Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-27

him at Swampscott this morning."
Mr.. Stackhouse waved his hand I'M
patiently.
81 didn't go down to the shore last
night he returned, shortly. "Stayed
in town with friend. left North
here in this Office about three o'clock
in the afternoon and haven't laid eyes
on him since!"
'Why don't you telegraph to his
house?" asked a little man near the
door. tits strange he hasn't sent
some word himself before this time.
But l suppose he's i'll, and his daugh
tiers are SO worried about him that
they have forgotten to send. Just like
women!" the testy little bachelor
added.
The suggestion was acted upon in
stantly. Alter an interminable delay
response came, evoking simultane-
Gus murmur OF dismay and the inter
change Of apprehensive looks.
"Swampscott June 16
''Mr. North must have stayed in town.
He has not been here since yesterday morn
ing.
COMFORT HARDWOOD"
"strange!" calculated Stackhouse,
ringing the bell as he spoAe. Send
Mr.. Jobson in he added, the next
moment, to the waiting messenger.
The old clerk was in the room be-
fore the messenger had left it, trenl-
bling all over with senile agitation.
cat what time did MT. North leave
the Office yesterday afternoon"
Stnckhouse demanded abruptly.
"It was after five o'clock, sir"
WAS he alone?"
mo, sir. MIR. Fetridge was with
him.
Probably went out of town some
where with Fetridge," suggested one Of
the directors. "Delayed-missed a
train. Very provoking! On this day,
too, of all others! But send round to
Fetridge's Office and see if he has been
heard from"
Unasked, the old clerk took upon
himself the duty of messenger, and the
party anxiously awaited his return.
But one question and answer were
interchanged meanwhile.
His Nicaragua been quoted to-day,
Stackhouse?" the little old bachelor
queried
Eyes. offered at 9. No takers. Of
a point already, you see"
The sound Of footsteps and voices in
the outer Office announced to the a11x-
ious ear Of stackhouse the coming of
Mr. Fetridge himself. The broker
stepped forward.
"Well?"
1t was evident at first sight that the
newcomer was unduly agitated. He
was stalwart, handsome fellow, GER
tainly not beyond 80 years Of age.
II cannot imagine where North is
any more than you" he exclaimed,
without waiting for question. ~
walked up the street with him yester-
day afternoon, after talk in his Of
fee"
Where did you leave him?"
Fetridge flushed and seemed consid-
ering a reply. All eyes were turned
| on him.
| ~ don't know the exact point" he
said, at last. "At the corner Of State
and Washington streets, think it
was"
Stackhouse, who was very nervous
and more affected than the occasion
seemed to require, stared at Fetridge
blankly, as if utterly at loss to &C.
count for his confusion.
His town house is closed for the
summer" he suggested, his eyes still
on Fetridge's face. "He must have
| gone to some hotel"
"Send messenger to make thu
rounds!" excitedly demanded the lit
tie bachelor.
Richard Fetridge seemed to find tn
situation unaccountably embarrassing
He had no advice to offer. Stackhous
particularly appeared to disconcer
him. Murmuring something abou
having left man waiting for hin
at his Office, and that he presume
:. North would be found speedily, b
fastened out and betook himself in tn
direction of his place of business. TIL
necessity of haste in his return, how
ever, seemed to become less obviou
to. him after he reached the open all
He stood stock still with his foo
upon the flight of stairs leading to hi
office, and then, under the stress of
sudden thought, wheeled abruptly an
walked theoretically back up tn
street
In five minutes he was in polio
headquarters at Pemberton square, il
quiring anxiously of the official t
whom the clerk referred him whethe
any notification Of the Disappearance
of Paul North had been sent to hin
The official protested ignorance of til
matter.
when was he last seen, sir?"
. Yesterday afternoon about fiv
o'clock, going up State street from h
Office" Fetridge rejoined, .avoidin
further detail. And fastened to ado
"He has town house at = Marlbol
street, you know. Perhaps 1t isn't n
Mace tn suggest if hut don't the nj