Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-07-17

OF his two evidently unwelcome Wis
itors with frankness which dashed
Georges confidence in himself, but
made little visible impression upon
his daring companion.
Il should rather see you at another
time" said he. But" his hesitation
was inappreciable save to the incest
If you will allow me to be brief
will tell you what / know-which is
very little.'
Sweetwater was greatly taken
aback. All he had looked for, as he
was careful to tell my husband later
was sufficiently prolonged conver.
sation to enable George to mark and
study the workings of the face he was
not yet sure of. Nor did the detect
I've feel quite easy at the readiness
OF his reception; nor any too well
pleased to accept the invitation which
his man now gave them to enter his
| room.
The room, like many others in these
old-fashioned tenements, had jog
just where the door was, SO that on
entering they had to take several
steps before they could get full
glimpse of it's four walls. When they
did, both showed surprise.
The man who lived here was not
only a student, as was evinced by a
long wall full of books, but he was an
art-lover, musician, an inventor and
an athlete. So much could be learned
from the most cursory glance A more
careful one picked up other facts
fully as startling and impressive. The
books were choice; the invention to
all appearance practical one; the art
of high order and the music, such as
was in view, of a character of which
the incest taste need not be ashamed
George began to feel quite conscious
of the intrusion of which they had
been guilty, and was amazed at the
ease with which the detective carried
himself in the presence OF such mani
festations of culture and good, hard
work. He was trying to recall the .ex-
act appearance of the figure he
had seen STOPPING in the snowy street
two nights before, when he found him
self staring at the occupant of the
ROOM who had taken up his stand be-
fore them and was regarding them
while they were regarding the room.
| He had thrown aside his hat and rid
| himself of his overcoat, and the fear
lessness of his aspect seemed to daunt
the hitherto dauntless Sweetwater,
who, for the first time In his life, per-
haps, hunted, in vain for words with
which to start conversation
you seem to have forgotten your
errand, came In quiet, If not good-na-
tured, sarcasm from their patiently
waiting host.
Its the room" muttered Sweetwa-
ter, with an attempt at his old-time
ease which was not as fully successful
as usual. What an alfred genius
you must be. | never saw the like.
And in tenement house too! You
ought to be in one Of those big new
studio buildings in New York where
artists be and everything you see is
beautiful. You'd appreciate it, you
would"
The detective started, George start
ed, at the CLEAN which answered him
from very uncommon eye 1t was q
temporary flash, however, and quickly
yelled, and the tone in which this
Dunn now spoke was anything but an
encouraging one.
i thought you were DESTROYS of join
ing socialistic fraternity" said he;
"a true aspirant for such honors don't
care for beautiful things unless all
can have them. prefer my tenement.
How is it with you, friends?"
Sweetwater found some sort Of
reply, though the thing which this
man now did must have startled him,
as it certainly did George They were
so grouped that table quite full of
anomalous objects stood at the back
of their host, and consequently quite
beyond their own reach. AS Sweet
water began to speak, he whom he
had addressed by the name Of Dunn.
drew pistol from his breast pocket
and laid it down barrel towards them
on this table top. Then he looked I'D
courteously enough, and listened till
Sweetwater was done. A very hand
some man, but one not to be trifed
with in the slightest degree. Both
recognized this fact, and George, for
one. began to edge towards the door.
Now l feel easier" remarked the
giant, swelling out his chest. He was
unusually tall, as well as unusually
muscular 81 never like to carry arms;
but sometimes it Is unavoidable. Damn
it, what hands!" He was looking at
his own, which certainly showed soil.
''Will you pardon me?" ne pleasantly
apologized, stepping towards a wash
stand and plunging his hands into the
basin. Il cannot think with dirt on
me like that. Humph, hey! did you
speak,"
He turned quickly on George who
had certainly uttered an ejaculation.
but receiving 10 reply, went on with
his task, completing it with care and
disregard of their presence which
showed him up in still another light
I1,.k Ii.