Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-13
CHAPTER vII1.-(continued)

Z dCL Is, lue journey was partly taken
Oh account Of her health" answered
the reporter. But I am greatly in
debted to you for the kindness you
nave shown her under these unfortun-
ate circumstances. Here's two-dollar
bill TO grove it. Take 1t, man; it's all
right. And now where Is the lady?"
''In the house, yonder,' returned
Ludlow, pointing with his whip. II
registered her name as Miss Brown,
Boston The clerk will find out for
you whether she Is up yet"
The City hotel register bore the
name, and the clerk listened with pro-
fessional courtesy to Mr.. Thomas
statement OF the case.
We've not seen her yet" he said.
VERY likely, however, she may be up
and dressed by this time. will send
Inp your card II you wish. 'FRONT.'"
] Mr.. Thomas, taking blank card
from tho pigeon-hole, wrote hurriedly
tho following name, which bell boy
soon carried to room x:
"Mr. William @. Waterston."
sWhoever she may be, she will be
frightened, suppose, at reading this
elaborate name," Thomas thought.
s.But must see her at all hazards"
T In . moment the boy had returned,
bearing the card in his hand.
/ 81 knocked two or three times, sir,
pretty loud, but couldn't make anyone
answer" he said. There wasn't a
eound In the room that could hear"
I The sudden look of alarm on Thorn
as face was not lost upon the clerk.
He glanced at the clock, and noted that
the hands pointed at half-past ~.
'Tell the chambermaid of the floor
10 open the ROOM" he said.
While the order was being carried
out, Thomas stood motionless at the
desk, the prey Of vague apprehen-
sion.
1t was the cnamnermaId nerseIr VINO
rsme.to the Office with the key of room
x In her hand.
There's no one in the ROOM" she
declared, with eagerness. 1.-THE bed
has not been slept in, and the woman
must have stolen away during the
aight."
Mr.. Thomas looked blankly into the
clerks face. A very slight lifting of
the shoulders was the only comment
OF that functionary.
The reporter caught its meaning.
The poor girl must be out of her head,
end is wandering about somewhere, I"
he said. Permit me to pay the bill
fo- her lodging" The clerk bowed.
Should she chance to return while !
an away" he added, you will detain
aer, am sure, courteously, but firmly.
How unfortunate! How very unior-
tunate!'
1t is barely possible that the lady
may have been frightened away, If shs
was in state of nervous prostration
as you intimate" remarked the clerk,
more cordial in manner now that the
little account for the nights lodging
had been settled. But, upon my word,
] cannot understand why. There were
only five or six other guests on the
moor, and they were quiet people, all
of them"
Once more Mr.. Thomas betook him
self to the neighborhood of the stable
Ind was fortunate enough to find Lud-
low there, making ready for his &C
customed call at the railway depot.
"Who were in the Office when you
left the young lady last night?" he
asked. "Can you recollect?"
Ludlow pondered a moment.
Let me see. The night clerk. The
night porter"
"of course. Anybody else!"
why, yes. Stern was there-Omcer
Stern. A policeman, you know. Mere
~ having friendly chat with the
clerk"
DO you think the lady noticed
him?"
May be so-may be. Anyhow,
Stern noticed her. We all did. How
could we help it? Muf1ed up, nervous,
hurryins off to her room"
Quite certain that in this unexpected
apparition Of a policeman he had found
the cause he disappearance of the
fugitive, Thomas set out once more on
his search.
The first trace of what might per-
chance prove to be the fugitive was
found, halt an hour later, at little
restaurant much frequented by early
marketmen not far from the water
side.
Eyes, woman like you describe
came here about four o'clock this
morning." answered, to Thomas in
quiries, the old man who kept the
place. "She took cup of coffee and
sandwich and asked me the road to
Windsor Locks. A very pleasant
spoken female. She thanked me kind
ly through her veil when | showed her.
/ told her she had better sit down and
rets awhile; that the streets and roads
were no place for woman at that
hour Then, if you'll believe it, she
started up and ran away. She took
that street yonder toward East Hart
ford bridge. l had half a mind to
call after her that she was going the
wrong way if she wanted IA eyat RI