Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-30

Just to the same extent that
know hundreds Of men. have seen
him, talked with him-you know how
and where"
In the line of your work, you
mean?"
Exactly"
Then, as to his family?"
They tell me he has two daughters;
both beauties. never saw them,
however. His wife, believe, Is dead"
How did he stand In financial cir
cles7"
Thomas uttered contemptuous
laugh.
North & stackhouse7 Ask any
broker
"Bad?"
Better put it that they showed too
much enterprise to please conservative
business men. That's the most chart
table construction can put on it,
"Humph! Yo" have not very high
opinion of North & Stackhouse?"
Thomas shrugged his shoulders.
Socially, they're gentlemen. Men
who handle millions can never come
down to the level of common thieves"
'They must be, then, enormously
rich?"
ION the contrary, they are regarded
as extremely shaky."
80? And what have they done with
these millions?"
Got caught in their own trap An
unexpected twist in the market burnt
their hands off, Oh, it's all the same
in stocks. You can think yourself ever
so clever-but I'm talking too much,
inspector. l am saying things on my
mere surmises that no newspaper
would dare to print. Still, you wanted
my opinion, and you have it 1t would
be of no use, suppose, to ask yours
in return?"
Thomas gave Applebee keen look,
under lie influence of which the in
spector. momentarily closed his eyes,
as if afraid that the reporter might
surprise his thoughts there.
Some clients of North & Stack
house have no very pleasant feelings
towards them, presume, on account
of this Nicaragua scheme?" he adroit-
ly queried, as if to change the sub
ject. 1t was adroit for that reason.
While appearing to avoid direct an
swer, he was, in reality putting the
very question which he desired to have
answered.
Did the reporter suspect? There
was not the faintest indication, either
in his manner or in his quiet reply,
that he did.
Some of the poor fools who invest
ed their money in that scheme would
very likely hold the firm morally re-
sponsible for running them
"Ah!" said the inspector, as he
turned away. II suppose so. But I'm
forgetting my case in listening to
you.'
| The fact was, Inspector Applebee was
endeavoring to establish some connec-
ton between the anonymous threaten
ing letter which, ten days before, had
been placed in his hands by the late
Paul North, and this violent death
But, in that case" he thought
"why has not the money been called
for at the post Office? Is it possible
that the writer Of that letter was in
a position to know that the matter
had been placed in my hands? l must
move cautiously in this affair or ruin
1t at the outset"
Not long after Mr.. Thomas depar-
ture most of Applebee's associates left
the house, the medical examiner going
first of all.
Paul North's body had been taken
away In the undertaker's wagon, but
the inspector and one officer still re.
NAMED on the premises.
Quite by accident, as he was coming
down the staircase which connected
the library floor with the story above
after prowl through the darkened
rooms in the upper part Of the house
the inspectors eye caught the CLEAN
of something white.
He picked it up.
1t was tiny lace handkerchief, such
as dainty woman often carries, but g