Gunnison news-champion., 1920-03-26
Chr
Nurn.untra
My5trry
By
r. C. WODRHOUSR
CHAPTER VII.
C1FyrlEai
Tte Soiutton.

rur,. n.. .a..ra Etsu -hr entertained
he found uaErs al-vHdy there. Oak"r
va -r-'.r.-s7l
"wta'- arc you invited. too7 Say l
que 'h.~ .~ her li"n ~ winding uT
tn" ca-.. '.rru.ly \ sort II old home.
wr.-l celebration Tor all concerned.
Oat-- laughed
~W"il. aII / raU sIy Is that ] hop"
therc won't b.. aln'h"r case Of poi.
routng NJ n" EN~"I-.ur In III" papers
tumurr,gy 4 .uluu IIk" our hostess
is r'--ra 20 provide some special
hotn.-rl rt, win" fa- an occasion. W.
ourh' 'u '.., Dr." 'h, doctor wait out.
sli" wlrh ar'lam'rs
Mr Suyt~r d.c not reply.
II s'ru,E DHk,- that his employer
was pr,rr,gl.rd and nervous He
would hayr .no.. rot INTO this unusual
fran. ~ wrl bu' at that moment
III" third ru,-' o. he evening entered.
NJ Surl,r 'unI,d cu-,uusly at the
new cnrf..- The. hIE German had Il
mor'It fr-rr.--' for him Many years
In the "N.-r,4-.. ~ a profession which
tends ~ -rh .'- v,'Hr.rs Of sentiment
had iuushra,.i Mr. Snyder. but .herc
was -"ilr'i.rs unusual about the
prcscut circumstances which struck
HON" to IN IMAGINATION.
He ~us u.' used To- this furtiye
work T.U nov Ar had met his man
in the ul,n a- ar. ,-r~tuy. and II struck
him as Hu uurr-asIn'Iy gruesOme
touch that b" must presently sit at
meat With ui.v wLum 1t might be his
tnsk 70 scga 'u the electric chair.
II. wished Mrs. Pickett could have
nrrunGrh things otherwise: but she
wns his employer. and when on duty
In IN" service ~ an employer Mir
Snyder was wont 10 sink his personal
fc"Iinr~
Captain Muller. the German. was an
interesting study 10 on" in the de-
tectlyr peculiar position.
II was not Mr., Snyder's habit to
trust ovrrrnuch to Appearances, but
be could not help admitting that there
was something about this mans as
pcct which brought Mrs. Pickctt's
charges out Of the realm Of the fan
tnstlC into that Of the possible.
Here to a student Of men like Mr..
Snyder WAS obviously q man with
something on his mind That that
somcthIn. need not necessarily be
murder. or any crime whatsoever, the
detective admitted
But under the circumstances the
fact that Captain Muller was In a
highly nervous condition was worthy
Of notice II nothing more.
There was something odd-an un-
natural gloom-about the man He
bore himself Ike one carrying II heavy
burden. His eyes were dull. his face
haggard.
The next moment the detective was
reproachIng himself with allowing his
Imagination to run away with his
calmer judgment. 1t mortified him 10
think that he was permitting himself
TO be carried away by train OF
thought precisely ns Oakes would
have been.
Nevertheless. whether 1t was a real
oddneSs or whether Mrs. Pickett's
words had overstlmnlated his fancy
there certainly did seem something
odd about the German.
Mr.. Snyder disposed himself to
watch events.
At this moment Oakes gave evil
denCe that he. too. had been struck by
the expression OF the others face.
you're not looking well. captain.
he said.
The German raised his heavy eyes
Il do not sleep goot."
The door opened and Mrs. Pickett
came in.
10 Mr.. Snyder one of the most re,
markable points about the meal. which
for the rest OF his life had a place OF
Its own In his memory. was the pc,
culiar metamorphOsis OF Mrs. Pickett
from the brOodlug. silent woman he
had known to the polished hostess.
Oakes, who had dealt with her in
her official capacity of owner and man,
ager Of the boarding house. was
patiently struck by the change Mr.
Snyder found himself speculating as
to the early history of this curious old
woman who was so very much at ease
at the head of her own table.
Oakes, that buoyant soul. was un
able to keep his surprise to himself
He had come prepared to steel his
stomach against homemade wine, ab
sorbed in grim silence. and he found
himself opposite bottle of cham
pagne of brand and year which com
manded his utmost respect. and q
pleasant old lady whose only ain
seemed to be to make him feel a,
home.
Beside each of the guests plate.
was q neat paper parcel. He picked
his up.
-why, ma'am. this Is prineely
Souvenirs! ! call this very handsome
Of you. Mrs. Pickett!"
~Yes. that. Is a souvenir. Mr.. Bur
too. am glad you are pleased"
-Pieasedf I am overwhelmed