Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-13

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things upon the scientific value of his
work in all its aspects. He manifested
no external sign of annoyance, how
ever, as he answered, with smile:
81 am not man of science now, but
only reporter"
''In that case" replied Murdoch, "let
us talk of something else. I should be
pleased to discuss my chemical re-
searches with Mr.. Sturgis, the scientist;
but with Mr.. Sturgis, the reporter, l
should prefer to talk about something
in his line of knowledge; let me see,
shall we say the Knickerbocker bank
mystery, for instance?''
The reporters ear detected the ven
omous sarcasm to which he was now
accustomed from this strange man.
He raised his eyes to those of the ohem-
list, and for the space of a fea seconds
the two men looked steadily into each
others souls.
Then sudden light flashed across
Sturgis' brain, and he started percepti-
ny ~ ehS SliliS tlliS lie
saw shadow cross Murdock's impas-
sive features; but in this he might have
been mistaken, for when he looked
again the chemist was regarding him
with an air of mild curiosity.
as anything the matter, Mr.. Stur-
gis?" he asked.
"Only a sudden thought" carelessly
ranliaI 10 Ill
had completely recovered from the mo-
mentary shock produced by the sud-
denness of the suspicion which had
crossed his mind. Your mention of
the Knickerbocker bank mystery re-
minded me of something, that is ALL"
Ever since Sprague's dinner said
Murdoch, 81 have been devoting all my
spare time to the reading of the Tenn
pest, in the hope of finding there SEN
sational account, with glazing head
| lines, of the brilliant wosS of our dis
tinguished reporter, Mr.. Sturgis."
Sturgis made no reply. His eyes were
fixed upon the typewriter which stood
near Murdocll's desk.
Up to the present time" continued
Murdoch, II have not seen anything to
cause me to worry about my stakes"
81 have still 2s days in which to COM
plete my case" said Sturgis.
True" replied Murdoch. 'Well. l
wish you luck. If | can render you any
assistance in your Investigations l
hope you will call upon me. In the
cause of science / would willingly jeop-
I s,t.l,y ~,
need to consult any works of reference,
my library is at your disposal. / am
told that, at least on the subjects in
which you are interested, it is quite
complete
He observed the reporter narrowly,
as if to mark the effect OF his words.
ut is" replied Sturgis, after an al
most imperceptible hesitation; 81 have
already admired it,"
..Indeed?" said Murdoch, arching his
brows in mild surprise.
Yes; stepped into the library for
few minutes while was waiting for
/ YOU"
"Ah! yes; l see."
Murdoch gave the reporter another
searching look. Then he leant back
in his easy chair with half-closed eyes
and silently pulled away at his cigar
for few minutes.
/ Had Sturgis been able to read the
sinister thoughts which were passing
through the mind of this impassive
man as he sat apparently in lazy en-
/ joyment of his fragrant Havana, it is
probable that he might have lost some
of the interest which he seemed sud.
denly to have developed in the type.
writer. But he was busy with his own
train of thought, and therefore was
not paying any particular attention to
Murdoch.
| Presently the chemist spoke again:
"On second thoughts, Mr.. Sturgis, il
you will step into my laboratory ]
shall be pleased to show you those OF
4 the results of my recent researches
which are ready for publication"
The reporter was surprised at this
sudden change of front, and perhaps a
trifie suspicious, for he was beginning
to weld together many hitherto iso-
lated facts into strong chain which
was leading him from the Knicker.
booker bank and Chatham, through the
Manhattan Chemical company, to the
emotionless man in whose presence he
now stood. Some important links
were missing, however, and Sturgis
could not afford to lose any chance OF
making the chain complete.
He therefore accepted Murdock's in.
vitation, in the hope of making some
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