Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-19

puchiolu w dliace, WHO naQ
Z expected to see q mob of his
gSTSSnS5 enemies and whomt the sight
sssssA.1sSssy of two uniformed police off
GERS was most welcome, the words of
the gendarme carried no special sig
nificance. He saw at once the mistake
that had been made. Instead of the
agent of the project Of police he was
looked upon as the murderer of NJ. de
Bullion. He even smiled as he thought
of the naturalness Of the error.
you are mistaken" he said, coming
forward from his hiding place without
fear. Il have done nothing to cause
my arrest. ! came in here to escape a
mob of rascals who We're trying to
murder me. l found this man sitting
dead in his chair"
"Oh, that is n lie." shouted the eS.
cited Waterman. HE came to me with
story like that. |. like fool loaned
him my leather jacket, my SLOUGH hat,
my keys. | even told him which door
the big brass key unlocked. oh. oh.'
Il think myself the story is absurd"
said the mounted officer "One does
not unlock private doors with stolen
keys TO escape murderers. One comes
to the police for protection"
in my opinion said the Waterman,
''the men he was running away from
wanted him for another crime like
this
well, it will do no good to stand
here and argue said the officer on the
beat. 'We must take the fellow to
the depot. Let him tell his story
there"
IF you feel it to be your duty to
place me under arrest" said Buck
ford, "and l do not blame you in the
least, take me at once to the prefec-
ture. My adventures tonight happen
ed While acting under instructions
from the project of police. He can
understand the whole thing
'.Oh, if that's the case. it can soon I've
settled said the officer. .:Come with
me-
And l." said the other policeman
will remain until the arrival of the
commissaire. You will of course make
the report
Il will attend to that. Now come
my fine fellow. to the project. / am
anxious to see whether you tell the
truth or not
but stay" cried the Waterman.
"My leather jacket ana my SLOUGH
nat"
well what about the1n:'
Il want Them
"Oh, indeed! Well, what are you,
an accomplicc CT this fcllow?"
".flc good C;od forbid. But l want
what belongs TO me-
You vii! get them after we are
through using them y pretty watch,
man you ere. You are as guilty of N,
de Balloons death Us his murderer
Your neglect made it possible"
The Waterman and one officer re.
manned on the scene while Buckford
in the custody of thc other officer, left
for the prefecture.
1t was naarly midnight when they
arrived, aad The project was not TO he
seen till morning. The officer made
his report and the prisoner. against
his vigorous protest. WAS thrust into a
cell to wait ill morning
He spent n most wretchcd night and
as the weary hours dragged them
selves along the humor OF his situation
died away. He now felt that he was
in most difficult situation A thou
sand questions crowded into lis busy
brain. suppose the project did not re-
call his face! Suppose the project did
not believe his story. AL depended on
the project
In the morning he was taken into the
Office of the project. He found there.
beside the project of police, tie chief
of the detective service and commits
saire. The three looked at him with
cold. condemnirG eyes as he entered.
He also saw, standing Il little apart,
the policeman who had arrested him
the night before.
rs this the man," asked the project
Of police.
THAT is the man." replied the police
man.