Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-09-16
CHAPTER III
A Caller

again in the Office of Leon Barrows.
The mind Of Bart Rogers was the
abiding place of only vague realiza-
lions; it seemed unable to centralize
its functions. At last, however, here
came the sharp sound to quick steps
In the hail. and the banging of the
door as Leon Barrows entered. The
thin-faced attorney glanced toward
Bart and went to his desk.
WELL" he asked in his snappy, sar-
sastic manner, ''why haven't you gone
70 bed?"
u was waiting for you. 1 didn't
want to go until | was sure everything
bad been taken care Of"
Il told you that I would do it, didn't
az
"Yes-of course"
Then, that should have been the
end Of It,"
you've taken care of everything?"
Certainly"
"Will-will there be the necessity
FOR an inquest?"
IAN inquestY The attorney looked
at him sharply. "For whatT
IL didn't know. 1 always thought
n was necessary to have an inquest
when a person died without medical
attention"
You're crazy" rhe attorney said
IT in a jerky, unsympathetic manner.
Everybody knows what was wrong
u-jF Got
Looked after it personally. Hoffman,
the undertaken has got everything ar
ranged. Isn't anybody you want to
send for?"
No Bart Rogers shook his head
there's no one who would be inter
ested"
What 1 thought. Any other reason
FOR deay?"
"on-On the funeral2 1 don't know
of any"
Il figured 1t that way. Told Hoffman
that we'd better have the funeral to-
morrow afternoon. On account of this
boom thing. This towns gone crazy
and It'll get worse every minute"
Bart nodded in dazed fashion. Leon
Barrows shufied a few papers OF one
Of the orderly piles.
VERY well, them" came his conclu-
sion. Glad you look at it in that
way. Thought you'd be sensible; that's
why | told Hoffman to go ahead. I've
gotten you room over at the hotel.
No 21 Here's the key. Go over
there and go to bed"
Bart Rogers rose and stared hazlly
about him.
"Thanks-for looking after things
for me. It's rather taken me off my
feet l."
go on to bed"
The lawyer nodded CURLY toward
tae door in dismissal, and Bart Rogers
obeyed. A moment later he found
himself on the crowded sidewalk.
There was noise, there was buster,
the laughter of women and girls min
ged with the shouts of men. Every
where was the enthusiasm of new
Eound wealth, as though every person
were to share in it, and as though each
enc of those who crowded the streets
vi this outbrrst of joy were part
o"aer in that great outpouring of
aqgid gold that was spraying against
the starlit sky out there on the black
ness of the plains.
It was through this milling, jumbied
fsrUng that Bart Rogers, his eyes set
snd staring, his lips tight drawn, his
features old and haggard, was forced
70 make his way to the hotel. That
ne should have been part of it, he
felt instinctively-yet it was all
strange to him, all out of place, and,
IN way, cruel. For Bart Rogers
could only think of the patient person
who had waited silently by the window
day after day, who had undergone suf-
iering, even privation that he might
play his part-only to lose in the end
At last, however, he halted, at touch
on his arm, and looked down into the
features Of Anita Franniston, followed