Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-29

your tongue, whatever it may cost me.
Now, either let me out, or get out
of the room yourself. want to see
no more of you while I am in this
house."
He blew cloud of smoke, and then
answered nonchalantly:
You had better occupy yourself
thanking your stars that you are let
off so easily. AT one time was Tempt
ed to have you put out of the way al
together. l am not quite certain it
wouldn't be safer, even now. 1t could
be done so easily, and no one would
be any the wiser. I know two men
now in Paris who would gladly run
the risk for the sake of the ill-wil
they bear you. I must think it over"
"Then think it over on the other
side of that door," l said, angrily.
PLAY the same traitorous trick on
me as you did on Kitwater and Gold
if you like, but you shall not stay in
the same room with me now"
My reference to Kitwater and Codd
must have touched him on a raw spot,
for he WINGED, and then tried to bluff
it off.
ST rather fancy Nfessrs. Kitwater and
Codd will have just such kindly things
to say concerning you in the future
as they do about ME now," he said, as
| he moved toward the door. 'And now
wish you good-by. AS leave Paris
almost Immediately, don't suppose
shall have the pleasure of seeing you
again. For your own sake should adj
wise you to be quiet. might tell you
once for all that you can't get out.
The door is stout one, and the win
dows are exceptionally well barred.
The men to whom L have assigned the
duty of looking after you are in their
way honest, though little rough.
Moreover, they are aware that their
own safety depends to a very great
extent upon your not getting out. Be-
lieve me, if you do not know already,
there is nothing like fear for making
a good watchdog. Farewell, friend
Fairfaxl You have been instrumental
in sending good many men into dur
ance vile; you can tell me later how
you like being there yourself
With that he went out, shutting the
door behind him. I heard the key
turn in the lock, and bolt shot at
top and bottom. I thereupon went to
the window and examined it, only to
discover that it was made secure on
the outside by large iron bars. So far
as l could see, there was no other way
| of escape from the room.
Though laid down on the bed did
not sleep; my thoughts would not
permit of that. The face of the wom-
an who had trusted me so profoundly
was before me continually, gazing at
me with sweet, reproachful eyes. Oh!
what fool l had been to accept that
rascal's invitation! The more I
thought of it, the angrier I became
with myself. Now, goodness only knew
how long I should be confined in this
wretched place, and what would hap
pen during my absence from the
world!
!. At last the dawn broke, and with it
a weird, sickly light penetrated the
room. sprang from my bed and ap-
preached the window, only to find that
4 it overlooked small courtyard, the
latter being stone-fagged, and sur
rounded by high walls. I could see
that, even if / were able to squeeze
my way out between the bars, I
should be powerless to scale the walls.
AT rough guess these were at least
IL feet high, and without a foot
hold of any sort or description. This
being so, was completely at the
mercy of the men in the house. Iu-
deed, rat caught in trap was never
more firmly laid by the heels than L.
At about half-past seven o'clock a
small trap-door, which had not no.
ticed near the ground and the main
door, was opened, and grimy hand
made its way in and placed upon the
floor cup of coffee anda roll. Then
it was closed once more and made Sc
cure. I drank the coffee and munched
the roll, and, if the truth must be
confessed, poor as they were, felt the
better for both.
At midday bowl of miserable soup
was handed in; darkness, however,
had fallen some considerable time be-
fore could detect any sound in the
hall outside that might be taken to
mean the coming of my evening meal.
At last there was clatter of feet, the
bolts shot back, the key turned in the
lock, and the door opened. A man
carrying a lantern entered, followed
by two others, and as the light fell
upon his face uttered cry of aston
ishment, for he was none other than
my old friend Leglosse, while behind
him was the infallible Lepallard.
swell, thank goodness we have
found you at last" cried Leglosse.
'We have had such hunt for you as
man never dreamed of. I called at
your apartments late last night, hop
ing to see you, on important business,
but you had not returned from din
ner to which you had been invited. l
called again this morning, and was in
formed by the concierge that they had,