Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-01
CHAPTER XXI.
pRAwINa THE NET

And now Reporter Thomas was max
ing determined though apparently
hopeless effort 10 obtain possession OF
the letter which Marion Stackhouse had
written to her husband Not only hope
less the quest seemed, but dangerous In
the ordinary routine of his duties he
would unhesitatingly have rejected an
enterprise of SO obnoxious and disagree
able nature. But the case was becom-
ing desperate anG, it was no longer
business, no longer even personal m
terest. The mou1nful pleading OF the
big blue eyes of Stella North nerved him
for the ignoble task. The remembrance
of some tears which he had seen that
morning trembling on the long lashes
stimulated him to unprecedented effort.
He was in this mood where to obtain
success he would stop at nothing short
of crime. He hardly kRew himself in
this new role; but he played the spy and
the sneak that day as he never played it
before or since.
1t was easy enough to assure himself
of the existence of the letter.
Fifteen minutes after holding confer
ence with Detective Lamm at the latter's
Office, Kingman Thomas was walking
boldly to the desk at the Adams house.
Good morning" said the clerk, for
it was not yet noon of this eventful
Saturday.
Good morning." said Thomas. Can
you tell me whether Mr.. Stackhouse is
in the hotel?"
mot in his room" returned the clerk,
with queer smile. His key is here"
"Curious!" said Thomas, with an as
sumption Of troubled reflection. III
wonder il he's got my letter. l wrote
him letter last night and posted it at
Swampscott, he continued by way of
explanation. Can you tell me whether
he has 1t yet?"
The clerk took look in the pigeon
hole marked rs" and Thomas caught a
momentary glimpse of square, white
envelope in his hand. But the clerk cast
it back Immediately and turned to the
reporter.
There is letter for him here with
the Swampscott postmark," he said. ''It
may be yours"
IA square, cream white envelope?"
queried Thomas, that looks like q
piece of woman's stationery"
eyes"
"Ah, that's the one! He hasn't got it.
Thank YOU"
"Are you going to wait and see him?"
the clerk inquired, with another smile.
'Why?" asked Thomas, seeming
something unusual.
Only there are dozen or SO ahead
of you; that's all. Thought I'd let you
know"
Indeed! And where are they all?"
ooh, waiting about here
Business menu"
We'll, they have that look. Since the
failure Mr.. Stackhouse seems to have
been considerably in demand"
ooh, see.'
Consequently, if it's anything impor-
| tant you'd do well to hunt him up, as
this letter is likely to be here some
time"
Thomas thanked his informant. AS
! he turned away from the desk daring
| subterfuge by which he might obtain
mind, but he dismissed it with impa-
tient horror.
What am thinking Of" he ex-
claimed, mentally. Forgery! Tamper-
ing with the mail! / must season my
impetuosity with a little reason"
He sauntered out as far as the door,
way, and stood there in a brown study.
mo, there is nothing for me to do
he thought, "but to wait here for the
man to claim his letter, however long
that may be- must trust to luck and q
determined effort to get me glance at
it after he has read It,"
The warning of the clerk made the
| outcome look dubious. These men wait
ing about here must be creditors or
business associates who had pressing
| reasons to see Stackhouse. The clerk s
| significant air had insinuated that the
| junior partner was avoiding them. He
was not then to be found at the Office
of North & Stackhouse? Evidently not,
or these men would not come here to
| wait for him. Nevertheless ii his wife
had sent the letter thither, it must be
because he had directed her to do SO.
| If he deemed it matter of SO much i'm
portance, as John Lamm imagined,
| would he not find some way of Obtaining
his mail without calling?
1t was at the precise moment when
this thought was taking form in the re-
porter's mind that he observed dis