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

looked in vain among these quiet Of
hcials for the inevitable reporter. Evi-
IDENTIFY the Newspaper man was barred
out! Not at all The public who look
for . notebook, and expect to find in
such circumstances q meddlesome
young man writing with ghoul-like &C
tivtty, would never have suspected the
short, thick-set, black-haired. gentle
manly young man who talked with
each person present in an easy way,
which showed that he was personally
acquainted with everyone. Instead of
douEdshing q notebook-the insignia Of
the property reporter OF the theater,
andsof the beginners in the profession
this man had no better use for his
hands than Q mechanical fondling Of
the pendant to his watch chain-a
trick which IN some mysterious man
nsr.seemed to help him to think. Al
though he was young, his experience
IN criminal affairs, combined with his
natural ability. had made his sagacity
equal to that Of anybody present, while
his trustworthinsss and reliability en-
sbled him to be oftentAaes in impor-
tants cases sonhdant Of the authori-
ties. This was Kingman b. Thomas,
Of the Globe.
The medical examiner arose from q
brief inspection Of the body. which
was already identified as that Of Paul
North, the State street hnancier.
Everybody looked at him curiously,
but his imperturbable face told no
tales.
Nothing has been disturbed?" he
asked Of the sergeant.
1--WE know our business, sir. Every
thing ia exactly as we found It"
"Ahi" No more and no less, came
in q matter-of-fact tone from the med
1cal examiners lips.
well. DOCTOR" said Mr.. Thomas,
chow is it,"
II shall perform an autopsy"
This was said quietly. The medical
examiner refrained from advancing his
opinion at this stage. but Tnomas un-
derstood that the determination to per-
form an autopsy indicated serious sus-
pioion on the physioian's part
There was . trcmulous touch On his
shoulder, and he turned to meet the
eyes Of man whom he did not know.
"What-what is that writing on the
wall down there by the door?" asked q
shaking voice.
This is friend of the family, doc
tor" interposed Inspector Applebee,
by way Of accounting for this unfa-
miliar presence there. "He was Mr..
North's partner. Naturally he is very
much overcome"
In tones that were trifle steadier
Mr.. Stackhouse repeated his question.
Bending down to seek an answer him
self, he started back, and would have
fallen but for the opportune aid of the
newspaper man.
"A horrible sight! cannot look
at It," he muttered, putting his hand
over his eyes. Tell me what you
make it out!"
A glance of intelligence passed be-
tween the inspector and the sergeant.
Each OWNED perfectly what had
brought such shock to the mind of
Paul Norths partner. Each under
stood fully the mans unspoken fear.
Meanwhile DR.. Jarrett, applying GER
tain mysterious tests, seemed more in
tent upon determining the medium Of
this strange message than the message
itself.
Written in blood" he said, even
tually, looking steadily at Stackhouse;
land the condition of the foref1nger
OF the right hand seems to indicate
that the dead man wrote 1t. He
paused and Stackhouse sank into a
chair. But what odds? The writing
will endure. gentlemen. We have
other things to do"
He gave the inspector meaning
look and resumed his work. Thomas
lost not detail of this scene.
But now, with Inspector Applebee
as his close companion, the library and
the adjoining room were examined
infinitely
The room had been used very recent
~. Regarding that point, there was
no possibility Of doubt.
Chairs had been moved from their
dCCuSlOulcO QldCcS. On LILO Op6uCu
desk, which Mr.. stackhouse at once
identified as his partners, stood, amid
heap Of tumbled papers, drop light.
Near by, burnt match. Obviously
the windows had not been touched.
The adjoining room, vouched for as
Paul North's chamber by his partner,
soon recovering his self-control, bore
no traces of occupancy. AS the door
was open between 1t and the library,
1t was plain that the master of the
house must have passed through the
room. He had not slept there, for the
beds surface was unruf1ed, and not a
fold OF the pillows had been disturbed.
Zone thing is evident" said Thomas.
This man was not killed for money.
saw the doctor take well-hlled
pocketbook from his person, and not
thing in the house appears to have
been disturbed"
A call from DR.. Jarrett summoned
the two men back into the chamber OF
death.