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

by the detective contained the one
word-diamond. Chapter 21.-Miss
! Van Arsdale allows patient to write
on postal card. She finds writing
! totally different from that handed to
Mrs. Fairbrother In the alcove.
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.)
| And she babe fair to have ruddier
roses than myself, for conscience was
working havoc in my breast The
theory | had built up with such care,
| the theory had persisted in urging
+! upon the inspector in spite of his re-
buke, was slowly crumbling to pieces
in my mind with the falling of one of
I its main pillars. With the warning I'M
accounted for in the manner l have
stated, there was a weakness in my
argument which nothing could make
good. How could tell the inspector,
if ever | should be so happy or so mis-
cradle SIS to meet his eye again? HUI
| INFLATED to the dust, could see no
worth now in any of the arguments |
had advanced. I flew from one ex-
IRENE to the other, and was imputing
perfect probity to Mr. Grey and an
honorable if mysterious reason for all
his acts, when the door opened and he
came in. Instantly my last doubt van
ished. had not expected him to re-
turn to soon.
He was glad to be back; that could
see, but there was no other gladness
in him. had looked for some change
in his manner and appearance,-that
is, If he returned at all-but the one
saw was not cheerful one, even
after he had approached his daugh-
ter's bedside and found her greatly i'm
proved. She noticed this and scrut-
inized him strangely. He dropped his
eyes and turned to leave the room, but
was stopped by her loving cry; he
came back and leaned over her
What is it, father? You are
fatigued, worried"
NO, no, quite WE'LL" he hastily as
sured her. "But you! are you as
we'll as you seem?"
Indeed, yes. 1 am gaining every
day. See! see! shall soon be able
to SIT up. Yesterday l read a few
words"
He started, with side glance at
me which took in table near by on
which little book was lying.
"Oh, book?"
Yes, and--and Arthur's letters
The father flushed, lifted himself,
patted her arm tenderly and fastened
into another room.
Miss Grey's eyes followed him long
ingly, and l heard her give utterance
to soft sigh. A few hours before,
this would have conveyed to my sus-
picious mind deep and mysterious
meanings: but l was seeing every
thing now in different light and
found myself no longer inclined either,
to exaggerate or to misinterpret these
little marks Of filial solicitude. Try
ing to rejoice over the present condi-
ton OF my mind, l was searching in
the hidden depths of my nature for
the patience of which 1 stood in such
need. when every thought and feeling
were again thrown into confusion by
the receipts of another communica-
ton from the inspector, in which he
stated that something lad occurred to
bring the authorities round to my way
OF thinking and that the test with the
stiletto was to be made at once.
Could the irony of fate go further!
dropped the letter half read, query
Ing If 1t were my duty to let the in
spector know of the flaw 1 had dis
covered in my own theory, before
proceeded with the attempt had sug-
gested when believed in its complete
soundness. had not settled the ques-
ton when took the letter up again.
Re-reading its opening sentence, was
caught by the word Something" It
was very indefinite one, yet was
capable OF covering large field. 1t
must cover large field, or 1t could
not have produced such a change in
the minds of these men, conservative
from principle and in this instance
from discretion. l would be satisfied
with that word something and quit
further thinking. I was weary of it.
Inc inspector was now taking the in
1tlative, and l was satisfied to be his
simple instrument and no more. Ar
rived at this conclusion, however.
read the rest of the letter The test
80 " 81 OiA, bUl uuutT QluGrelt con-
d1tlons. 1t was no longer to be made
at my own discretion and In the up-
stairs room; 1t was to be made at
luncheon hour and in Mr.. Grey's pr,-
vate dining-room, where, if by anv
chance Mr.. Grey found himself out
ragged by the placing of this notorious
weapon beside his plate, the blame
could be laid on the waiter, who, mis-
taking his directions, had placed 1t on
Mr. Greys table when 1t was meant
for Inspector Dalzell's, who was lunch.
Ing in the adjoining room. It was I
however. who was to do the placing.
With what precautions and under
what circumstances will presently an.
pear
Fortunately, the hour set was very
near Otherwise I do not know how
| could have endured the continued
strain of gazing on my patients sweet
race looking up at me from her pill
low with q -.