Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-13
on the street side there was recess

ing above was covered by an iron graf
ing, over which was wooden cover
securely fastened on the inside by
chain and paddock. A number of car
boys were carefully piled along the
east wall to within few feet from
the rear of the building. Here, in the
northeast corner, rose narrow shelv-
/ ing, on which were arranged collec-
| ton of bottles containing varied as
| sortment of chemicals.
The detectives searched the cellar.
"Our man is not here, at any rate"
said the leader, when at last he had re-
turned to the foot of the stairs: "per-
haps he'll try to give us the slip by
way of the roof. Come along, jim;
let's go upstairs now. Hello! what are
you doing there, Mr.. Sturgis? Think
you'll find him in one of those bottles?"
The reporter appeared to be closely
inspecting the chemicals on the mar
row shelves.
'Who knows?" he replied, coolly,
continuing his examination.
The detective bit his lip and looked
the unpleasant things he thought it
best not to say.
well, Jim and 1 will take look
upstairs while you are busy here. =
! And the two men went up the dark
stairway, sprague remaining behind
with the reporter.
"None so blind as those that won't
see," said the latter, sententiously.
AT the same time he placed his hand
upon one of the shelves and gave it q
lateral push. 1t responded slightly,
and the entire shelving, with the door
which it concealed, opened outward.
II thought So" continued the re-
porter; this looks as if it might lead
somewhere. VIII you come, Sprague?"
How did you find the combination
so quickly?" asked the artist, prepar-
ing to follow his friend.
1T is not combination--only a
concealed bolt. Our friends of the de-
tective force might have discovered it
themselves if they had taken the trou-
BILE. The first thing | noticed was that
truck had recently been wheeled
through the cellar in the direction of
this door, from under the grating on
the street side. And this truck was
not here; neither was a. large case
which we know was delivered here to-
day. The trail extended clear up to
the wall below the shelving; and yet
no truck, even unloaded, could pass
below that lowest shelf. The conclusion
. was evident. i sounded the back of the
shelving and found that it covered an
opening of some kind. After Mat, all
that remained was to notice that one
of the shelves was slightly soiled in
just one spot, as though by the re-
peated contact of a hand. From this, /
urgued that the bolt must be attached
to this board. And it was. That is all. .
AS he spoke, the reporter entered a
dark and narrow passage.
Don't shut the door," said he to his
companion, who followed him.
AT that moment, however, the artist
stumbled; and. instinctively holding
ing, he released his hold of the door
which closed with slam.
THAT is unfortunate" said Sturgis;
1--WE may hare to lose some time in
learning how to work the bolt from
this side. Hold on; it will be prudent
to keep open line of retreat, in case
of unforeseen emergencies. Hello! we
are in luck. Nothing concealed on this
side; the bolt in plain sight; works
easily. Ais well. Then let us go on;
unless am greatly mistaken, we shall
tind another exit on the other side
After following the underground
passage for some distance the mer
climbed some steps and reached q
square chamber, on one side of which
rose a stairway leading to q door
above. The room was surmounted by q
skylight, which was wide open, admit
ting draught of cold air from the
outside.
Sturgis set down his lighted candle
, and proceeded to examine his sur
: roundings. In the middle of the room
stood truck, upon which lay a long
pine box. A table and chair consti
tuted the only furniture of the place
At one side there was long, low
lead-lined tank, filed to the depth o.
about two feet with dark viscou.
liquid. Near it lay few empty car
boys. In the floor there was wha
seemed to be hot-air register, of larg,
: size and of peculiar construction. Thu
: walls were bare, unbroken, save by the
projection of the mouthpiece of {
speaking tube, and by a set of shelves
filled with TASKS, crucibles, alembic
and the other paraphernalia of chem
4 lists laboratory.
After the reporter had finished re
connoitering he sat down upon thu
long box in deep thought. Sprague OBJ
4 served him with silent curiosity TO,
awhile, and then, with growing impa
thence:
Il say, old man. he ventured al las
to ASK, did you bring me here, armed
to the teeth, to see you go off into ,
trance?"
Sturgis started like man suddenl,
awakened from deep sleep.
"Eh? What? Oh, yes-those conf
dences. Well, you start in with yours
am trying to find the denouement o
my story. / feel that it is Just within