Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-08

which Mrs. Fairbrother had been
killed. 1t had been intrusted to me
by the police for definite purpose.
The time for testing that purpose hadfi
come, or so nearly come, that felt
must be thinking about the necessary j
ways and means
Unwinding the folds of tissue paper
in which the stiletto was wrapped, /
scrutinized the weapon very carefully.
Hitherto, l had seen only pictures OF
it, now, had the article itself in my
hand 1t was not a natural one for q
young woman to hold, woman whose
taste ran more toward healing than
inflicting wounds, but / forced myself
to forget why the end of it's blade was
rusty, and looked mainly at the de-
vices which ornamented the handle.
had not been mistaken in them. They
| belonged to the house of Grey, and to
| none other 1t was legitimate I'M
quiry had undertaken. However the,
| matter ended, should always have
these historic devices for my excuse.
My plan was to lay this dagger on
| Mr.. Grey's desk at moment when he
would be sure to see it and to see
him. If he betrayed a guilty knows
edge of this fatal steel; if. uncon-
| scious of my presence, he showed SUR
| prise and apprehension,- then we
| should know how to proceed; justice
1 would be loosed from constraint and
the police feel at liberty to approach
him. 1t was delicate task, this. I
realized how delicate, when had
thrust the stiletto out of sight under
my nurses apron and started to cross
1 the hall. Should I find the library
clear? Would the opportunity be
given me to approach his desk, or
should | have to carry this guilty wit
ness of a world-famous crime on into
Miss Grey's room, and with it's unholy
outline pressing semblance of ITSELF
upon my breast, sit at that innocent
| pillow, meet those innocent eyes, and
answer the gentle inquiries which now
and then fell from the sweetest lips
have ever seen smile into the face Of
a lonely, preoccupied stranger?
The arrangement of the rooms was
such as made it necessary for me to
pass through this sitting room in order
to reach my patients bedroom.
/ WIFI CAREFUL blSdu, 81 LlluCu dS uOG
to appear stealthy, accordingly adj
vanced and pushed open the door.
The room was empty. Mr.. Grey was
still with his daughter and could
cross the floor without fear. But
never had entered upon task re-
curing more courage or one more obs
noxious to my natural instincts.
/ hated each step l took, but I loved
/ the man for whom took those steps,
and moved resolutely on. Only, as
reached the chair in which Mr.. Grey
was accustomed to sit, l found that
it was easier to plan an action than to
. carry it out. Home life and the do
nestle virtues had always appealed to
me more than mans greatness. The
position which this man held in his
own country, his usefulness there,
even his prestige as statesman and
scholar, were facts, but very dreamy
facts, to me, while his feelings as a
father, the place he held in his
daughters heart-these were real to
me, these could understand; and 1t
was Of these and not of his place as a
man, that this his favorite seat spoke
to me. How often had beheld him
sit by the hour with, his eye on the
door behind which his one darling lay
i'll! Even now, IL was easy for me to
recall his face as | had sometimes
caught a glimpse of it through the
crack Of the suddenly opened door,
and felt my breast heave and my
hand falter as drew forth the stiletto
and moved to place it where his eye
would fall upon 1t on his leaving his
daughters bedside.
But my hand returned quickly to
my breast and fall back again empty.
A pile of letters lay before me on the
, open lid of the desk. The top one
was addressed to me with the word
Important" written in the corner. !
did not know the writing, but felt
that should open and read this letter
before committing myself or those
who stood back of me to this desper4
ate undertaking.
CHANGING behind me and seeing that
the door into Miss Grey's room was
+ ajar, l caught up this letter and rushed
' with it back into my own room. AS ]
! surmised, it was from the inspector,
. and as read it I realized that / had
received it not one moment too soon.
In language purposely non-committal,
but of meaning not to be mistaken,
: it advised me that some unforeseen
. facts had come to light which altered
, all former suspicious and made the
little surprise had planned no longer
!. necessary.
There was no allusion to Mr.. Dur
and but the final sentence ran:
drop all care and give your I'M
: divided attention to your patient"
: CHAPTER XIII.