Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

'l''Su " recall every WORD iilC
action of Hestor's during the DAYS
Immediately preceding his departure
Its too deep for me- he said, as
lie returned to his desk and me.
chemically picked up the Van Horne
caple9ram. What does Hestor want
in the Mediterranean? How in thun.
der am | going to reach him?"
He turned the knob on the door to
Hesttor's private office 1t was locked,
and Chalmers knew it was locked.
He sent for the .janitor.
Have you key to that door?"
No, sir. Mr.. Hestor has the only
key" the janitor replied.
Take off the lock and put in new
one." he said. 1--WE must have room
for Mr.. Stevens and some of his men.
llestor may be mad but 1 can't help
it,
The door was soon opened and
Chalmers entered. The heavy oak
desk was closed. At the base of the
door, opening into the hall, were a
number of letters which had been
dropped through a slit by the post
man. When Hestor returned from
/ his long expeditions he frequently
found bushel basket full of ac-
cumulated letters.
There were perhaps dozen let
tiers now lying on the floor. Chal-
mers picked them up and looked at
the inscriptions. Three were in.
dainty white envelopes and sealed
with wax. Chalmers glanced at
them and threw them back on the
floor. One bore the name of big
grocery house. Another was from a
liquor house. A third from a fur
nlture establishment. Yet another
was from a billiard table manufac-
turer. The fifth contained the adj
dress of a dealer in smoked and can
ned meats. There was one from
manufacturer of awnings, one from
piano house, and another from
dealer in guns, fishing tackle and
sporting goods. There were several
other letters with the names of we'll
known New York merchants on their
upper left hand corners.
"Hestor is quite a business man."
unused Chalmers as he sorted over the
letters. These are bills. | know
bill as a cat knows his home. Bills
for stuff on his yacht, I suppose.
Very likely. | wonder what they are.
There is a way to find out, and / am
going to do it, This is all wrong.
perhaps, but l am going to find out
if there is anything in my suspicious.
Hcstor is u queer fish. He left New
York the night these men dsap-
pearcd Where did he go? Why did
he go? Van Horne wants him to
work on this case. 1t is my duty to
locate him. IIestor would be glad to
take hold of mystery like this. 1t
is right in his line"
Mr. Chalmers sent for a renorter
named henson, cautious, self-pos-
sesscd gentleman who could extract
information from sources barren to
all but the select few who are mas /
tiers of the art. 1T was not necessary
to waste words. with Benson. He |
thoroughly understood his business. I
Here are some business addresses
Benson" said Chalmers. handing
nun slip of paper. 81 promised Mr..
liestor would attend to certain
bills as they became due. Go to these
houses and ask for itemized state
ments OF any bills against Mr.. Hes
tor. If necessary explain that Mr..
Hestor has suddenly been detailed !.
to work abroad and that through an
oversight he neglected to leave the
key 7" his room where his mail is
delivered. You should have no diff
Guilty. Merchants seldom object To
the prompt settlement of accounts.
inns IS personal matter, concern
ng no other member of the staff"
Mr. Benson bowed, said not word
and quietly left the room. Late in
ne afternoon he was admitted to
VIZ. Chalmers Office. He produced
rom deep inside pocket small
and handed it to Chalmers.
There they are" he said.
"All of them?"
Mr.. Benson nodded an affirmative,
urned on his heel and vanished.
MI. Chalmers examined the slips
With much interest. The first one
vas from furniture house. 1t was
n ltemized bill for a long list of
rlcles, among which were the fol-
owing: :
we've brass bedsteads. as 1000 $4,000
we've we've hair mattresses. $500 $1,000 /
'hirty-six chairs 4O0 1aa0o
,niy iouI chairs.......... 500 144O0
welve leather sofas ...... 1900 OOO
wo leather sofas 125 M o5o m c
WE'VE center tables $500. 1000 4S0 on :
ne oiIins table ........... 49,. $1,000 :.
ne siuepoard .............. 49,. 10000
Mo library cases .......... 1880 250O0 I
welve willow rockers.... 1000 1000 q
we've rugs ................. 600O 1000