Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-17

man." he said, quickly, pointing him
out Bring him here will be II
the next room as arranged If he asks
you any questions, wait a bit before
answering. If the feather sways twice
it means say yes If once, it mednt
mo- If not at all, you are left to YOU
own discretion. You generally will
| be-"
John Lamm referred to large pea
cocks feather ornamentally arranged
over bookcase. He had connected II
with the adjoining room By bit Of
silk thread.
A very few minutes thereafter Mis-:
| Dallison and Thornton Stackhouse en-
tered the front chamber The man
took the seat offered to him, back to
| the bookcase. If Miss Dallison had
been familiar with his personal APP
pearance, she could not have helped
observing that the lines of care in his
face had deepened heavily since the
day of his partners death. He had the
sleepless, worn expression of an anx-
ious watcher by the bedside of Sc
rious illness.
well, we'll, woman" he said, ab-
ruptly, in no very conciliatory tones,
Il trust after bringing me here you
don't disappoint me. What do you
know of this Marie Moissot? Speak
quickly, for my engagements are press
ing"
We'll, now, my dear sir" began Miss
| nol1icon por1ouc b;oh lyovoh
manner, very unlike her natural self,
you'd better understand me, to begin
with. I'm not going to betray any con-
fidences that may have made with
any OF them as l may be pardoned for
calling friends without know the why
| and the wherefores of it."
What do you mean?" asked Stack
house, darkly "Do you expect me to
tell you my business with her before I
know anything about you? You must
| think me fool. offered reward for
| information, and came here to get it.;
not to give it."
1 Every we'll, indeed, sir, SO you did, y
returned Miss Dallison, with very
shrewd air of suspicion But you
have to satisfy me that you don't mean
no harm to body, for I'll not speak a
word to injure any friend of mine. So
that's just what you and I have got
to settle before we go ahead"
well, in the first place." said Stack
house, changing his tactics, suppose
we settle whether you have any in
formation about the person that I
want. Describe the woman you refer
to?"
ooh, sir! I'm no good that way
She was about 81, dark, quite dark
we'll, medium height, I should say
and what call reasonably cookbook
ing"
| "Ah! and what is she doing for liv,
ing?"
ooh, there's where can't answer
you see, until find out why you wan,
to know"
| Stackhouse made an impatient ges.
ture.
elias this woman you speak of beer
in Boston lately?"
The feather swayed twice.
81 see no harm in saying yes to that
sir. No harm. But more l won't say
You see, sir, circumstances are pecul
lar. She confided me that circum
stances are peculiar"
"You mean to say, don't you, thai
she was here for private purposes, ant
that she wanted her presence here KEEP
secret?"
"I shouldn't wonder"
"Have you known this woman long?'
The feather swayed twice.
"A good many years, sir"
"And under that name all the time p
81 decline to state what names snt
has gone UNDER" said the woman, will
considerable asperity. "You may be
one of them detective fellers. How dc
know? Coming up here to pump evil
dences out Of poor woman as has
herself to look after. l know fas
enough know the woman you want
knew it the minute I read that in thu
paper. But 1 amt going to be caught
in no trap, nor amt going to get into
no trouble. So there's how the lanC
lays, and you may as well know It frs
as last"
Stackhouse seemed to be sitting OF
pins and needles.
Hang it," he cried. Don't be {
fool! 1 have no wish to harm her
nor you, either. I only wish to SCI
her; that's ALTO talk with her."
"Well?"
as she in Boston,"
"That decline to say SIR"
"Ah!" said Stackhouse, coming to hi.
feet II see she is, or you wouldn't b.
so cunning about it. Now, where i
she? In this house? Tell the truth
Didn't she herself send you to answe
that advertisement? AS matter O
fact, isn't she listening to this yer,
conversations"
He made sudden movement towar,
the half-open door behind which Lamn
stood. But the woman was quicke
than he was, and she intercepted him
"non't Won dare sirin she oriad