Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-22
CHAPTER XIV.

eral orders was again summoned In
to his presence. He smiled as our
eyes met, but did not altitude, any more
than I did, to what had Just passed.
Nevertheless, we understood each
other.
When was again seated, he took
up the conversation where we had left
It.
"The description I was just about to
read to you," he went on; will you
listen to 1t now"
Gladly" said 1; ut is Wellgood's
I believe"
He did not answer save by curious
glance from under his brows, but,
taking the paper again from his desk,
went on reading:
IA man Of 1fty-flve looking like one
Of sixty. Medium height, Insignificant
features, head bald save for ring Of
scanty dark hair. No beard, heavy
nose, long mouth and sleepy half-shut
eyes capable of shooting strange
glances. Nothing distinctive in face
or figure save the depth of his
wrinkles and scarcely observable
stoop in his right shoulder. Do you
see Wellgood in that?" he suddenly
asked.
II have only the faintest recollec-
ton Of his appearance" was my doubt
full reply. "But the impression 1 get
from this description is not exactly
the one received of that waiter in
the momentary glimpse I got of him"
$50 others have told me BEFORE" he
remarked, looking very disappointed.
1.-THE description is Of Sears given me
by a man who knew him well, and If
we could fit the description Of the one
to that of the other, we should have
1t easy. But the few persons who have
seen Wellgood differ greatly in their
remembrance Of his features, and
even of his coloring. 1t is astonishing
how specifically most people see a
man, even when they are thrown into
daily contact with him. Mr.. Jones
says the mans eyes are gray, his hair
wig and dark, his nose pudgy, and
his face without much expression. His
land-lady, that his eyes are blue, his
hair, whether wig or not, a dusty
auburn, and his look quick and pierre
ing,.-a look which always made her
afraid. His nose she don't remem-
Der. Both agree, or rather all agree,
ludL uc WOIO III UCd1 u"oOdlS uiu, UuL
a beard can be easily taken Off land
all Of them declare that they would
know him instantly If they saw him.
And so the matter stands. Even you
can give me no definite description
one, I mean, as satisfactory or unsatis-
factory as this OF Sears"
1 shook my head. Like the others,
/ felt that l should know him If saw
him, but could go no further than
that. There seemed to be so little
that was distinctive about the man.
The inspector, hoping, perhaps, that
all this would serve to rouse my mem
DRY, shrugged his shoulders and put
the best face he could on the matter.
"Well, WELL" said he, 1--WE shall have
to be patient. A day may make all
the difference possible in our out
look. If we can lay hands on either Of
these men"
He seemed to realize he had said a
word too much, for he instantly
changed the subject by asking If had
succeeded in getting sample of Miss
Grey's writing. I was forced to say
no; that everything had been very
carefully put away. But I do not
,, know what moment l may come upon
It," I added. II do not forget it's i'm
portance in this investigation"
Every good Those lines handed up
to Mrs. Fairbrother from the walk
outside are the second most valuable
clue we possess"
I did not ask him what the first was.
knew. 1t was the stilletto
"Strange that no one has testified
to that handwriting" remarked.
He looked at me in surprise.
"Fifty persons have sent in samples
of writing which they think like it,"
he observed. "Often of persons who
never heard of the Fairbrothers. We
have been bothered greatly with the
business. You know little OF the
difficulties the police labor under"
81 know too much" I sighed.
He smiled and patted me on the
hand.
go back to your patient" he said.
Forget every other duty but that of
your calling until you get some
definite word from me. l shall not
keep you in suspense one minute
longer than is absolutely necessary"
He had risen. I rose too. But I
was not satisfied. / could not leave
the room with my ideas Il might say
with my convictions) in such tur-
mol.
Inspector" said I, "you will think
me very obstinate, but all you have
told me about Sears, all have heard
about him, in fact, this empha.
sized does not convince me of the
entire folly Of my own suspicious. In.
deed, / am afraid that. If anything,
they are strengthened. This steward
who is a doubtful character, 1 ack.
nowledge, may have had his reasons
for wishing Mrs. Fairbrother's death
may even have had a hand in the
matter; but what evidence have you
to show that he, himself, entered the
alcove, struck the blow or stole the
diamond? have listened eagerly for
some such evidence, but have list
ened in vain"