Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-10

included, millionaire
Exactly; well?"
well, he began to feel drawn to-
ward the Norths again. This time the
old man was very glad to have him on
good terms with the family. The al
mighty dollar, you know. don't mean
to slur a dead mans memory, but Paul
North was a disciple of Mammon, if
ever there was one in the world. The
question in everybody's mouth is, how
did Stackhouse attain his extraor-
binary influence over Paul North? I
attribute it to his cunning catering to
the Old mans strongest passion
avarice. But not to digress. Fetridge
visited the house regularly for a
month or two, and it was gossiped
down at the shore that the Apollo had
turned his attention to Miss Stella
am not at all certain as to the correct
ness of that assumption myself,
Lamm."
HE may have something Of his for
mer liking for Marion, you mean?"
Mr.. Lamm found an answering look
from his co-worker that made spoken
response superfuous.
Just about month ago, Lamm,
professional business called Fetridge
away from Boston. At any rate that
was the explanation given by the
young lawyer, who appears to have en-.
tered into quite intimate relations
with the firm Of North & Stackhouse
since he came back from Australia
with his millions A Water street man
l saw at the funeral told me he be-
lieved Fetridge backed the concern,
and went away on some business con-
nected with it."
That's a mere guess was the de-
tective's comment. I'VE must try to
get at the real cause for this trip. You
do not imagine that any disagreement
with the family or the firm could have
been at the bottom of it?'
There was no love lost between
Stackhouse and Fetridge. The cause
Of their mutual dislike may or may not
be hard to determine" said Thomas,
in a meaning tone; "but I'm very GER
tain, from what has taken place since
Mr.. North's death-Fetridge did not
come back, you know, until two days
before-that he is on quite as good a
standing with the family as ever. The
way in which he was trusted in the
funeral arrangements shows that
much, plainly enough"
Mr.. Lamm knocked the ashes from
his cigar, took a turn up the room,
and coming back stopped in front Of
Thomas as he sat lingering his watch
fob.
There's a mystery about this man
Fetridge," be said with emphasis.
What you have found out about him
simply confirms my feeling, quite war
ranted by my own knowledge of the
man and his circumstances, that Fet-
ridge is a person to be very carefully
watched. Mark my words, young man.
The day you find out what secret is
shared by Marion North tackhouse
and Richard Fetridge will mark a
great advance in the progress of this
investigation"
When detective and reporter parted,
after some further interchange of
views, a certain line of policy was
agreed upon. Richard Fetridge was to
be kept constantly in sight. For the
goings and comings of the young law
yer in the city, Mr.. I.amm declared
his purpose to fully account, while Mr..
Thomas was to be the sentinel on duty
at Swampscott.
1t happened that he was passing the
North estate little before nine
o'clock, and that just then the within
seized him to enter the broad gateway
and have look at the silent, gloomy
mansion upon which the heavy pail of
death and iil-fortune had visibly fallen.
There might be something stirring
some face, some light, some whispered
conversation, perhaps-or was it that
the sweet, sad face of North's or
phaned daughter still haunted him and
lured him out of his path?
At all events it would not necessi-
tate much of delay, for the abiding
place of Richard Fetridge was but a
short distance beyond. At first sight
it did not seem possible that he should
gain anything by entering the grounds.
There was not even light visible
from his standpoint on the driveway.
1t might have been, thought Mr.. Thorn
as, some long abandoned ruin for all
the semblance of life that could be
seen about it.
He was turning away, when his at
tention was attracted by noise close
by him as Of window cautiously
opened, and Immediately after he be-
came aware of the fiutter of white
skirts at window in the second
story. Instinctively he drew back into
the bushes. The night was dark, but
the phosphorescent CLEAN that seems
to distinguish objects even in dark
landscape, enabled him to see that
somebody had emerged from the win
dow and was coming down a trellis
work into the garden. He heard the
swapping of the frail wood work the