Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-25

taken this job in hand, not for no
money"
THAT is where so many of you go
wrong" l said. "You fail to make
sufficient inquiries before you COM
mence business. And l understand
you to say that the gentleman who
of St. Martins church to-night?''
YES. sir. that's So" said the fell
| low. He'll be there all right"
I'm that case l think I'll be there
to meet him." I continued. Its a
pity he should not see some one,
and l suppose you will not keep your
appointment"
Not if I knows it," the man an
swered. Then he added, regretfully:
"a regular toff-he was-free with
his rhino as could be. and dressed up
to the mines. He chucked his 'arf
coverings about as if they were dirt,
he did,
1T is sad to think that, through
your folly, no more of them will find
themselves into your pocket" I said.
"You should have done the trick last
night, and you would now be in the
full enjoyment of your wealth. AS it
is you have had all your
trouble for nothing. Now. that's
all | want to say to you. so you
can go and join your amiable com
panions as soon as you like. Just
one word of advice, however, before
you depart. Don't go near ST. Mar
tins church tonight, and, when you
want to kick another unoffending
citizen to death. be sure of your man
before you commence operations"
AS I said this l rang the bell and
told Wilson to show him out, which
he did
Now" I said to myself after he
had gone. this looks like developing
into an affair after my own heart.
am most anxious to discover who
my mysterious enemy can be. 1t
might be Grobellar, but fancy he is
still in Berlin. There's Tremasty
but l don't think he would dare VEN
ture 20 England. No, when 1 come
to think of it, this business does not
seem to belong to either of them"
I took from my pocket the watch
which was to have played such an
important part in the drama and
consulted it. 1t was just half-past
eleven, therefore I had exactly half
an hour to get to the rendezvous. I
called Wilson and congratulated him
on the success which had attended
our efforts of that evening.
Its good thing you came out of
it so well, sir" he said "They were
nasty pair of chaps, and would
have thought as much of outing
you as they would of drinking pot
of ale"
But thank goodness, they dida't
succeed" / replied. "As the saying
goes, "a miss has never killed a man
yet And now, Wilson, you'd better
be off home to bed. Turn out the gas
4 before you go. Good night
: "Good night, sir" he answered
). and then 1 put on my hat and left
;, the office.
:. I found when stepped into the
e street that the character of the
5 night had changed. Thick clouds
0 obscured the sky, and few drops OF
d rain were falling. AT first felt in
t clined to take cab, but on second
d thoughts 1 changed my mind, ano
putting up my umbrella strobe along
v in the direction of St. Martins
l church.
The theaters were over by thi.
T time, and the streets were beginning
{, to grow empty. / passed the Gaiety
e where middle-aged gentleman. de
t cidedly intoxicated, was engaged in {
noisy alteration with policeman
r who was threatening to take him t.
It Bow street if he did not go quietl,
home, and at last approached TIT
n spot for which l was making. / tool
It up my position ON the darker side o
Holywell street, and waited. So ia
= l seemed to have the thoroughfar
q to myself, but l had still some tire
IL or four minutes TO wait.
At last midnight sounded, and as
heard it l concealed myself NOR
y carefully in my doorway an
watched. 1 was not to be kept lon
It in suspense, for the new day wa
st scarcely three minutes old when
II hanson drove up to the other sid
he of the church, and man alightet
u. He paid off the man and wished hir
s good night, and then came along tn
is roadway at the back of the church
w From where I stood / could see hi
I'd figure distinctly. but was not abb
III to distinguish his face. He wa
t.. dressed in black cloak, and wore
he deer-stalker hat upon his head. Tha
o. he was the man / wanted l felt sur
e. for what would anyone else be dom
:" there at such an hour? That he wa
ne surprised at not finding his bravoe
awaiting him was very certain, fc
as he looked up the street, down til
re street, peered into Holywell stree
to where, thank goodness, he did nj
as see me, then along the Strand in
Tx westerly direction, and afterwart
as came and took up his position with
vn half dozen PAGES of where l W;
of hidden Presently he took a cigs
re, case from his pocket, opened it, S
n lected a weed, and struck match