Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-24

would. She drew her chair up near
the window, and looked out all the time.
1t struck me she was careful not to turn
round when anybody came in. may
be wrong, but it occurred to me that she
did this so as not to let her face be
seen by any chance visitor.
| ut was something like 80 minutes
before the boss appeared. AS soon as
she heard his voice she turned round.
The boss gave start. Why, Nine
Raymond he said, and surprised
enough he was. But he hurried per
toward his private Office, saying sorAe
thing In a low tone, and looking over
in my direction. But you may believe
was adding up column of figures just
at that time.
We'll, the two We're closeted an hour
together, and then the woman came
out. Always the politest of men is
my boss when good-looking face Is
about He danced attendance on her,
and heard him say, as he took her hand
at the door:
Have no anxiety, my dear madam.
Everything is being carefully looked
after. Trust me to see that all comes
out right
"And that was the last saw of the
woman"
Mr.. Lamm, with all his eagerness to
get at the case only intensified by
these incomplete, and unsatisfactory
disclosures, requested his informant
to let him know the instant that I'M
known woman appeared in Fetridge's
Office again.
He was prepared for an indefinite pc
Rod of waiting, and the arrival of this
brief message the morning of the day
after he had given these last instruc-
lions came as pleasant surprise:
She is here"
With all speed the detective made his
way towards the substantial brick build
ing where Richard Fetridge was usually
to be found during business hours on
any weekday of the year.
Waiting in the g. let corridor, Mr..
Lamm found the place almost as de-
serted, this summer morning, as if it
were a bank holiday. But the echo
of door closing on the fight above,
and the sound of two voices, one Of
which was Fetridges, in amicable con-
versation, soon demanded his close at
tention
1t was woman's voice that spoke
the only good-by" that came unmis-
takably to the ears of the detective; and
a woman's light step heard on the
stairway gave him assurance that
the mysterious Nine. Raymond was
coming his way.
A slight built, willowy woman, this,
thought Mr. Lamm, as he watched her
pass near at hand, his own presence en-
tirely unnoticed. Pretty, an olive COM
plexion, a little too much made up"
large, lustrous eyes, black hair Cher
own undoubtedly, a very graceful fig
ure. Altogether, as Mr.. Lamm summed
up the case an attractive brunette on
the sunny side of 80, with something of
foreign air about her. Assuredly a
visitor to Boston, wherever born and
bred g
The graceful figure, we'll set off by
a eoquettish bonnet, which, like the sum-
mer wrap, had a pleasant contrast OF
Followed by more than one admir-
ing glance, the lady was followed also
by Mr.. Lamm though not one of the
many acquaintance with whom the de-
tective exchanged bow and pleasant
word, would have suspected the fact.
Nine. Raymond, hailing South End
car, and taking seat with dainty SUI
pervision of her skirts, looked at the
shop windows past which her route took
her, with languid curiosity. Mr.. Lamm
two seats behind, did not seem to no.
tice her. Nine. Raymond left the cal
at a shady crossing; and Mr.. Lamm
having seen her on the footpath anc
we'll around the corner, swung off the
car in his turn, and quite casually walked
up the street which the lady had trav
: ersed just before.
!, Mr.. Lamm was going by a modest.
: looking house, with a high doorstep, JUS
:, as Nine. Raymond was ringing the bell
She was admitted in moment, anc
= Mr.. Lamm still walked on, turning the
: corner and taking meditative prom
;, enade down dusty avenue for little
: distance.
!, But the now invisible magnet still
: drew him to that quiet little street, ant
), to the ninth house on the right in {
), distractingly regular row of highly-re
= spectacle looking dwellings. "a board
ing house." commented Mr.. Lamm, a
:, he leisurely looked at the windows OF
= his way up the steps. mo need of
: sign to tell that fact"
: In his suave inquiry regarding eligibl
y lodgings, the careworn landlady VIII,
opened the door took an instant in
. terest. She liked the mans face, as sh
\ confided an hour later to an intimat
= friend in the millinery line, who chance
L to CALL
1--WE have very good room back, u
= one flight, sir; quite near the bath
y room"
- "Ah!" The caller seemed to be con
I ~cI