Gunnison news-champion., 1920-03-26

Aoa 1ck oA A@T 1--p-S
q, the keeper Of boarding house. Mr.
Burton I am an ambitious h0stesa
/ do not often give these little par
ties, but when do like to do my best
to make them = success l want each
Of you to remember this dinner Of
mine"
I'm sure / shall"
Mr.. Pickett smiled.
Il think you all viii You. SIR. Sny-
der" She -.sed- And you. Captain
Muller"
To Mr.. Snyder there was 50 much
meaning In her voice as she said this
that he was amazed that IL conveyed
no warning to the German
Captain Muller however. was al
ready drinking neavily. He looked
W whsn uGGTs-s=-i and uttered a
sound which might hav" been taken
for an expression 81 polite acqules-
cenoe Then he filled his glass again.
Mr Snyder. cyeinr his hostess with
tense watchfuluess which told him
that his nerves we're strung TO their
utmost. fancled that her eyes CLEANED
for an instant with sinister light.
1, faded next moment. as she turned
20 speak 20 Oakes, who WIS stlIl fin
gering his parcel With the restless Gu
riosity Of boy.
DO we open these. ma'amf-
Not yet. Mr.. Burton
I'm wondering what mine is"
Il hope Il will no; be 4 dlsappo!nt-
ment To you"
sense OF the strnngeness Of the
situation came over nr. Snyder with
renewed force rs the meal progressed
He looked round the table and Won
der-d II an odder quartet had ever
been assembled.
Oakes. his fears that the duliness OF
this dInner-party would eClips. the
dullness OF all other dinner parties In
his experience miraculously relieved.
was at peace with all men. He was
In high spirits and waxed gnrrulous
over his wine.
Nr. Snyder could read his mind cas-
iiy enough. II was when he attempted
TO guess at the thoughts OF his hostess
and the German that he was baffied.
What was that heavy man with the
dull eyes thinking OF as he drnined and
refilled his :lass7 And the old woman7
She had slipped back. once the party
had begun TO progress smoothly. into
something Of her former grim man
ner. and conversation at table had
practically developed into IA mono
Iogue on the part OF the unconscious
Oakes
Nr b.. Sa1,
| myst"rlously deprived OF his usual
healthy appetite and simultaneously
/ of the easy GenlalIty which distin-
1 gu!shed him. He sat and crumbied
bread. neryously watchful-
Oakes picked up his souvenir again.
He had been nddling with IL AT inter
walls for the past quarter Of an hour.
/ Surely now. ma'amI' he said plain
lively
Il did not want them opened till
after dinner" said Mrs. Pickett. But
just as you please"
Oakes tore the wrapper eagerly. He
produced little silver matchbox.
Thank you kindly. na'am," he
said. Just what have always
wanted"
Mr. Snyder's parcel revealed
watch-charm fashioned In the shape
OF dark lantern.
That" said Mrs. Pickett. SIS a com.
pliment TO your profession She
leaned toward the German. Mr.. Sny.
der is n detective. Captain Muller"
The German looked up.
1t seemed to Mr. Snyder that look
Of fear lit up his heavy eyes for an
Instant. II came and went. II indeed
1t came at all, so swiftly that he could
not be certain.
"So?" said Captain Muller.
He spoke quite evenly, with Just the
amount OF interest which such an an.
nouncement would naturally produce !;
but Mr.. Snyder was conscious OF
return OF his old feeling OF distrust
for the man.
He had been fighting against this
all the evening, for he had profes
sional horror OF approaching any case
in biased frame OF mind. He was
trying his hardest not TO prejudge this
suspect. but he found himself waver
ing.
Now for yours. captain" said
Oakes. Il guess It's something special
It's twice the size OF mine, anyway"
II may have been something in the
old woman's expression as she watched
the German slowly tearing the paper
that sent a thrill Of excitement through
Mr.. Snyder.
Something seemed to warn him OF
the approach OF the psychological mo.
ment. He bent forward eagerly. Un-
der the table his hands were clutching
his knees in bruislng grip.
There was strangled gasp, a clat.
ter. and onto the table from the Ger
mans hands there fell a little har-
monica.
In the silence which followed all