Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-06-04
Thr
4artttnntta
Myatety
By
r. G. WODRHOUSE
Continued from last week
CHAPTER VII.
Copyright
The Solution.

little private sitting-rOOm where the
prOprietress held her court on the
rare occasions when she entertained,
he found Cakes already there. Cakes
was surprised.
"What-are you invited, too? Say
guess this is her idea of winding up
the case formally. A sort of old-home-
week celebration for all concerned"
Cakes laughed.
''Well, all can say is that hope
there won't be another, case of poi
SOning at the Excelsior in the papers
tomorrow. A woman like our hostess
is certain to provide some special
homemade wine for an occasion. We
ought to have had the doctor wait out
side with antidOtes"
Mr.. Snyder did not reply.
It struck Cakes that his employer
was preOccupied and nervous. He
would have inquired into this unusual
frame of mind. but at that moment
the third guest of the evening entered.
Mr.. Snyder looked curiously at the
newcomer. The big German had a
morbid interest for him. Many years
in the exercise of profession which
tends to rob it's votaries of sentiment
had toughened Mr.. Snyder, but there
was something unusual about the
present circumstances which struck
home to his imagination.
He was not used to this furtive
work. Till now he had met his man
in the open as an enemy, and it struck
him as an unpleasantly gruesome
touch that he must presently sit at
meat with one whom it might be his
task to send to the electric chair.
He wished Mrs. Pickett could have
arranged things otherwise; but she
was his employer, and when on duty
in the service of an employer Mr..
Snyder was wont to sink his personal
feelings.
Captain Muller, the German, was an
tective's peculiar position.
1t was not Mr.. Snyder's habit to
trust Overmuch to appearances, but
be could not help admitting that there
was something about this mans as
pect which brought Mrs. Pickett's
charges out of the realm of the fan
tastic into that of the possible.
Here, to a student of men like Mr..
Snyder, was obviously man with
something on his mind. That that
something need not necessarily be
murder, or any crime whatsoever, the
detective admitted.
But under the circumstances the
fact that Captain Muller was in
highly nervous condition was worthy
Of notice if nothing more.
There was something odd-an I'M
natural gloom-abOut the man. He
bore himself like one carrying a heavy
burden. His eyes were dull, his face
baggard.
The next moment the detective was
himself with allowing his
imagination to run away with his
calmer judgment. 1t mortified him to
think that he was permitting himself
be carried away by train of
thought precisely as Cakes would
have been.
Nevertheless, whether it was real
oddness or whether Mrs. Pickett's
words had Overstimulated his fancy,
here certainly did seem something
odd about the German.
Mr. Snyder disposed himself to
watch events.
At this moment Cakes gave evil
lence that he, too, had been struck by
the expression of the others face.
You're not looking well, captain"
ne said.
The German raised his heavy eyes.
II do not sleep goOt."
The door opened and Mrs. Pickett
anne in.
To Mr.. Snyder one of the most re-
1arkable points about the meal, which
or the rest of his life had place of
Is own in his memory, was the pc
rliar metamOrphOsis of Mrs. Pickett
rom the brOoding, silent woman he
ad known to the polished hostess.
Cakes, who had dealt with her in
ar official capacity of owner and man.
ger of the boarding house, was
ltently struck by the change. Mr..
lyder found himself specializing as
the early history of this curious old
oman who was so very much at ease
the head of her own table.
Cakes, that buoyant soul, was IN
le to keep his surprise to himself.
had come prepared to steel his
mach against homemade wine, alb
bed in grim silence, and he found
lself opposite a bottle of cham
ne of brand and year which COM
lded his utmost respect, and
SAINT old lady whose only aim
1ed to be to make him feel at
g.
side each of the guests plates
a neat paper parcel. He picked
p.
by, ma'am, this is princely !
Mrs! I call this very handsome
i, Mrs. Pickett"
$, that is a souvenir, Mr.. Fur
am glad you are pleased"