
take back those words, Mr.. Smart, or-or-"
He looked about him wildly as if in search
of deadly weapon.
COR WHAT" l demanded menacingly. al
repeat that you have known all along that
Hohendahl sold the originals. That being
the case, what are you but damned scoun-
drel?"
He measured the distance with his eye,
and then sprang swiftly forward, striking
blindly at my face.
| knocked him down!
Schwartzmuller was near the door, look
ing over his shoulder as he felt for the great
brass knob @Mein Goh!" he beloved.
"Stop!' shouted. "Come back here and
take this fellow away with you!"
Tarnowsy was sitting up, looking about
him in a dazed, bewildered manner
A T that moment Poopendyke came run
"A ming down the stairs, attracted by the
loud voices. He was followed closely by
three or four wide-eyed GLACIERS who were
working on the second floor.
an the name of Heaven, Sir!7
give bruised my knuckles horribly" was
all that l said l seemed to be in sort of