Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-02

yet The receiver smiled sinisterly.
| Helen meanwhile had fed to her
| room, and there received Glenister' 5
note through Cherry Malotte's messen.
| ger. 1t rekindled her worst fears and
bore out McNamara's prophecy. The
more she read OF it the more certain
she grew that the crisis was only a
question of hours, and that with dark
ness, tragedy would walk the streets
of Nome. The thought of the wrong
already was lost in the lonely girls
terror Of the crime about to happen,
for 1t seemed to her she had been the
instrument to set these forces in mo-
ton, that she had loosed this swift
speeding avalanche of greed, hatred,
and brutality And when the crash
should come-the girl shuddered. 1t
must not be. She would Shrek warn
ing from the house-tops even at cost
u her uncle, of Mcnamara, and of
herself. And yet she had no proof
that crime existed. Although 1t all
lay clear in her own mind, the GER
tainty of it arose only from her intui-
ton. II only she were able to take q
hand-if only she were not woman.
hSIl ShClly MulOILC WCiuo dhCiS
Strive REQUIRED to her, "A bottle of
brought back the lawyers assurance
guarded all through the long spring
proof. If they did then they held the
power to check this inf>anding con-
flict. Her uncle and the boss would
80 = \, wi
exposure and prosecution. The more
she thought of 1t the more urgent
seemed the necessity to prevent the
battle Of tonight. Thsee was chance
here. at least, and the only one.
Adding to her mental torment was
the constant vision of that face in tho
curtains at the Northern 1t was her
brother, yet what mystery shrouded
this affair also? What kept him from
her? What caused him to stink away
like thief discovered? She grew
dizzy and historical.
Strive turned in his chair as the
door to his private Office opened, then
leaped to his feet at sight of the gray
eyed girl standing there.
81 came for the papers," she said.
81 knew you would" The blood
went out of his cheeks, then surged
back up to his eyes. tits bargain,
them"
She nodded "Give them to me first"
He laughed unpleasantly. What do
you take me for? I'll keep my part of
the bargain if you'll keep yours. But
this is no place, nor time. There's riot
in the air. and I'm busy preparing for
tonight Come back tomorrow when
it's all over
But it was the terror of tonight's
doings that led her into his power.
'1'll never come back she said.
"It is my within to know today-yes, at
once"
He meditated for time. "Then to-
day it shall be. I'll shirk the fight, I'll
sacrifice what shreds of duty have
chung to me, because the fever for you
is in my bones, and it seems to me Ia
do murder for 1t. That's the kind of
man am, and have no pride IN
myself because of It. But Eve always
been that way. Well ride to the Sign
of the Sled. It's romantic little road
house ten miles from here, perched
high above the Snake river trail. Well
take dinner there together"
But the papers?"
'I'll have them with me. Well start
in an hour"
"In an hour she echoed, lifelessly,
and left him.
He chuckled grimly and seized the
telephone. "Central-call the Sled
road-house-seven rings on the Snake
river branch. Hello! That you,
Shortz? This is Strive. Anybody at
the house? Good Turn them away If
they come and say you're closed. None
Of your business. I'll be out about
dark, so have dinner for two Spread
yourself and keep the place clear.
Good bye"
Strengthened by Glenister's note
Helen went straight to the other wo.
man and this time was not kept wait
ing nor greeted with sneers, but found
Cherry cloaked In shy dignity, which
she clasped tightly about herself I'm
der her visitors incoherence she lost
her diffidence, however, and. when
Helen had finished, remarked, with de-
cision: Don't go with him. He's a
bad man"
But | must. The blood of those
men will be on me if don't stop this
tragedy. If those papers tell the tale
| think they do, can call off my
uncle and make Mcnamara give back
the mines. You said Strive told you
the whole scheme. Did you see the
proof"
No. l have only his word, but he
spoke of those documents repeatedly,
saying they contained his instructions
to tie up the mines in order to give a
foothald for the lawsuits. He Dragged
that the rest of the gang were in his
power and that he could land them in
the penitentiary for conspiracy. That's
ALL"
TITS the only chance" said Helen.
They are sending soldiers to the Mi
das to lie in ambush, and you must
warn the Vigilantes." Cherry paled ut
this and CALCULATED:
Good Lord! Roy said he'd lead an
attack tonight" The two stared at
each other.
If succeed with Strive l can stop
If a11--al1 Of fhic ;y,j, ~, q