The Huttig news., 1913-01-11
CHAPTER x.
A Difference of Opinion.

q Difference of Opinion.
 At an early hoar the next morning, 5weetwater stood before the coroDcr's desk, urging plaa he feared to hear refused. He wished to be prest mt at she interview soon to he held with AIr Brothersou, and he had no eood req son to advance why such privilege should be allotted hiln
 The coroner who had had some little experience with this man, sur Yeyed him with a smile less forbid ding than the poor fellow expected.
 You seem to lay great store hy it." said he; eff you want to sort those papers over there, you may
 Thank you ] don't unds rstand the job, but I promise you not to increase the confusion. If l do: if I rattle the leaves too loudly. it will mean, Press him further on this exact point, but 1 doubt if 1 rattle them. sir. No such luck"
 The last three words were uttered setto Yoce but the coroner heard him, and followed his ungainly figure with glance of some curiosity. as he set tied himself at the desk on the other i side of the room
 "ls the man he began. but at this moment the man entered, and Dr. Heath forgot the young detective. in his interest in the new arrival.
 "Mr Brotherscn. l believe said he, as he motioned his visitor to sit.
 That is my name, sir"
 Orlando Brotherson?"
 'tfhe same, sir"
 I'm glad we have made no mis- take smiled the doctor. Mir. Broth erson. l have sent for you under the supposition that you were 2 friend of the unhappy l; dy lately dead at the Hotel Clermont."
 Miss Challoner?"
 Certainly; Miss Challoner."
 sI knew the lady. But" here the speakers eye took on look as qucs- tioning as that of his interlocutor- but in a way so devoid Of all public ity that l cannot but feel surprised that the fact should be known"
 At this, the listening Sweetwater hoped that Dr. Heath would ignore the suggestion thus conveyed and de- cline the explanation it apparently de- manded. But the impression made by the gentleman's good looks hGd been too strong for this coroncr's proVerbial caution, and, handing over the slip of note which had been found among Miss Challoner's effects by her father he quietly asked:
 Do you recognize the signature?"
 ''Yes. it is mine"
 Do you remember the words of this note. MT. Brotherson?a' ?a'
 Hardly. recolleet it's tenor, but not the exact words"
 Read them"
 Excuse me, had rather not am aware that they were bitter and should be the cause of great regret I was angry when I wrote them"
 That is evident. But the cause of your anger is not so clear. Mir. Broth erson. Miss Chalioner was a woman of lofty character, or such was tue universal opinion of her friends that could she have done to gen tleman ike yourself to draw forth SUCH llIbue
 "You ask that?"
 .sl am obliged to. There is mystery surrounding her death--the kind ot mystery which demands perfect frank ness on the part of all who were near her on that evening, or whose rela tions to her were in any way peculiar You acknowledge that your friendship was of such guarded nature that il surprised you greatly to hear it recog niZed Yet you could write her a let ter Of this nature. Why?"
 'Recause-" the word came glibly; but the next one was long in follow ing. 'Because." he repeated, letting the fire of some strong feeling disturb for q moment his dignitied reserve, T offered myself to Miss Chall )ner and she dismissed me with great dis dain."
 "Ah, and so you thought threat was due hcry'
 "A threat?"
 These words contain a threat, do they not?"
 They may. I was hardly master of myself at the time I may have ex- pressed myself in an unfortunate man. ner."