years; dairy, fifteen cows; forehanded, thrifty. Humph! Good pay, I
guess."

He cocked his head to one side and eyed his employer, fingering a wisp of
black silk on his upper lip.

"And the other?"

The second volume was spread open upon the desk. Clerk Pelman flung
himself upon it with savage fury.

"Bowen, Chauncey, son William Bowen, born 1872--um--um--married Louise
Hill 92--um--divorced '96; married Laura Wing '96--see Lottie Hall. Ran
hotel at Larren '95 to '97; sheriff's sale '97; worked Bowen Farm '97 to
1912; bought Eagle Hotel, Vesper, after death of William Bowen, 1900.
Traded Eagle Hotel for Griffin Farm, 1912; sold Griffin Farm, 1914; clerk
Simon's hardware store, Emmonsville, Pennsylvania. Heavy drinker, though
seldom actually drunk; suspected of some share in the Powers affair,
or some knowledge, at least; poker fiend. Bank note protested and paid by
endorser 1897, and again in 1902; has since repaid endorsers. See Larren
Hotel, Eagle Hotel."

"Show him in," said Mitchell.

"Walters?" The impish clerk cocked his head on one side again and gulped
down a chuckle at his own wit.

"Bowen, fool! Jennie Page, his mother's sister, died last week and left
him a legacy--twelve hundred dollars. I'll have that out of him, or most
of it, as a first payment."