Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-19
upon and slain before the police could

An hour passed while he was thus
wild with apprehension, and then a
drunken whistle was heard coming.
Here comes some one. We must
question him." said one Of the watch
erS.
Buckford looked toward the ap-
preaching man. AS he passed under
street light Wallace noted that he wore
no hat.
Horrors. 1t was the Waterman, and
he was far from sober.
And now, with certain destruction
staring him in the face, Buckford Wal
lace thought as he had never thought
before.
To wait there till the drunken watch.
man came and demanded his keys, his
jacket, his SLOUGH hat, would be to sit
silently inviting death.
He rose, stretched himself, yawned
and said:
''My friends, I should have been re-
lieved an hour ago. My assistant some.
times stops at NJ. jacques. leave
the place in your care while go to see
If he is there. request, however, that
you allow no one to enter the build
ings.'
ooh, never fear, old stay awake. We
will take care of your buildings. You
arc so anxious you must have a for
tune invested here"
They all laughed at this joke, and
Buckford walked away in the oppo-
site direction from that in which the
real Waterman was.
Good" he said to himself. "My
only chance is NJ. de Bullion, and for
tunately 1 am before his door. I will
waken the millionaire and tell him the
whole story. He will give me his pow
erful protection until 1 can communl-
cate with the police.''
He turned into the corner building.
He ran up one fight of stairs. He
Knocked loudly on door.
There was no answer
"This NJ. de Bullion is a sound Sleep
err he said. 81 will get him up if I
have to pound in the door"
1t was not so easy to pound in the
door, but he did make tremendous
noise.
Heavens! The mob will hear it
even if NJ. de Bullion does not" said
Buckford. stop! This won't do. I'll
use the key and make my explanations
afterward.''
1t was easy to find the big brass
key and fit it to the lock. 1t turned
easily, and Buckford opened the door.
He turned again, shut the door and
locked it.
For The first time since he had faced
his enemies in the little room he
breathed freely.
There" he said, with a grunt of sat
lsfaction, Il am safe for time. They
will scarcely dare intrude upon the pri-
vacy Of NJ. de Bullion
Having secured himself thus. he took
match from his pocket and lighted it.
The gas had not yet been piped into
the buildings. He found, however, q
dinSy looking lamp resting on dusty
shelf. He lighted this.
81 fancy he said, that the watch
man was mistaken. There is surely ~
one in this apartment tonight. l have
made noise enough to wake the Dead
He looked around the room. 1t was,
or would be when finished. a coy and
pretty reception room. 1t was now lit
tered with bits of wood, plaster and
nails
He stepped from this room into the
next. No one there.
In this room there was chair, but it
had been overturned.
In one corner small ornamental
rloset had been built. This was open.
Workmens clothing had been in it.
Now this was strewn on the floor.
Hello" said Buckford when he saw
this. Looks as if some one had got
the best of the Waterman and rifledt
the pockets for SOU"
From this room Buckford stepped in
to still another.
lie stopped short on the threshold.
and cry of horror burst from his lips,
which had turned white.
This room was fitted up as an Office.
Near the window stood desk AT this
desk sat a well dressed eldc-..y man,
dead
His drawn face, his staring eyes, ex-
pressing terror; the position of his
body-all spoke OF violence.
Buckford stepped to him and made
hasty examination.
There was q wound in his left side
penetrating undoubtedly to the heart.
1t was the only wound to be seen.
Scarcely any blood had flown. The
knife with which the foul blow had
been dealt lay on the floor by the dead
mans chair
"My Godm exclaimed Euckford. 81
so from one horror to another: seek
safety with Il man and find him Il
corpse. What under the sun of heaven
am | going to do now?'
Meantime the four Who had been left
to watch had waited for the drunken
whistler to come up.
Well" said one OF them rs he drew
near. "This fellow can give us but
little help. He has been having a fine
time, See how he takes the entire
sidewalk"
"Come Bibblerifg said another sion.