e?" 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
first trip to the East, although he has frequently visited St. Louis and
Chicago."

On the following day the man called for a physician and Doctor Gardner
was sent for.

"I've got pains here," said the man from the West, and pointed to his
chest. "Do you think I am getting consumption?"

The Riverside physician made a careful examination and then said the man
had probably strained himself.

"Reckon I did," was the ready answer. "I was in the mine and a big rock
came down on me. I had to hold it up for ten minutes before anybody came
to my aid. I thought I was a dead one sure."

"I will give you some medicine and a liniment," said the doctor.
"Perhaps you'll feel better after a good rest." And then he left.

That afternoon Joe had to go up into the hotel for something and passed
the room of the new boarder. He saw the man standing by the window,
gazing out on the water.

"I'm dead certain I've seen him before," mused our hero. "It is queer I
can't think where."

Doctor Gardner wanted to be taken across the lake and Joe himself did
the job. As he was rowing he asked about the man who had signed the
hotel register as David Ball from Montana.

"Is he very sick, doctor?"

"No, I can't say that he is," was the physician's answer. "He looks to
be as healthy as you or I."

"It's queer he keeps to his room."

"Perhaps something happened out at his mine to unsettle his nerves.