The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-05-13

sy Mt once"
"A middle aged man with the upper
button of his wastcoat OFF," she asked
sharply.
I'll can't say as to the button"
~ am expecting one OF my lawyers.
1t must be he. He was to have but
ton off,
I'm look him over again." said Poop
endyke.
DO. And be careful not to let the
count catch Il glimpse OF him. That
would be fatal.'
mo danger of that. He went at
once to old Conrad's ROOM
Good. | had note from him this
morning. Mr.. Smart. He is Mr.. Bangs
of London"
May ] inquire, countess. how you
manage to have letters delivered to
you here? isn't it extremely danger
GUS to have them go through the
mails?"
"They are all directed to the
Schmicks. she explained. "They are
passed on to me. Now go and see the
count. Don't lend him any money"
The count was waiting for me in
the loggia.
ut is good to see you again. old fel-
low" he said, with an amiability that
surprised me. Il was afraid you might
hold a grievance against me. You
Americans are queer chaps. you know"
Consummate assurance! had not
touched drop of anything that night.
II assure you. Count Tarnowsy. the
little tilt. as you are pleased to call
it. was Of no consequence. l had quite
forgotten that it occurred Sorry you
reminded me Of it."
The irony was wasted. He beamed.
MY dear fellow. shall we not shake
handsY
There was something irresistibly
winning about him. as I've said before.
We shook bands with what seemed to
be genuine fervor.
II suppose you are wondering what
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
from Munchen to look over your fine
old frescoes and to give you an esti.
mate, Well. he is here. the very best
man in Europe"
II am sure 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."
he cried in horror. "My dear fellow.
don't tell me that! You are certain to
make dreadful mistake If you listen
to any one but Schwartzmuiler. He is
the last word in restorations He is
checked him. II have virtually de-
cided to let the whole matter 20 over
until next spring. However, | shall be
happy to nave Mr. Schwartzmuller'
opinion. We may be able to plan
ahead''
look of disappointment fitted
across his face. The suggestion OF
hard old age crept into his features
for second and then disappeared.
Delays are dangerous" he said.
NAN JuAs,AA1Sill Is SANl luOSe SOESGOuS
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-well, |
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 means have been mis-
taken for anything but the last word
in restoration.
For ten minutes l 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.
III should say not more than 10000
marks. perhaps less" said the expert,
rolling his calculatiye eye upward and
running it along the vast dome Of the
hall as if to figure it out in yards and
inches.
The count was watching me with an
eager light in his eyes. He looked
away as | shot Il quick glance at his
face. The whole matter became as
clear as day to me. He was to receive
Il handsome commission if the contract
was awarded
NEARLY $4,000, in other Words"
said ret1ectively.
"Ihey are worth ten times that
amount, SIR" said the expert gravely.
smiled skeptically.
"Hohendahl was once offered $780,.
600. Mr.. Smart" he said.
why didn't he accept it," l asked
bluntly. He sold the whole place to
me. contents included. for less than
half that amount"
ut was years ago. before he was in
such dire straits" he explained quickly.
A terrible suspicion entered my head.
felt myself turn cold. 1t the fres-
Goes were genuine they We're worth
all that SchwartZmuller declared; that