Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-03

down toy her assistance, and while
Aunt Comfort was ambling aimlessly
wringing her fat hands and rejecting
audibly that she couldn't see why on
earth she wasn't already crazy, she
was making repeated and intelligent
efforts at restoration. The sprinkling
of water. which. Stella procured with.
out summoning the servants, eventual.
ly, having the effect of causing the
eyelids, upon which some of the drops
fell, to unclose, Marion murmured
some incoherent words, arose, and
with her sisters help, staggered to a
chair, where she sat for several min
l1tes as motionless and as speeches.
as If she had been in a trance. Aunt
Comfort, suddenly awakening to her
responsibilities ran to fan her with a
book cover, murmuring continuously
soothing and reassuring expressions.
Marion did not appear to notice her,
though the detective saw the girls
eyes more than once following her sis
|. ter's motions in relentless, question
/ ing way. Mr.. Lamm hoped for some
conversation which would throw light
on the dramatic charade that had been
enacted in his presence, but he was
disappointed.
A ring at the doorbell fell with
startling effect upon the silence Of the
house. Stella fed precipitately to the
upper regions, while Aunt Comfort,
with her hand on her heart, stared ap-
prehensively at the door. 1t was
| Marion herself who waved back the
advancing servant with an imperious
gesture and went resolutely to answer
the summons.
BLESS mel" Mr.. Lamm exclaimed
within himself. cts my risky
client!"
And behold on the threshold, hat
in hand, bit flushed and embarrassed,
and with an expression of lively solicit.
tude as befitted the occasion, Mr.. Rich
ard Fetridge!
"You come at sad time, sir" muir.
INJURED Aunt Comfort, walking aimless-
ly between the door and the stair.
case.
81 am very glad you are here, MT
Fetridge," Marion said, in collected
tones IF we ever needed friend
it is at this moment"
81 need not say with what eager.
ness shall avail myself Of any op'
portunity to aid you, Mrs. Stack
house, he said, earnestly.
She looked him directly in the eyes
mot Mrs. Stackhouse, Marion
North"
He made painful effort to appear
unembarrassed, but it was quite evil
dent that he was gravely alarmed.
You-you-know-" he stammered.
Everything" she returned, with a
forlorn, bitter accent.
Good heavens!" he calculated, in
ill-concealed alarm. who told your
She made no reply in words, but
with a simple gesture indicated the
portiere' at the right. In moment
the two people had disappeared from
view, leaving Aunt Comfort staring
like petrified figure in museum
at the drawn curtain. She was awak
ened from Aer lethargy by the voice Of
Stella calling piteously from above:
ooh! Aunt Comfort! Do come here!
Do come here!"
And as the only remaining person
age in the field of his vision disap
peared John Lamm, detective, began
to exhibit sundry signs of exae0era
ton. In vain he strained his listen
ing ears, in vain he ventured to raise
the sash of the window to an impru
dent degree. Nothing but the vague
murmur of voices and the occasional
distant sound of sobbing rewarded his
1 efforts.
ITO be cut off at such point al
this!" he fumed. I'D enjoy hanging
the architect who put such a stupie
building together!,'
There was nothing for him to d.
but to conjecture and wait. The two
people remained in the parlor for near
ly half an hour. At the expiration
of that time the impatient watcher
saw the portiere disturbed and the!
reappeared in the hall. Mr.. Lamu
eagerly marked their respective ap
| pCol luSCS, AOpiu6 lAClCUJ w COuSIl w
some theory of the nature of their in
terview. Marion was very pale, cold
determined, collected. Fetridge Dor
traces of unwonted agitation. Hi
face was flushed; his hand unsteady.
She accompanied him to the door
He had opened 1t, when he turne
impulsively and said, appealingly:
Marion, won't you reconsider you
unhappy resolution aud make cor
fidant Of me?"
Richard Fetridge, you ought to un
derstand me we'll enough by this tim
to know that never go any othe
way than straight ahead. I do nc
act on impulse, but from determine
ton"
He seemed abashed for some reason
His eyes were turned towards the floc
at her feet.
st was only for your good,' he mul
INJURED, "and | shall still continue t
$ do everything in my power to max
the terrible HOW eaSier for Won -