Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-17


opened the door to pass into the entry,
and she was quite off her guard, whom,
with a quick spring, he leaped back
into the room, thrusting her aside, and
before she could prevent him. had
flung wide open the door to the ad-
Joining chamber.
But John Lamm was too old a bird
to be caught in any such trap. At the
first intimation of Stackhouse's sus-
picion he had taken his departure
| The room was empty!
CHAPTER XIV.
MR. LAMM COUGHS BEHIND HIS
| HAND.
"slinned through your fingers again,
| didn't she?"
If the mocking face OF Miss Dallison
could be depended upon, that business
like woman seemed to enjoy the dis
comlture and anger of her victim very
keenly. She took up her hat, shook the
dust from the deceiving cherries
poised it a moment in her hand, and
| then said:
"Well?"
Mr.. stackhouse acknowledged his de-
feat with very grim sort of smile.
you're clever pair, you two" he
said, shortly Where's paper and
ink? Have you got such things in this
pantomime-trap of house?" looking
with a scowl around the room he had
found empty.
"Ah! l thought you'd turn sensible
after awhile" rejoined Miss Dallison,
Driskly producing writing materials
from the caverns of what casual WIS.,
itor would have pronounced ward
robe, but which was much more-a
very arsenal of belongings, some Gu
rious for their oddly, some common
place enough, but all designed for in
slant use, when wanted by this ex-
| tremely wide-awake woman.
Mr.. Stackhouse did not find the flow
of ideas quite to his liking. He began
and tore up two letters, carefully be-
slowing the fragments in his watch
pocket. Finally he seemed to find an
inspiration, and his pen went rapidly
over the paper, while Miss Dallison
perused the pages of the mornings
Globe with every appearance of lively
interest.
"There!" the visitor said at last.
tossing his pen aside and sealing up
| the letter. "Give that to Marie Mois-
sot, and mind you tell her before she
| opens it that she will do we'll to keep
it entirely to herself"
"The lady knows what she is about -
was Miss Dallison's response.
II hope she does" was Mr.. Stack
houses rejoinder, as he took his hat,
and, without any ceremonious words OF
adieu, proceeded downtown.
Wherever he went, or whatever "sur-
cease from care" he may have sought
in any quarter, one thing is certain
he did not make immediate claim upon
the attention of Detective Lamm.
But shortly after his departure, that
busy gentleman had the satisfaction Of
rejoining the triumphant Miss Dallison
and OF reading the following enig-
NAUTICAL epistle:
Marie: Your part in the conspiracy to
bring about my ruin. which was carried out
on the 18th Of this present June. is perfectly
we'll known to me. make no foolish COM
| plants. You have accomplished your re-
| venge. My name Is clouded with sus-
picion. Ny hopes of fortune are destroyed
| Let me have frank, fair treatment now,
| such as victor can well afford' to give a
vanquished man; and whatever can save
| from the wreck of North & Stackhouse
| shall be yours / have not forgotten the
old days at Lake Pontchartrain. I am
aware that I am not entitled to ask for
mercy. But by the same means that you
| have done the mischief you can undo It,
Will you not: The reward will be enough
to satisfy your conscience. cannot speak
more definitely upon paper. I must see
you in person, and have talk with you
about this Even If you refuse meet me
! face to face. You do not know how much
l may say to you at. 81
Z. Detective Lamm was still puzzline
in highly-excited frame Of mind owe,
this letter, when Tuesday afternoon
came.
81 wish had Thomas here to talk
it over" was his unspoken thought as
he gave his office chair twirl Where
is the man all this while?" he said
aloud
Hardly were the words out of his
mouth when a well-known knock was
Frightened still more when he admit.
ted to his little room of counsel mo-
ment later Mr.. Kingman F. Thomas.
why, Kingman, where have you
kept yourself all this while? Sit down
sit down, and give an account of your.
self"
Mr.. Thomas parted this impetuous
salutation and query with question
of his own.
i "An account of myself?" he said
laughing. Perhaps you think my
times my own. Did you never hear Of
such a thing as journalist being sent
out Of town to do given bit of work
for his paper, John Lamm?"
The detective nodded his head an6
looked at Thomas in quizzical sort
of way.
ooh, yes, Kingman. But they DOM
generally take man off murder mys
tarv no 90 1ilyo th{o ond cand b,ix~> a,,k -