The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-03-11
and left everything he had-everything

and left everything he had-everytlling
to me?"
"If Mr.. Corvet does not return, and
I do not receive any other instructions,
I shall take over his estate, as he has
instructed, for your advantage"
"And, Mr.. Sheriff., he didn't tell you
why? This is all you know|'
"Yes; you have everything now. All
we can do, Alan, is to search for him
In every way We can. There will be
others searching for him too now for
information of his disappearance has
got out. There have been reporters at
the office this morning making in
quiries, and his disappearance will be
in the afternoon papers"
Sheriff. put the papers back In their
envelope, and the envelope back into
the drawer, which he reiocIed: .
II went over all this with Mr.. Spear
man this morning." lie said. He is as
much at loss to explain it as 1 am" -"
He was silent for few moments.
The transfer of Mr.. Corvet's prop
critics to me for you," he said sudden
ly, includes, as you have seen, Cor
vets interest in the firm Of 'COrvet,
Sheriff. & Spearman.' went very
carefully through the deeds and trans
fers in the deposit box, and it was
plain that, while he had taken great
care with the forms Of transfer for all
the properties, he had taken particular
pains with whatever related to his
holdings in this company and to his
shipping interests. If make over the
properties to you, Alan, shall begin
your father was particularly anxious
that you should take personal as
well as a financial place among the
melr who control the traffic of the
lakes. l have told Spearman that this
is my intention. He has not been able
to see it my way as yet; but he may
change his views, think, after meet.
ing you."
Sheriff. got up. Alan arose little
unsteadily. The list Of properties he
had read and the letter and Sherrill's
statement portended so much that its
meaning could not all come to him ut
once. He followed Sheriff. through a
Short private corridor, flanked with
files lettered "CTrvct, Sheriff., and
Spearman," into the large room he had
seen when he came in with Constance.
They crossed this, and Sheriff., with
out knocking, opened the door Of the
office marked, Mr. Spearman." Alan,
looking on past Sheriff. as the door
opened, saw that there were some half
dozen men in the room, smoking and
talking. His gaze went swiftly on past
these men to the one who, half seated
on the top Of the fiat desk. had been
talking to them; and his pulse closed
upon his heart with shock; he start
ed. choked with astonishment. then
swiftly forced himself under control.
For this was the man whom he had
met and whom he had fought in Ben
jamin Corvet's house the night before
the big man surprised in his bias
phemy of Corvet and Of souls ''in h--l'
who, at sight Of an apparitton with a
bullet hole above it's eye. had cried out
in his fright. You got Ben But you
won't get me-d-n you! D-n you !"
4Alan's shoulders drew up slightly,
md the muscles Of his hands tight
ened. as Sheriff. led him to this man.
Sheriff. put his hand on the mans
shoulder: his other hand was still on
Alan's arm.
Henry" he said to the man. this
is Alan Conrad. Alan. want you to
know my partner. Mr.. Spearman."
Spearman nodded an ackroW!edg.
ment. but did not put on; his hand ;
his eyes-steady, bold, watchful eyes
seemed measuring Alan attentively
and in return Alan, with his gaze, was
measurin. him.
| Sr Mat 1oa,,nl