Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-04
(cepyrish., by The ca..ell Publishing cell
CHAPTER xX.-(Continued.)

NO-uo, ue Sdlo, uuSKlly. 1OU
are very good to think OF it. Perhaps
I should not have left my room. But
the hotel is horror to me, sir. can
not set foot in the hall without meet
Ing the scowling face Of some creditor
OF North & Stackhouse. People point
after me as walk along, and talk
under their breath about me. Fools!
They think do not see these things.
] am followed here, there, and every
where, bounded like an escaped con-
vict. Saturday lay down on a bed,
and they broke open my room to make
sure I had not escaped them! I
thank you, Mr.. Lamm. for all that you
have done and meant to do for mo.
But have made up my mind not to
endure this life any longer. am go.
ing away"
'chesrtully. with his hand ON tho mans
shoulder, but looking anxiously, zone
the less. into his haggard face "stick
TO your colors little longer. Tho
light IL almost over"
"Almost overt" stackhouse echoed
9he words with curious, dull intona-
ton. my hopes Of happiness are
wrecked. The future IL dark-ali
dark. The shadow Of crime, once 1t
falls ON . mans life, can never be
lifted. You know how terribly true
that Il, Mr.. Lamm. This Is no more
than my just deserts. No moro. Yes,
am going away. Whatever tho risk
care not. Why should stay in this
city Of torment"
Mr.. Lamm gave another friendly
touch upon the shoulder Of tho defect
cd figure. but his own look Of anxiety
was only intensified.
Watt" said the detective, In tones
Of sympathy. 1.-THE truth is coming,
and it is coming fast You have trust
ed me so far. Don't cast my advice
20 the winds now"
II do not caro- tho turn Of my hand
whether the truth comes out to-day or
tomorrow. or never" gloomily an
swered Stackhouse looking at the face
bent near his own, with hollow, de-
spairing eyes. II have no longer any
interest in any possible event that may
happen to me. But out of this horrible
place and these horrible surroundings
mean to go, and without delay. Mr..
Lamm, thank you again for the no.
BILE way in which you have helped me-"
Don't speak Of that" interposed
Mr.. Lamm.
II must speak Of 1t. In all my trou-
BILE and remorse I have not forgotten
it. And now let me have your DILL,
Mr.. Lamm, and will draw my check
for the amount at once-the last check
that Thornton Stackhouse will ever
fill out in Boston,
my dear sir" Mr.. Lamm remon.
strated, II have no bill to present.
Why, my work is not done yet. When
the proper time comes shall not for
get 1t, be sure of that" he added, with
assumed lightness of manner.
Stackhouse got up rather unsteadily,
but with filled purpose in hts look.
"Let me go into your inner Office"
rhe asked, 'and make out check II
ATS only as a matter Of form. Besides,
I want to write moment on another
matter, and l should like to be undis-
turbed by any chance caller you might
have"
Mr.. Lamm was at the door of his
little "den" in a<moment, opened his
desk. and placed pen and paper at his
visitors disposal. Stackhouse sat
down, and the detective went out, soft
lly closing the door upon the client at
his work.
Reused from certain regretful mo-
mentary meditations by the entranc,
OF his trusted worker, BILL" Mr..
lLamm began to talk with him In an
lundertone.
In the very middle Of their hushed
conference both sen started and
looked wildly around.
The sound of an explosion came to
their ears with terrible distinctness.
It was Enthusiastically pistol shot.
Moved by common impulse, both
rushed toward the inner Office. When
and went in, his subordinate was close
behind.
The room was full of smoke. But
the cloud lifted as the current OF
fresher air entered, and in an instant
the two were staring into a face-a
face that did not return their look Of
horror, the face of dead man.
Dead! Sitting up in his chair at Mr..
Lamm's desk, with one hand clutching
pen, and in the other a revolver. from
which a tiny wreath of smoke was curl
ing, was the form of Thornton Stack
house.
So true had been his aim, that the
transition from life to death could have
taken scarcely second Of time. He
had blown out his brains.
With stifed cry Mr.. Lamms COM
panion started back. His white face
met at the outer door the frightened
look of another man, conveyancer, who
had an Office close by.
"A man has shot himself In there!"
whispered Bill. The newcomer hur-
ried out Of the room. Others. alarmed