Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-29
,ere could be no doubt on either

Anu Lu0u, Sdlu Iue reporter, eager
ly, "you give up the idea that Marion
Stackhouse originated the conspiracy"
WELL returned Lamm, 81 give up
very little. My opinions have been
enlarged and modified to suit the new
facts-not changed. However, it's not
theories you want now, but facts. Let
me give you an idea of what work /
have been doing since our last confer
ence."
| The detective took out his notebook,
opened it upon his knee, and referred
to his hieroglyphics.
Eyes, Mr.. Thomas, your broker quite
unwittingly sent Nine. Raymond, alias
Nine. Perle, and as a matter of fact,
Marie Moissot, Creole, born in New
Orleans, 81 years ago, to Richard Fet-
ridge. Her conference with the broker
was May 10. Her appearance in Rich
ard Fetridges Once was May IL. Ergo,
Mr.. Broker-man must have casually
mentioned it as reported in the street
that North G. Stackhouse are all right
because backed by Richard Fetridge."
Thomas marveled at the apparent
accuracy of his friends statements.
Gin the name of wonder, where have
you been the past 4s hours?" he asked.
"My sources of information are con-
idential but reliable" said the detec-
/! tive. "The almighty dollar will some
times open the mouth of the confiden-
tial servant that is, while the conf
Dental servant that was, if he is ap-
! &c DIV To
his old master into a scrape. And,
besides that, l have received the con-
fessions of a gentleman who shall be
nameless, whose means of judgment
are unexceptional."
81 understand dimly, but enough.
Never mind the how; let's have the
what"
AT once, my boy. The 18th of last
May, Nine. Raymond visited Richard
Fetridge for the first time. When she
came in at the door he looked upon
an entire stranger. She came openly
to discover the exact standing Of
North & Stacknouse as firm, and of
North and Stackhouse as individuals
In the midst of their conference about
Stackhouse, the woman began to talk
in loud voice, uttering such SEN
fences as these: Thornton Stackhonse
must go TO the wall, my friend, wife
or no wife! He shan't escape me, now
that know him! The man l have
been turning heaven and earth to find!
l shall denounce him, ruin him make
him feel the same degradation Of social
scorn that he has made others feel
Thereupon Mr.. Fetridge, observing
that this extraordinary speech had at
tracted the attention of his clerk, who
has forgotten himself 80 far as to stare
at the woman with his mouth open,
hustles his mysterious visitor with
mysterious haste into his inner Office,
and not only closes the door, but locks
it. The conference lasted fully two
hours. Fetridge came out once or
twice to dismiss some visitor OF other,
and the change in his color and man
ner was so marked that the clerk was
greatly impressed. So much So in
fact, that he began to wonder and to
watch for madame's return"
sit is plain where you got your in
formation, Lamm. But go on. His
secret is as safe with both of us as
with one"
did not know that, Mr.. Kingman
F. Thomas, this offensive and defen-
sive alliance of ours would never have
been formed Well, the clerk waited
some days in vain for the return of the
madame. But he avows on his honor
that he never met man SO system
atically irritable, distracted and nerv-
GUS as was Richard Fetridge during
the interim. Finally, on the 14th of
last month, Nine. Raymond visited the
office second time. On this occasion
our friend Fetridge received her eager
ly, and babe his clerk inform all call
ers that he was out. They retired to
the inner Office. The clerk could not
restrain his curiosity, and he attempt
ed to satisfy 1t by applying both eye
and ear to the keyhole. The door was
opened upon him suddenly, and his at
titude and confusion were considered
by Richard Fetridge good grounds for
his peremptory discharge.
His unfortunate effort had only put
him into possession of the following
statement from the lips Of the WON
an; and you can easily imagine that it
meant worse than nothing to him:
"Mr. Fetridge, you and l under
stand each other, then. You will go
to New Orleans; thence to Montreal.
You will then find out that every word
have told you Is the truth. When
you return. you will meet me in New
York. will come to Boston with you,
and we will act together
"Whew!" calculated Thomas, whose
eyes cleaned with excitement. This
Is most extraordinary"
Then what will you say to the BE-
quel, my boy? Within two days Rich.
ard Fetridge had started upon that
mysterious months absence about
which we were curious awhile ago.
You can easily understand now why
h Ia,