indow only to
reappear at another window. Mr. Gubb, following the directions as laid
down in Lesson Four of the Correspondence Lessons, dropped to his
hands and knees and crept silently toward the "Paul Pry." When within
a few feet of him, Mr. Gubb seated himself tailor-fashion on the
grass.
As Philo sat on the damp grass, the man at the window turned his head,
and Mr. Gubb noted with surprise that the stranger had none of the
marks of a sodden criminal. The face was that of a respectably
benevolent old German-American gentleman. Kindliness and good-nature
beamed from its lines; but at the moment the plump little man seemed
in trouble.
"Good-evening," said Mr. Gubb. "I presume you are taking an
observation of the dinner-party within the inside of the club."
The old gentleman turned sharply.
[Illustration: A HEAD SILHOUETTED AGAINST ONE OF THE GLOWING WINDOWS]
"Shess!" he said. "I look at der peoples eading and drinking. Alvays I
like to see dot. Und sooch goot eaders! Dot man mit der black beard,
he vos a schplendid eader!"
Mr. Gubb raised himself to his knees and looked into the dining-room.
"That," he said, "is the Honorable Mr. Jonas Medderbrook, the
wealthiest rich man in Riverbank."
"Metterbrook? Mettercrook?" said the old German-American. "Not Chones,
eh?"
"Not Jones, to my present personal knowledge at this time," said Philo
Gubb.
"Not Chones!" repeated the plumply benevolent-looking German-American.
"Dot vos stranche! You vos sure he vos not Chones?"
"I'm quite almost positive upon that point of knowledge," said Philo
Gubb, "for I have under my arm a golf cup I am returning back to Mr.
Medderbrook to receive five hundred dollars reward from him for."
"So?" queried the stranger. "Fife hunderdt dollars? Und it is his
cup?"
"It is," said Philo Gubb. He raised the cup in his hand that the
stranger might read the inscription stating that the cup was Jonas
Medderbrook's.
The light of the window made the engraving easy to read, but the old
German-American first drew from his pocket a pair of gold-rimmed
spectacles and adjusted them carefully on his nose. He then took the
cup and moved closer to the window and read the inscription.
"Shess! Shess!" he agreed, nodding his head several times, and then he
smiled at Mr. Gubb a broadly benevolent smile. "Oxcoose me!" he added,
and with gentle deliberation he removed Mr. Gubb's hat. "Shoost a
minute, please!" he continued, and with his free
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