Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-17

4 amt seen him in more'n six
months. He was failin' then. That's
why he went to the city"
"Oh. I see. You did not see him
when he arrived the last Of march,"
Il was visitln' my sister up in Horn
willie when he come back unexpected
like This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me
to meet 'em at Spanish Falls but l
never got the letter. Like as not the
durn fOOs got the address wrong. l
didn't know Mr.. Curtis was home till l
come back from my sisters three days
later. l wouldn't a had it happen fer
fifty dollars" Peters tone was con-
vinelngly dOleful.
"And he has been confined to his
room ever since? Poor old fellow
It's hard. isn't IT."
at sure is. Seems like he'll never
be able to walk ag'in. was talkin' to
his nurse only the other day. He says
it's a hopeless case"
Fortunately his sister can be here
with him."
by gosh. she amt nOthln' like
him." eonfided Peter. "Shes all fuss
an feathers an he is jest as simple
as you er me. NOthln' fluffy about him,
en- tell We" He sighed deeply. 'Tm
jest as well pleased to go as not" he
went on. "Mrs. Golfers got lot O.
money of her own, an she's got high
falutin' New York ideas that don't
seem to ilbe with NINE"
Long before they came to the turn
pike, Barnes had reduced his hundred
and one supposliions to the following
concrete conclusion: Green Fancy
was no longer in the hands Of its orig
inal owner for the good and sufficient
reason that Mr.. Curtis was dead. The
real master Of the house was the man
known as Loeb. Through 0Dowd he
had leased the property from the wild
owed daughter-in-law, and had estab-
lished himself there, surrounded by
henchmen, for the purpose
Of carrying out some dark and sinister
project.
81 suppose Mrs. Collier has spent a
great deal of time up here with her
brother"
"First time she was ever here, so
far as l know" said Peter, and Barnes
took up his weaving once
more.
With one exception, he decided, the
entire company at Green Fancy was
involved in the conspiracy. The ex-
ceptlon was Miss Cameron. 1t was
quite clear to him that she had been
misled or betrayed into her present
position; that trap had been set for
her and she had walked into 1t blind
ly, trustingly. This would seem to es.
tabllsh, beyond question, that her cap
ture and detention was vital to the in
terests Of the plOtters; otherwise she |
would not have been lured to Green |
Fancy under the impression that she !
was to find herself among friends and /
Supporters That word
started new train of thought. He
could hardly wait for the story that
was to fall from her lips.
'By the way, Peter, it has just oc-
Cured TO me that may be able to .
give you job in case you are let out
by Mr., Curtis. l can't say definitely
until | have communicated with my
sister, who has Il summer home in the /
Berkshires."
'Tll be much Obliged sir. Course |
won't say word. viii find you at
the tavern If | get my walliin' papers
soonp
'Yes. Stop in to see me tomorrow If
you happen to be passing"
Barnes said good night to the man
and entered the tavern a few minutes
later, Putnam Jones was behind the
lesk and facing him was the little
book agent.
Hello, stranger" greeted the land
ord. Been sashaylng in society, heyl
Meet my friend Mr.. Sprouse, Mr..
Barnes. Sic-em, Sprouse Give him
he Dickensl" Mr.. Jones laughed loud
y at his own jest.
SprOuse shook hands with his vic
i'm.
81 was just saying to our friend
tones here, Mr.. Barnes, that you lOOk
ike more than ordinarily intelligent
ian and that If had a chance to buzz
'ith you for quarter Of an hour /
)uld present a proposition"
Sorry, Mr. SprOuse, but II is half
nst eleven O'Clock, and I am dog-tlred.
Ou will have to excuse me-"
Tomorrow morning win suit me-"
nd Sprouse cheerfully, "if it suits
ou." L
CHAPTER xI. 4
Ir. sprouse Abandons Literature at
an Early Hour in the Mornino {