The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-12

II was ylSltln my sister up III horH'
vile when he come back unexpected
like. This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me
to meet 'em at Spanish Falls but i
never got the letter. Like as not the
durn fool got the address wrong. l
didn't know Mr.. Curtis was home till
come back from my sisters three days
later. wouldn't "a had it happen fer
fifty dollars" Peters tone was con-
vincingly doleful.
"And he has been confined to his
room ever since? Poor old fellow!
It's hard, isn't it?"
"It 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 nothin' like
him." confided Peter. "She's all fuss
an feathers an he Is jest as simple
as you er me. Nothin' fluffy about him,
en- tell ye." He sighed deeply. "Pm
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 jibe with mine."
Long before they came to the turn
pike, Barnes had reduced his hundred
and one suppositiOns 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 O'Dowd he
had leased the property from the wild
owed daughter-in-law, and had estab-
lished nimself there, surrounded by
trustworthy henchmen, for the purpose
of carrying out some dark and sinister
project.
"I suppose Mrs. Collier has spent a
great deal Of time up here with her
brother"
First time she was ever here, so
far as I know" said Peter, and Barnes
promptly took up his weaving once
more.
With one exception, he decided, the
entire company at Green Fancy was
involved in the conspiracy. The ex-
ception was Miss Cameron. 1t was
quite clear to him that she had been
misled or betrayed into her present
position; that a trap had been set for
her and she had walked into it blind
ly, trustingly. This would seem to es-
tablish, 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. Supporters That word
started a 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-
give you job in case you are let out
by Mr.. Curtis. ~ l can't say definitely
until l have communicated with my
sister. who has a summer home in the
| Derkshires."
"I'll be much obliged sir. Course 1
won't say a word. Will find you at
the tavern if I get my walkin' papers
soon?"
Eyes. 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
desk and facing him was the little
book agent.
Hello, stranger" greeted the land
lord. Been sashaying in society, hey?
Meet my friend Mr.. Sprouse, Mr..
Barnes. Sic-em, Sprouse! Give him
the Dickensv Mr.. Jones laughed loud
ly at his own jest.
Sprouse shook hands with his vic
! tim.
II was just saying to our friend
Jones here, Mr.. Barnes, that you look
like more than ordinarily intelligent
man and that if had a chance to buzz
with you for a quarter of an hour I
could present a proposition"
Sorry, Mr.. Sprouse, but 1t is half
past eleven o'clock, and l am dog-tired.
! You will have to excuse me-"
Tomorrow morning will suit me-"
said Sprouse cheerfully, IF it suits
vou."