Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-18


tract the attention of the detectives
whom we left there"
.'As we were saying, Mr.. Sturgis-"
The words came in Murdock's mock
ing tones.
Sturgis quickly held the lighted can
die above his head and peered in the
direction whence came the sound. A
panel of the door at the head of the
stairs had been pushed up, revealing a
small opening, covered by strong and
closely-woven wire netting.
''As we were saying, murder will
out' Nevertheless, it is sometimes
easier to weld chain. even of circum-
stantial evidence, than it is to pre-
dict who will be bound in it,
Sturgis and Sprague stood in the
glimmering light of the candle, silent
ly watching the glowing eyes behind
the screen.
MIR. Sturgis, you are clever man."
continued Murdoch, san uncommonly
clever man. I frankly admit that
had moderated your ability. But then
we are all fallible, after all. made my
share of blunders, as you seem to have
discoveries; but you will doubtless now
concede that your own course has not
been entirely free from errors. And
now that we have reached the conclu-
sion of this interesting game, l have
| the honor to announcer: Mate in one
! novel Perhaps you are surprised that
should take the trouble to explain the
situation to you so clearly. l do SO in
recognition of your superior intelli-
! gence. see in you peer. If matters
could have been SO arranged, should
have been proud TO work in harmony
1 with such a man as you; and indeed,
when a short time ago l invited you to
my laboratory, it was my intention to
offer you compromise which hoped
l might be able to persuade you to ac-
cept. | felt that you would prove an
ally who could be trusted. But, alas,
/ that is impossible now, on account of
/ your friends presence. With all due
respect to Mr.. Sprague, as an amiable
fellows, it may be said that he is not
one of us. Much to my sorrow, there
! fore, l am left no alternative to the
course | am about to adopt. The fault,
if anybody's, is your own, after all, MIR.
Sprague. There is a homely but ex-
pressive adage concerning the danger
of 'monkeying' with a buzz saw. Why,
my dear friend, did you monkey with
Mr.. Sturgis' buzz saw, instead of stick
ing to your palette and maulstick?
But I fear Lam growing garrulous,
gentlemen If had time, should like
to explain to Mr.. Sturgis the details
of some of the more important. and, in
my humble opinion, more brilliant
schemes of which have been the--ah
the promoter; for T dislike to be
Judged by the bungling operations
which have SO nearly caused me to lose
this latest little game. But this can
not be. shall have to continue to con-
: ide to the pages of my journal, as
: have done for years, the interesting
events of, l may say, a somewhat re-
markable career, which l hope will
some day, after my death, find theil
way in print to public favor. Ny dream
has always been that some sucf lar
: as Mr.. Sturgis might ultimately edi
these memoirs; but, alas, the fondes'
: of human dreams are seldom destined
to be realized.
!, Now, then, gentlemen, before fnal
ly parting with you, wish to honor
ably carry out the terms OF my wage
! with Mr.. Sturgis. l concede the fac
: that, to all ;ntents and purposes, h
= = has won the bet, and L authorize you
al 70
y him the amount deposited with you
= AS have already suggested, he ha
: made some perhaps excusable mis-
takes; but. then, as he himself state
the other night, "a detective has life
. time in which to correct blunder
: A lifetime! 1t is not in accordance wit
1 Mr.. Sturgis' usual practice to use s
- vague term. A lifetime is not neces
>, sarily very long time, Mr.. Sturgis.
During this TRADE Sturgis an
&c Sprague had remained standing wit
their eyes fixed upon the cleaning cal
buncles which peered at them from bt
: hind the grated peephole at the top c
- the stairs. The artist seemed to rea
ize that the fight was lost. His attitud
- was that of brave man acceptin.
, with calm despair, an unpleasant BIT
inevitable doom. The reporter ha
u drawn his revolver at the first SCUM
:. of Murdock's voice, but had immed
= ately returned it to his pocket upo
- realizing that the chemist was protec
!" ed by a bullet-proof grating. Now, pa
: and collected, he remained inscrutabl
'' 1t was impossible, even for the shaI
eyes of Murdoch, to determine wheth,
he was at last resigned to his fate,
- whether his active mind was still c
" the alert for a loophole of escape.
st The bit of candle which he held
his hand had burned so low that at la
he was unable to hold it without ris
n. of burning his fingers. Whereupon
We coolly set it down upon the stone foo
where presently the wick fell over in
OF pool of molden paraffine, and Il
)" flame sputtered noisily, sending fitf
CLEANS through the darkness.
ed "Well," continued Murdock's voic
Sc Hit iS at apy rate a great satiSfactit