Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-03

ing in his precarious htding.place. IN.
stead of leaving by the door, he first
made sure that the coast was clear,
and then got out Of the window and
walked rapidly around the corner to
the front entrance.
He pulled atthoritatively at the bell.
After a short delay the summons was
answered by the still tremulous
Moffett.
II am sorry, man." said Mr.. Lamm,
"but / must see the ladies after all.
Give my card to Miss Harwood,
please"
Moffett accepted the proffered piece
of pasteboard, on which was engraved:
LEVI DILLINGHAM;.
Police Detective.
Aunt Comfort responded, breathless
and asthmatic. She invited John
Lamm into the reception room. With
quiet dignity the detective proceeded
to apologize and to reassure her. He
regretted the necessity which forced
him to call at such time, and en-
larged upon the great service she
might do the cause of justice by MAX
ing him acquainted with whatsoever
facts of any possible bearing on the
motive for the murder that might be
In her possession. 1t was useless At
another time the aniable housekeeper
might have filled his notebook with
unconscious revelations; but there is
point beyond which garrulousness be-
comes complete idiocy, and it is little
exaggeration to say that the terrible
events of the day had carried Aunt
Comfort over the limit. There was alb
solutely nothing to be got from her
but tears and gasps and Intersections.
The Idea Of calling upon Mrs. Stack
house to present the case was an in
spiration to her and a relief to the
patient Lamm.
1t is true that he awaited the COM
ing of Marion with some compunctions
and no little curiosity. The young
lady entered the room haughtily, and
looked at him in a distant, unemo-
tional way.
"Wkat do you wish, sir7"
Pardon me" said Lamm, humbly
her, turning his hat in his uneasy
hands. 'The affair is a mystery. We
desire to arrest the guilty parties
Often the relatives in such cases have
strong reasons for suspicious"
1--WE have none," returned Marion,
mo, indeed!" corroborated Aunt
Comfort. 'The idea of such thing!"
You are utterly unaware of any
possible motive for this crime?"
Intentionally Detective Lamm cast a
keen, searching glance full into the
face Of the stoical young woman. His
idea was to intimidate rather than to
observe her, for he had a furtive way
of scrutinizing people without appear
ing to. do so. 1t was Ineffective. Not
even her eyelashes quivered.
Utterly" she said, firmly. "And
now, sir, are you satieied?"
Unfortunately, no." said Lamm,
CHANGING uneasily at Aunt Comfort.
Gould would 1t be presumptuous
in me-to ask for a private inter-
view?"
Marion drew full breath. There
was a slight culver as she did SO,
which seemed to indicate that her
calmnsss was the result of rigid re-
pressions of her spontaneous emotions.
She motioned Aunt Comfort towards
the hall.
We'll, sir?" she said as soon as they
were alone. John Lamm saw that she
had no intention of prolonging the in
terview. He resolved to break the ice
of her reserve with one fell crush.
Tell me-" he said, without preface,
"who is Marie Moyso?"
She could not repress the start nor
the tell-tale blush that rose into her
cheeks. But she made brave effort
which aroused John Lamm's unspoken
admiration.
why do you ask?" Only this in a
faint voice, as a response to this unex-
peeted homhshel,.
reason to believe that such woman is
mixed up in this affnir."
"Ah!" she returned coldly, II know
nothing Of her. Really, Me-. Officer
you must excuse me if you have moth
ing more to say than this. The occa.
sion is too grave-too solemn. You
should go to Mr.. North's partner, Mr.
Stackhouse. He can tell you more
about it than anybody else.'
"She is one woman in ten thou
sand!" he muttered to himself as he
walked away. cat her age such self
command is as uncommon as lottery
prize. Well, we'll try again.
Some inquiries assured him that II
was not far to the seaside residence Of
Richard Fetridge. In five minutes
after leaving Marion's presence he wa.
bowling before the astonished Fetridge
whom he met on the veranda over
looking the ocean.
you here?"
$50 1t would seem, Mr.. Fetridge."
: "And what can you have discoveret
SO soon?"
''I'll tell you. 1t is simple clew ant