The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-06-22
Copyriqhf by Ed~in BoImer
SYNOPSIS


BENJAMIN Corvet is something of a re-
cluse and q mystery to his associates.
After a stormy interview with his part
stance Sheriff.. daughter of his other
business partner. Lawrence Sheriff.. and
gpearman. He then disappears. Sheriff.
learns Corvet has written to a certain
sad esSiSssd ssnanss oxsr shs
matter.
Conrad. a youth of unknown parentage,
to Chicago.
CHAPTER III.-From a statement of
Sheriff. 1t seems probable Conrad is Cor
yet's llegitimate son. Corvet has decided
his house and its contents to Alan.
CHAPTER Iv.-Alan takes possession
OF his new home.
CHAPTER.v.-That night Alan discov-
resu drawers IN Corvets ns sparsments. etn a The %
appearance Of Alan tremendously agitates
the the, intruder: who appears % & to think him ms,
a struggle the man escapes
CHAPTER vI-Next day Alan learns
from Sheriff. that Corvet has decided his
entire property to him. Introduced to
covery that he is the man whom he had
found in his house the night before.
CHAPTER vII.-Alan tells no one of
his strange encounter but in private
interview taxes Spearman with the fact.
SpearD,an laughs at and defies him.
CHAPTER vIII.-Corvets Indian serv-
his employer is dead. He also tells him
the legend of the Indian Drum. which ac-
to os oia on Pthe Great akes TweD
ty years before. the great freighter MI
waka had gone down with twenty-five on
only twenty y-four. leaving the Inference
that one person; had been saved. since II
erred. Pursuing a stranger who had.
made a disturbance at his house. Alan
His reply. he recognized. only made
her more certain that there was some
thing the matter, but he could not add
anything to 1t. He found Luke. when
he went back to him, still in coma;
the bloodshot veins stood out against
the ghastly grayness of his face, and
his stertorous breathing sounded
through the rooms.
Constance Sheriff. had come In
few moments before from an after
noon reception; the servants told her
at once that something was happening
at Mr.. Corvet's. They had heard
shouts and had seen a man pounding
upon the door there, but they had not
taken It upon themselves to go over
there. She had told the chauffeur to
wait with the motor and had run at
once to the telephone and called Alan;
his attempt to put her of made her
certain that what had happened was
not finished but was still going on.
Her anxiety and the sense Of their re-
sponsibility for Alan overrode at once
all other thought. She told the serv-
ants to call her father at the Office
and tell him something was wrong at
Mr.. Corvet's; then she called her maid
and hurried out to the motor.
ITO Mr.. Corvet's-quickly |" she d.
rected.
Looking through the front doors Of
her car as 1t turned into Astor street,
she saw a young man, carrying a doc
tors case. run up the steps of Cor
vets house. Constance recognized
him as young doctor who was start
ing In practice In the neighborhood. He
was just being admitted as sne and
her maid reached the steps. Alan stood
holding the door open and yet block
ing entrance when she came up.
"You must not come in! !" he denied
her; but she followed the doctor SO
that Alan could not close the door
upon her. He yielded then. and she
and her maid went on into the hall.
She started as she saw the figure
upon the couch in the library, and as
the sound Of its heavy breathing
reached her; and the wild fancy which
had come to her when the servants
had told her of what was going on
a fancy that Uncle Benny had come
back-was banished instantly.
Alan led her into the room across
from the library.
you shouldn't have come in," he
said. II shouldn't have let you in |;
but-you saw him."
"Yes."
"Do you know himf"
know himr She shook her head.
'T mean, you've never seen him be-
foreT
NO" ,..
His name is Luke-he speaks Of
himself by that name. Did you ever
hear my father mention man named
Luker
mo; never"
Luke's voice cut suddenly their con-
versation; the doctor probably had
given him some stimulant.
"Where'sh Ben Corvet?" Luke de-
manded arrogantly of the doctor.
"You go get Ben Corvet! Tell Ben
Corvet I want drink right away. Tell
Ben Corvet 1 want my thousan' dol
lar d. !"
Constance turned swiftly to her
maid. go out to the car and wait
for me-" she commanded.
Luke's muffied, heavy voice went on ;
moments while he fought for breath
interrupted II.