Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-05

lessness that struck me as being
strangely akin to my own inward an
guish of Impotence and doubt What
was he dreading? What was 1t | had
seen darkening his face and disturb
ing his manner, when from time to
time he pushed open the communicat-
Ing door and cast an anxious glance
our way, only to withdraw again with
out uttering a word Did he realize
that crisis was approaching, that
danger menaced him, and from me?
No, not the latter, for his glance never
strayed to me, but rested solely on
his daughter. ! was, therefore, not
connected with the disturbance in his
thoughts. AS far as that was con-
cerned I could proceed fearlessly; I
had not him to dread, only the event.
That did dread, as any one must who
saw Miss Grey's face during these
painful moments and heard that rest
less tramp In the room beyond.
At last the hour struck,-the hour
at which Mr. Grey always descended
to lunch. He was punctuality itself,
and under ordinary circumstances
could depend upon his leaving the
room within five minutes of the stroke
of one. But would he be as prompt to-
day? Was he is the mood for
luncheon? Would he go down stairs
at all? Yes. for the tramp, tramp
stopped; l heard him approaching his
daughters door for last look in and
managed to escape Just in time to pro
cure what wanted and reach the
room before he came
My opportunity was short, but had
time to see two things: first, that the
location of his seat had been changed
so that his back was to the door lead
ing into the adjoining room; secondly,
that this door was ajar The usual
waiter was in the room and showed
no surprise at my appearance, hav-
ing been careful to have it understood
that hereafter Miss Grey's appetite
was to be encouraged by having her
soup served from her fathers table
by her fathers own hands, and that
should be there to receive 1t.
"Mr. Grey is coming" said 1, ap-
preaching the waiter and handing him
the stiletto loosely wrapped in tissue
paper. will you be kind enough to
place this at his plate, just as 1t is?
A man gave it to me for Mr.. Grey;
said we were to place it there"
The waiter, suspecting nothing, did
as he was hidden, and I had hardly
time to catch up the tray laden with
wishes, which l saw awaiting me on
side-table, when Mr.. Grey came in and
was ushered to his seat.
The soup was not there, but l ad.
vanced with my tray and stood wait
ing; not too near, lest the violent
beating OF my heart should betray me.
AS did 80 the waiter disappeared and
the door behind us opened. Though
Mr. Grey's eye had fallen on the pack.
age. and saw him start, darted one
glance at the room thus disclosed,
and saw 1t held two tables. At one,
the inspector and some one did not
Know sat eating; at the other man
alone, whose back was to us ALL and
who seemingly was entirely discon-
nected with the interests of this tragic
moment. All this l saw in an instant,
the next my eyes were fixed on Mr..
Grey's face.
He had reached out his hand to the
package and his features showed an
emotion | hardly understood.
whats this?" he murmured, feel
Ing 1t with wonder, l should almost
say anger Suddenly he pulled off the
wrapper, and my heart stood still in
expectancy. If he quailed-and how
could he help doing so If guilty-what
a doubt would. be removed from nv
own breast, what an impeachment from
police action!! But he did not quail;
ne simply uttered an exclamation of
intense anger, and laid the weapon
back on the table without even taking
the precaution of covering 1t up.
think he muttered an oath, but there
was no fear in it, not a particle.
MY disappointment was SO great, my
humiliation SO unbouuded, that. for.
getting myself in my dismay, I stag
gered back and let the tray with all
Its contents slip from my hands. The
crash that followed stopped Mr.. Grey
in the act of rising. But it did some
thing more. 1t awoke a cry from the
adjoining room which shall never
forget While we both started and
turned to see from whom this grieyous
sound had sprung, a man came Stun
bling toward us with his hands before
his eyes and this name wild on his
lips:
"Grizel! Grlzel!"
Mrs. Fafrbrother's name! and the
man
CHAPTER XXI.
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