River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-06-12

long wall full or DOCKS, Dut ne 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 dauntfess 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
Grand" 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. l never saw the like.
And in a 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
temporary flash, however, and quickly
yelled, aud the tone in which this
encouraging one.
II 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 a
reply, though the thing which this
man now did must have startled him,
as 1t 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 a pistol from his breast pocket
and laid it down barrel towards them
on this table top. Then he looked up
courteously enough, and listened till
Sweetwater was done. A very hand
some man, but one not to be trifled
with in the slightest degree. Both
recognized this fact, and George, for
one, began to edge towards the door.
Nov I 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?" he 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 no reply, went on with
his task, completing it with care and
a disregard of their presence which
showed him up in still another light
But even his hardihood showed
shock, when, upon turning round with
a brisk, Nov I'm ready to talk" he
encountered again the clear eye of
Sweetwater. For, in the person of
this none too welcome intruder, he
saw very different man from the one
upon within he had just turned his
back with so little ceremony; and
there appeared to be no good reason
for the change. He had not noted in
his preoccupation, how George, at
sight of his STOPPING figure, had made
sudden significant movement, and
if he had. the pulling of a necktie
straight, would have meant nothing to
him. But to Sweetwater it meant
everything, and it was in the tone of
one fully at ease with himself that he
now dryly remarked:
Mr.. Brotherson, if you feel quite
clean, and if you have sufficiently
warmed yourself, l would suggest
that we start out at once, unless you
prefer to have me share this room
with you rill the morning"
There was silence. Mr.. Dunn thus
addressed attempted no answer; not
for full minute. The two men were
measuring each other-George fels
that he did not count at all-and they
were quite too much occupied with
this task to heed the passage of time.
"Brotherson?" repeated their host,
after the silence had lasted to the
breaking point ''Why do you call me
that?"
Because it is your name"
you called me Dunn a minute
ago."
THAT is true
why Dunn if Brotherson is my
name?"
Because you spoke under the name
of Dunn at the meeting tonight, and