River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-03
CHAPTER xvI.-contInued.

OuItuIIB WIN BroIheFSon.
CHAPTER XVI.-ContInued
And SO 1t came to pass that at an
hour when all the other Woodworking
people In the building were asleep,
or at least striving to sleep, these two
men still sat at their work, one in the
light. the other in the darkness, fac
Ing each other, consciously to the one,
unconsciously to the other, across the
Eleven o'clock! Twelve! No change
on Brotherson's part or in Brother
sons room; but a decided one in the
place where Sweetwater sat. Objects
which had been totally indistinguish-
able even to his penetrating eye
could now be seen in ever brighten
ing outline. The moon had reached
the open space above the court. and
he was getting the full benefit of it..
But 1t was benefit he would have
been glad to dispense with. Darkness
was like a shield to him. He did not
feel quite sure that he wanted this
shield removed With no curtain to
the window and no shade. and all this
brilliance pouring into the room, he
feared the disclosure of his presence
there, or, If not that, some effect on
his own mind of those memories he
was more anxious to see mirrored in
another's discontinue than in his
own.
Was 1t to escape any lack of con-
centration which these same memo
Ties might bring, that he rose and
stepped to the window? Or was it
under one of those involuntary i'm
pulses which move US in spite of our
selves to do the very thing our judg-
ment disapproyes?
No sooner had he approached the
sill than Mr.. Brotherson's shade flew
way up and he, too, looked out. Their
chances met, and for an instant the
hardy detective experienced that in
voluntary stagnation of the blood
which follows an inner shock. He
felt that he had been recognized. The
moonlight lay full upon his face, and
the other had seen and known him.
Else, why the constrained attitude
and sudden rigidity observable in this
confronting figure, with it's partially
lifted hand? A man like Brotherson
makes no pause in any action however
trivial, without a reason. Either he
had been transfixed by this glimpse of
his enemy on watch, or-daring
thought! had seen enough of sepuI-
Chral suggestion in the wan face
looking forth from this fatal window
TO shake him from his composure and
let loose the grinning devil of remorse
from it's iron prison-house? If so, the
movement was a memorable one, and
the hazard quite worth while. He had
gained-no! he had gained nothing.
He had been the fool of his own
wishes. No one, let alone Brother
son, could have mistaken his face for
that OF woman. He had forgotten
his newly-grown beard Some other
cause must be found for the others
attitude. It savored of shock, if not
fear. If it were fear, then had he
reused an emotion which might re-
bound upon himself in sharp reprisal.
Death had been known to strike
people standing where he stood: mys-
FERROUS death of a species quite unrec-
ognizable. What warranty had he
that it would not strike him, and now /?
None
Yet it was Brotherson who moved
first. With shrug of the shoulder
plainly visible to the man opposite.
he turned away from the window and
without lowering the shade, began
gathering up his papers for the night.
and later banking up his stove with
ashes.
Sweetwater, with a breath of decid-
ed relief, stepped back and threw him
self on the bed. 1t had really been a
trial for him to stand there under the
others eye, though his mind refused
to formulate his fear, or to give him
any satisfaction when he asked him
self what there was in the situation
suggestive of death to the woman or
harm 10 himself.
Nor did morning light bring coun-
sci, as is usual in similar cases. He
felt the mystery more in the hubbub
and restless turmoil of the day than
in the nights silence and inactivity.
He was glad when the stroke of six
gave him an excuse to leave the room
At half past six he found the iani-
tor. He was, to all appearance, in a
state of great excitement and he
spoke very fast.
Il won't stay another night in that
ROOM" he loudly declared, breaking
in where the family were eating
breakfast by lamplight. 81 don't
want to make any trouble and /
don't want to give my reasons; but
that room don't suit me. I'd rather
take the dark one you talked about