Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-10


tensifled into acute anxiety, now that
he had discovered the nature Of her
mission to the water side. Rather
than she should escape him at this
moment he would willingly forfeit q
months salary. He felt the keen ex-
element Of the man who finds him
self on the verge Of momentous dis
covery.
Thrusting the pistol into his pocket,
he FASTENED to assume his clothing,
and, at the top Of his speed, made up
the road in the direction the woman
had gone. He reached the Phillips
Beach station, only to find 1t black and
deserted. There was the solitary flg-
ure of q man crossing the open space
near by. Thomas hastened to accost
him.
"Has the last train gone, sir7" he
inquired.
"Train!" echoed the man. There
Is no train from here tonight. The
train leaves from Swampscott station
at 1926. It's not q great way down
the track, but I'm afraid It's too late"
he added, looking ct his watch.
A sudden thought came like an In
spiration to the reporter.
"You didn't see woman running
down that track q moment or two ago,
did your"
"Why, yes" returned the man, evil
IDENTIFY struck with the coincidence.
II did. She asked me the very same
question you did, and started OF In
chase TOR the train, but it was a good
ten minutes ago. The fact was, the
whole thing struck me as 10 peculiar
that went after her bit, but some
how she gave me the slip. / must say
! never saw woman who could get
over the ground SO fast"
Thomas waited to hear no more, but
YVES off like an arrow down the dar-
gerously dark road bed.
It was fruitless chase. Entirely
out OF breath, he reached the Swamp
scott station just In time to see the
doors closed. A man bearing lantern
eyed him curiously as he came upon
the platform.
Last trains gone" he said, curtly.
II know" said Mr.. Thomas. Its
rather hard luck that of mine tonight.
Fate's against me, sure. / had mis-
hap-a ducking, as you see; and what
with one thing and another, have
been baked every way. I wouldn't
care, only that lady was to meet me
here and 60 to Boston with me In the
train
Lady with veil and long cloak7"
Eyes"
"She went on In the train without
you, my friend. Sorry for you, but
there's once chance yet You may
catch that horse car into Boston, by
way Of Lynn, II you hurry"
Mr.. Thomas was perfectly aware Of
this fact, but he thanked the man with
the lantern very gratefully and set out
on o run for the corner indicated.
The car was passing Just as he ar
rived, and Thomas went with 1t as 1t
ratified its slow way into Boston--s
slowness that was magnifed hundred
fold by the reporters keen Impotence.
He was anxious to examine the weap.
on Of which he had SO strangely be-
come possessed, but he did not con-
slider 1t prudent to do so until he was
free from observation. The opportun-
ity arrived at last under an electric
light, in quiet street in the city.
"Caliber?" he mentally commented,
"Thirty-twol thought as much. The
old-fashioned four-barreled pepper-box
Of kind in use before the war. All!
Sharps patent, 1853. Probably q rem
iniscence OF North's younger days.
Breech-loading, too. There's no aim
to the thing at long range; but It's a
deadly weapon In q hand-to-hand con-
flict. And 1t contains at present?
Let's see. How do you get the con-
founded thing open? All! by this lit
tie button above the trigger. So, so.
Three full cartridges and one empty
shell. The smut of the powder is still
upon the muzzle. Recently fired, and
not yet cleaned! Why, what fool could
have taken so little pains to conceal q
guilty fact?"
He hastily thrust the pistol from
sight and drew long breath. A COIN
cidence was out Of the question. He
no longer doubted the Importance OF
hfs discovery. Luck-or was it fate?--
had strangely favored him.
BY this time Mr.. Thomas had
reached the borders OF the district
where life is stirring, night as well as
day.
1t was late, but not 80 late that the
hackmen. always inclined to social
| propinquity, were not still to be found
in their accustomed haunts.
By all the groups gathered in smoky
1 "au niahH, -rastanrants- or. talking oYel