"I've seen him before, but where?" Joe asked himself not once but
several times.

The man registered as David Ball, and put down his address as Butte,
Montana. He said he was a mining expert, but added that he was sick and
the doctors had ordered him to come East for a rest.

"'ve heard of Riverside being a nice place," said he, "so I came on
right after striking Pittsburg."

"We shall do all we can to make your stay a pleasant one," said the
hotel proprietor, politely.

"All I want is a nice sunny room, where I can get fresh air and take it
easy," said the man.

He was willing to pay a good price, and so obtained one of the best
rooms in the house, one overlooking the river and the lake. He ate one
meal in the dining room, but after that he had his meals sent to his
apartment.

"Is he sick?" asked Joe, after watching the man one day.

"He certainly doesn't seem to be well," answered Andrew Mallison.

"It runs in my mind that I have seen him before, but I can't place him,"
went on our hero.

"You must be mistaken, Joe. I questioned him and he says this is his