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

comes pretty close in there when the
place has been shut up for some time"
So saying, Murdoch turned crank
which projected from the wall. A
grating sound was heard, as of the
rasping of metal upon metal. Then
he returned to his desk, where he
busted himself for few minutes under
pretext of looking for some notes of
his experiments. When apparently he
had found what he was seeking he
went toward the door of the extern
sion. This was of massive hard wood.
Before turning the knob. the chemist
stopped as though to examine the
lower hinge. Sturgis was not con-
sciously following Murdock's move
ments. His mind was bent upon ac-
complishing certain object; and, with
that end in view, he was gradually
drawing nearer to the typewriter. But
SO accustomed was he to receiving de-
tailed impressions of all that occurred
before his eyes, that the chemists ac-
tions, unimportant as they seemed at
the time, were unconsciously recorded
/ upon the reporters brain.
Murdoch opened the door of the ex-
tension and passed out os the room.
Sturgis, watching his Glance,
snatched UP sheet Of paper from
the table. inserted it in the typewriter
and ratified off something as fast as
he could. Looking up when he had
finished he saw that Murdoch had re-
turned and was observing him with a
sardonic grin.
More happy though.s?" he in
quired.
yes" answered sturgis, calmly
folding the paper and slipping it into
| the pocket of his coat.
Murdoch chuckled to himself, as if
enjoying quiet joke.
'Well.' said he, ''if you will do me
the honor, we can step down into the
laboratory"
Sturgis nodded and went toward
the door which Murdoch held open.
AS he passed the chemist the reporter
caught his eye and, in flash. read
there some sinister purpose, which
caused him to hesitate, on his guard.
l AT that moment there came a knock
upon the hall door.
4 ePshaw!" exclaimed Murdoch, "here
comes an interruption, l suppose
Please step downstairs; shall be
with you directly"
With these words he quietly but
firmly showed the reporter into the
extension and, with rapid motion
pushed forward the door
Sturgis almost lost his balance, but
instinctively put out his foot between
4 the door and the ianb. He felt a
: strong pressure from tho outside, but
he knew he was master of the stu
alton and patiently bided his time
Presently the pressure ceased and he
was able to open the door.
Murdoch wore an mir of panied sur.
prise.
What is it?" he inquired.
II have just remembered an impor.
tant engagement said Sturgis, un
rutfled. II fear, after all. that shall
be unable to visit your laboratory al
present. l hope, however, that the
pleasure is only postponed for short
time"
II hope So" replied Murdoch, calm
ly meeting his steady gaze.
All this had happened in the space
of a few seconds. Meanwhile the
knocking at the door was renewed.
Come in" said Murdoch, moving
toward his easy-chair.
The door opened and servant ap
peared.
"Plaze, sur, Miss Agnes wud loik,
ter know kin yer resarve her sun
tonne this afthernoon?"
Eyes, Mary; tell Miss Agnes shall
! be in all the rest of the afternoon
and that shall be at her disposal al
any time"
Sturgis, picking up his hat and coat
hurried from the house.
"Why did he want to shut me il
the extension?" he asked himself owe,
and over, and he could find no salts
factory answer to the question.
Then he took from his pocket tn,
lines he had written on Murdock'.
typewriter and compared them care
. fully with those on the sheet which
!, he had laboriously pieced together il
) the Knickerbocker bisak on the previ-
Gus day.
The result of the examination wal
apparently satisfactorily: for, whe1
Sturgis returned the papers to hi
. | DOcket his facn xyora m avpraes;o,, =,