The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-05-28

l assure you. Count TarnOwsy, the |
little tilt. rs you are pleased to call
IT, was OF no consequence. l had quite |
forgotten that 1t occurred. Sorry you !
reminded me of it."
Inc irony was wasted. He bea med.
MY dear fellow. shall we not shake
hands!'
There was something irresistibly
winning about him. as I've said before.
we shook hands with what seemed to
be genuine fervor.
brings me here" he said as we started
toward the entrance to the loggia. his
arm through mine. Il do not forget
a promise. Mr.. Smart. You may re-
member that | agreed to fetch a man
IRON Mnnchen to look owe your fine
Ola frescoes and to give you an esti-
mate. Well. he is here, the very best
man in Europe"
i am SIRE | am greatly indebted to
you. count" | said, but after think.
ing it over I've
Don't say that you have already
engaged some one to do the work."
ne cried in horror. MY dear fellow.
don't tell me that! You are certain to
make a dreadful mistake II you listen
to any one but Schwartzmuller. He is
the last word in restorations. He is
checked him. Il have virtually de-
cided to let the whole matter go over
until next spring. However, l shall be
happy to have Mr.. Schwartzmuller's
opinion. We may be able to plan
ahead.'
A look Of disappointment fitted
across his face. The suggestion OF
hard old age crept into his features
for a second and then disa ppeared.
Delays are dangerous" he said.
MY judgment is that those gorgeous
paintings will disintegrate more dur.
Ing the coming winter than in all the
years gone by. They are at the critical
stage. II not preserved now we'll, |
cannot bear to think of the conse.
quences. All. here is Herr Schwartz
muller
Just inside the door. we came upon
a pompous yet servile German who
could not by any NEAR have been mis-
taken for anything but the last word
in restoration.
For ten minutes I allowed them to
expatiate on the perils Of procrasti.
nation in the treatment of rare old
canvases and pigments. and then. hav.
ing formulated my plans, blandly in
Quired what the cost would be.
80 I,,I1 c.,r ~~k v,,4uD thn~ IN nm
marks. perhaps less" said the expert.
rolling his calcu|ative eye upward and
running it along the vast dome Of the
hall as If to figure it out in yards and
inches.
The count vas watching me with an
eager light in his eyes. He looked
away as ! shot ii quick glance at his
face. The whole matter became as
clear as day to me. He was to receive
a handsome commission If the contract
was awarded.
Nearly $4,000. in other words
said | ref1ectively.
"They are worth ten times thai
amount, SIR" said the expert gravely.
| smiled skeptically.
"Hohendahl was nce offered $3.50.
OOO, Mr.. Smart" he said.
"Why didn't he accept it," ! asked
bluntly. HE sold the whole place t.
me. contents included. for less thar
half that amount"
ut was years ago. before he was II
such dire straits" he explained quickly
A terrible suspicion entered my head
| felt myself turn cold. II the fires
Goes were genuine they were wort
all that SchwartZmuller declared: tina
being the case. why should Hohelldah
have let them come to HE for practical
iy nothing when there were dozens o
collectors who would have paid hin
the full price:
LAS a matter Of fact. Count Tarnow
sy," said. resorting to unwOrth,
means. II have every reason to believ
that Hohendahl sold the originals som
time ago aud had then replaced on IN
ceilings by clever limitations. They ar
not worth the anvas they are painle
on"
He started. "lmpossible:.' he erie
sharply.
i, by no means impossible" sal
calmly. now sure OF my ground. IT
be perfectly frank with You. Nv
known from the beginning that the
are fakes. Count HohendahI confesse
. to me at the time our transaction too
place that the frescOes were very n
rent productions. The originals,
think. are in London or New York.
. | saw guilt in the face OF Her
, Schwnrtzm0Iier. | looked straight int
D the Germans eyes and said. "NOw TN
=. | come to think OF 1t, ! am sure Il
mentioned the name OF &hwartZmu
r Ter in connection with the
4 ut Is not true. 1t is not true! roa'
ed the expert without waiting for If
to finish. HE lied to you! We tn
great firm OF Znmpe 4 ~Schwar1muilt
t. we could not be tempted with mi
lions to do such a thing"
l Il step farther In my dedu'
tons. Somehow | had grasped tn