Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-17

Lighting another match, he exam
ined the fallen man hurriedly. The
old Come Outer" lay in the path with
his arms outstretched, as if he had
fallen while running. He was bare
heaued, and there was no sign of 9
wound upon him. One coat sleeve was
| badly scorched, and from a pocket in
the coat protruded the neck of bottle
The bottle was empty, but its olor was
strong. 1t had contained kerosene. The
evidence was clear, and the captain
knew that what he had feared was the
truth.
For moment he stood erect and
pondered as to what was best to do
Whatever it was, it must be done
quickly, but If the doctor and those
that might come with him should find
the burned coat and the telltale bottle
it were better for John Baxter that
consciousness and life never were his
again. There might and probably
would be suspicion, but here was
proof absolute that meant prison and
disgrace for man whom all the com.
munity had honored and respected.
Captain Fri weighed the chances
specialized on the result and then did
what seemed to him right. He threw
the bottle as far away from the path
as he could and then stripped off the
coat and, folding it into small bun
die, hid it in the bushes near by. Then
he lifted the limp body and turned ii
SO that the gray head was toward the
billiard saloon instead of from it.
Perez and Jerry were still busy with
the water buckets when their friend
came painting up the knoll to the
pump.
Hello, EriT' said the former, wiping
his forehead with his arm. Its bout
out, amt it? Why, what's the mat
teri"
"Nothin'; nothin' to speak Of Put
down them buckets and you and Jerry
come with me. I've got somethin' that
want you to do"
Nodding and exchanging congratula-
tons with acquaintance in the crowd
on the success of the fire fighting, Cap
tain Ell led his messmates to a dark
corner under clump of trees Then
he took each Of them by the arm and
whispered sharply:
CDR Palmer's somewheres in this
crowd I want each Of you fellers to
go diff'revt ways and look for him
Whichever one finds him first can bring
him up to the corner by the postoflice
Whistle when you git tr.re and the
rest OF us IL come. Don't stop to ask
questions. amt hurt, but John Bax.
tcr's had stroke OF somethin'. 1 can't
tell you no more now. Hurry! And
say, don't you mention to a soul what
the matter is
A seafaring life has its advantages
1t teaches prompt obedience, for one
thing. The two mariners did not hes
itate an instant, but bolted in oppo.
site directions. Captain Fri watched
them go, and then set OFF in another
He was stopped every few moments
and all sorts Of questions and com.
ments concerning the fire and it's cause
were fired at him, but he put off some
inquiries with curt don't know
and others with mods or negatives, and
threaded his way from one clump OF
toWnspeople to another. AS he came
close to the blackened and smoking
billiard saloon Ralph Hazeltine caught
him by the arm
Hello" said the electrician. 'Haven't
you gone home yet?'
mo, not yit. Say, I'll ask you
cause 1 cal'late you can keep your
mouth shut if it's necessary, have you
seen the doctor anywheres round late
ly? He ras here, cause l saw hin
when l fust come"
who? DR.. Palmer? No, 1 haven
seen him. Is any one hurt? Can
help?'
Il guess not. John Bakers sick
but there's the whistle. Come on, MI
Hazeltine, if you amt in a specia
hurry. Maybe we will need you"
They reached the corner by the post
office to find DR.. Palmer, who hat
practiced medicine in Orham since b,
received his diploma, waiting for them
| Captain Perez who had discovered thu
| physician on the Nickerson piazza
was standing close by with his finger!
in his mouth, whistling with the regu
larity of foghorn
Cut it short, Perez" commanded
Fri Were here now"
YES, but Jerry amt" and the whis
ting began again.
DRY up, for the lands sake! D'yor
want to fetch the whole tribe here
There's Jerry, now. Come on, DOCTOR
John Baxter was lying just as the
captain had left him, and the other!
watched anxiously as the doctor lis
tened at the parted lips and thrust hi
hand inside the faded blue waistcoat.
He's alive" he said, after moment
"but unconscious. We must get hin
| home at once"
HE heard the bell and was runnin
4 to the fire when he was took" sale
Captain Jerry. Run out in his shir
sleeves, and was took when he got al