Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-15

There was knock at the door.
Mr.. Mendell," said the messenger,
ito see Mr.. Applebee."
Its the writing expert" said APP
plebee. "Send him in"
Mr.. Mendell appeared, bearing under
his arm a small portfolio
Good morning, gentlemen" was his
greeting. ''And what do you think of
the news? No surprise to you, sup
poser"
What news?" questioned the chief
inspector, gruff1y.
why, the collapse Of North &
Stackhouse. to be sure. What, hadn't
you heard?"
The two officials were staring at
each other.
Where did you hear that, Mendell?"
Applebee asked.
Where? Everywhere. It's all over
town. OF course circumstances make
everybody talk about it. All sorts OF
rumors are afloat as to the cause of it.
Some say it wouldn't have occurred
but for North's death. Others say it
had to come anyway-that it was only
matter of time. But, plague take it,
that wasn't what came for"
quite So" said Applebee. "But,
turning from gossip to business, what's
your report?"
well, gentlemen" returned Men
dell, briskly, opening his portfolio and
extracting therefrom several papers,
II don't know that 1 can help you a
great deal, but I'm satisfied of one
thing. Out of all the specimens of
writing which Jobson presented for my
inspection, there are not five which
could have been done by the party who
prepared the anonymous letter."
There are four, them" said Apple
bee
Just" returned Mendell, spreading
the samples upon the table; "and there
you have them"
And how about your preference"
II have none. You see the writing
of the original is too shaky to be a
good guide. 1t is evidently dis
guised hand but at the same time not
disguised by person who understood
how to disguise handwriting. Evil
IDENTIFY when he had written 1t he
thought, because it didn't have the
general appearance, to his eye, of his
own writing it was consequently suff1-
GENTLY blind to deceive anybody. /
don't believe the popularity OF the
formation of the letters ever occurred
to the person"
"WhO are these nartjec7n
Three of them are business men.
The fourth was formerly clerk in the
firms employ. but was discharged,
believe, for drunkenness
"Pshaw!" said Applebee II know
these three men. They're mono of
them in need of money, and would
not have taken that means to get it
If they had been"
ut remains, then, with this other
fellow-Willard Smith-eh?" said the
chief inspector. What do you know
Of this mans history?"
Nothing but the few words that
Jobson accidentally let fall" replied
the expert. HE said that the man
was young and Industrious. That he
invested every cent in Nicaragua Mid
land, lost his money and took to rum
as consolation
That's our man." said the chief In
spector, positively. "Applebee, let's
| get to work on this at once"
There was no time lost. Inspector
Applebee and his assistants were soon
securing the city for information con-
corning Mr.. Willard Smith, late clerk
with North & Stackhouse But the
quest presented some unexpected diff
culties, and when Tuesday morning
came it had not yet achieved success
Applebee was scarcely awake on
| Tuesday morning when the following
telegram was placed In his hands:
Hartford, Conn, a. M
WHITE"
Does he bring Stella North with
| him." was the grave question that per-
sisted in Applebees mind during the
intervening time. "If so, am con-
tident that we are nearing the END OF
this perplexing case"
He communicated his anxiety to the
chief inspector, and both men waited
with Impotence the coming of the
man who had gone in quest of the
mysterious fugitive. Alas, for their
hopes! Inspector White was quite
alone.
The three men were closeted togeth-
er as soon as he arrived.
Not trace of herr" exclaimed AID.
plebee, impatiently.
Slipped through my fingers like a
fish," said White circumstances
very peculiar. Whole thing mystic.
rious; more than mysterious-suspi-
cious."
How do you mean?"
White placed his hand impressively
on Applebee's shoulder, and though
the door was shut, spoke in almost a
whisper:
Il tell you, man, it is one of two
things. That girls either made away
with herself, or she's had help to -s-
| ,,no