Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-09
The Oanishinq Men

arising, walked along the rows of
books looking at the titles; In less
than three minutes hes had found the
other copy of the quaint old book and
taken It down.
He blew the dust off the once gilded
top of its pages and as he did so he
noticed that at one place the pages
did not quite press close together.
The volume fell open there-at page
thirty-seven. The two preceding
leaves of the book had been torn out
He went back to the desk chair sat
down, thrust his feet out straight be-
fore shim and whistled.
After a few moments he opened the
first copy of Father Carlos" again
and read over the paragraphs on page
thirty-two.
Serpent with feathers like bird"
he said as one who desires to hear the
words so that their meaning shall be
more clear. He was thinking Of the
scrap of paper in his pocket-that
scrap of paper that Jim Hennepin had
left inadvertently with Brena when
she saw him for the last time. that
scrap of paper with the crudely drawn
figure of the feathered serpent-the
god, Kuk-ul-can-and the two scrawled
words, "This Sign
He took out this scrap and walking
to window, with it's barred grating
through which the gray east wind was
hurting more rain against the spat-
tered panes, he examined the hand
writing. With the manner of a guilty
man engaged in some nefarious and
shameful performance, he drew forth
Brena's letter of introduction adj
dressed to Lanfrew, the attorney. on
ened it, and holding the two pieces of
writing side by side glanced from one
to the other. The capital S in the
word "Sign" was not like hers. And
| yet
He paced again, thinking; then
uttering an exclamation, he pulled
open the lower drawer of the desk and
| took out handful of Parmalee's can
celed checks. Shifting one behind the
other, he went on hurriedly glancing
at the dates until he had found one
for eighty dollars made payable to
'Brena Selcoss Parmalee."
Almost viciously he slapped this one
over onto its face and stared down at
the endorsement on the back. PAY
to Bearer, Brena Selcoss Parmalee."
"That will do" he said and thrust
it in his pocket.
He returned to the lower drawer
again, threw out upon the desk top
the many little books that his casual
observation had determined were
Compton Parmalees private books of
| account.
Lets see-seven years." said
Peter. "This one may do. Nineteen
twelve And this one. Nineteen
| eleven"
Opening the first, he began search
Of it's entries. For more than three
hours he went over the items in the
rough accounting system of Parmalee.
At the end of his amateur audit he
thrust the books under his arm,
looked at his watch, left the library,
took his wet hat and overcoat, and be-
fore he went out of the house, he
stopped for moment to listen to the
hush within its four evil walls and to
| the whine of the wind outside.
There was time to see Lanfrew IL he
! could catch train for New York
without too much delay, and If good
fortune would hold the lawyer in his
office. Peter wanted to get from the
last man who talked with Parmalee
one fact that had perplexed him. So
much did he want to put an end to
doubts which had grown that when he
had reached the city and gone down
town on a subway express and had
stood at the mahogany rail in the office
until he had heard that Lanfrew was
there, he walked through and over the
protests of young law clerk, directly
into the room OF the head Of the firm.
DeWolfe, with his only character
istic vividness Of expression, had once
said, "There are three kinds of law
yers-silky pomeranians, lean foxes
and bulldogs" Lanfrew was distinct
ly bull dog.
Lanfrew spoke no sentence that he
did not begin with low growI; he
| gave the impression to his clients, per-
| haps by Intention, that he was the per-
soniication Of wrath and Of reckon
ings, and the fierce instrument of a
terrible and brutal justice. This was
worth many thousands year to him.
When he had read Brenas letter, he
tossed it on the desk and, glowering at
Peter, he said, well"
II came to ask" DeWolfe began.
'Yes?" the other interrupted with a
growl.
Peter pointed at the letter.
II know" snarled Lanfrew. SIN
| at your service"
"You were the last man who ever