River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-10

and had hardly time to bound from
his closet, when he saw his own door
burst in and found himself face to
face with his redoubtable neighbor, "a
state of such rage as few men could
meet without quailing, even were they
of his own stature, physical vigor and
prowess; and Sweetwater was a small
man.
However, disappointment such as
he had just experienced brings with 1t
a desperation which often outdoes
courage, and the detective, smiling
with an air OF gay surprise, shouted
out:
well, what's the matter now? Has
the machine busted, or tumbled into
the fire or sailed away to lands I'M
known out of your open window!"
"You were coming out of that
closet" was the fierce rejoinder.
What have you got there? Some-
thing which concerns me. or why
should your face 90 pale at my pres
ence and your forehead drip with
sweat? Don't think that you've de.
ceived me for moment as to your
business here. / recognized you Inn
mediately. You've played the stranger
well, but you've nose and an eye
nobody could forget. / have known
ali along that / had police spy for o
neighbor; but it didn't faze me. I've
nothing to conceal, and wouldn't mind
regiment of you fellows If you'd only
play straight game. But when it
comes to foisting upon me parcel of
letters to which l have no right, and
then setting a fellow like you to count
my groans or whatever else they ex-
pected to hear, l have a right to de-
tend myself, and defend myself l will,
by God! But first, let me be sure
that my accusations will stand. Come
into this closet with me. 1t abuts on
the wall of my room and has it's own
secret, l know. What is it? / have
you at an advantage now, and you
shall tell"
He did have Sweetwater at an ad,
vantage, and the detective knew it
and disdained struggle which would
have only called up a crowd, friendly
to the other but inimical to himself.
Allowing Brotherson to drag him into
the closet, he stood quiescent, while
the determined man who held him
with one hand, felt about with the 9th
er over the shelves and along the
partitions till he came to the hole
which had offered such happy means
of communication between the two
rooms. Then, with laugh almost as
bitter In tone as that which rang from
Brotherson's lips, he acknowledged
that business had its necessities and
that apologies from him were in or
der; adding, as they both stepped out
into the rapidly darkening room:
We've played a bout, we two; and
you've come out ahead. Allow me to
congratulate you, Mr.. Brotherson.
You've cleared yourself SO far as l am
concerned. l leave this ranch tonight"
The frown had come back to the
forehead of the indignant man who
confronted him.
$50 you listened" he cried; Ills.
tened when you weren't sneaking un-
der my eye! A fine occupation for
man who can dove-tail a corner like
an adept. / wish l had let you join
the brotherhood you were good enough
to mention. They would know how to
appreciate your double gifts and how
to reward your excellence in the one,
if not in the other What did the po-
lice expect to learn about me that
they should consider it necessary to
call into exercise such extraordinary
talents?"
I'm not good at conundrums. / was
given a task to perform, and | per
formed it," was Sweetwater's sturdy
reply. Then slowly, with his eye fixed
directly upon his antagonist, 81 guess
they thought you a man. And so did
l until heard you burn those letters,
Fortunately we have copies"
CTo BE CONTINUED)
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