Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-14

all the stormy days Warsaw had late
! ly known. Even the police had nc
suspicion of him. Old fat Petermann
who hobnobbed with sailors-what
4 had revolution to do with him.
This way. mefn Herr-yonder -
my office. When 4 go to Dautzig by
water my books 90 with me- That is
very good for the health ito live upnn
the water. Ncsw please to cross the
plank carefully, for what shall you
say to me if you fall in? This is
my bureau de- travail-you win tell
me how you like him by and b."
There were two barges of consider
able size moored to the quay and a
substantial plank bridged the abyss
between the stone and the combings
of the great hatchway. Herr Peter
mann went first, walking briskly in
spite of his fat; Alban, no less adroit,
followed with a lads nimble foot and
was upon the old fellows heels VIII an
Ley stepped on board. The barg IS,
he perceived. were fully laden and
covered by heavy tarpaulin3. Com
modious cabins at the stern accommo-
dated the crew-and into one of these
as he went and crying to his guest
to take care.
''It is rather dark my friend. but
you soon shall be accustomed to that
| This is my private room, you see. In
England you would not laugh at man
who works afoat for you are all
sailors. Now, tell me how you like
| it," &
The cabin certainly was beautifully
furnished. Walls Of polished wood
had their adornment of excellent sea-
scrapes, many of them bought at the
Paris salon. A bureau with delight
| full curves and clock set at the
apex above the writing shelf pleased
Alban immensely-he thought that he
J had seen nothing moregraceful even
I at Five Cables" while the chair to
match It needed no sham expert To
declare its worth. The carpet was
of crimson without pattern but ele-
| gantly bordered Inere were manv
shelves for books, but no evidence of
commercial papers other than a great
staring ledger which was the one
eyesore.
Il like you room very much indeed
said Alban upon his swift survey -
mot many people would have thought
Of this. We are all afraid of the damp
in England, and if we talked of a
floating office. people would think us
mad" And then he added-"But you
don't come here in winter, Herr Peter
mann-thfs place Is no use to you
then?'
Herr Petermann smiled as though
he were well pleased.
Every place has Its uses some
times" he rejoined little vaguely,
I'VE never know what Is going to hap.
pen to US. That Is why We should
help each other when the occasion
! arises. You of course, are visiting
Warsaw merely as a tourist, Mr. Ken
nedy?"
Indeed, mol have come here to
find very old friend, the daughter
mo names, if you please, Mr.. Ken
nedy. You have come here, think
you said, to find the son of very Old
friend. What makes you suppose that
I can help your"
His change of tone had been a
marvellous thing to hear-so swift, SO
masterful that Alban understood in a
moment what strength Of will and
purpose lay hidden by this bland smile
and benevolent manner Herr Peter
| mann was far from being the simple
| old fellow he pretended to be. You
never could have named him that is
you had heard him speak as he spoke
| those few stern words Alban upon
his part, felt as though some one had
slapped him upon the cheek and called
| him fool
81 am very sorry" he blundered-
and then recovering himself, he said
as honestly-"Is there any need to
ask me for reasons? Are not our aims
the same, Herr Petermann?"
"To sell wood, Mr. Kennedy"
Alban was almost angry.
81 was walking down from the
| Castle" he began, but again the stern
voice arrested him.
Neither names nor history, II you
please, Mr. Kennedy. We are here
| to do business together as two honest
merchants. All that | shall have 70
ask you is your word the word of an
English gentleman, that nothing which
transpires upon my premises shall be
spoken Of outside under any circum-
stances whatever
THAT Is very readily given, Heir
petermann."
Your solemn assurance?"
"My solemn assurance
! The old fellow nodded and smiled.
He had become altogether benevolent
once more and seemed exceedingly
pleased with himself and everybody
else.
"It is fortunate that you shouAl
have applied to me-" he exclaimed
very cheerily-"since you are think
ing of taking Polish servant-please
do not interrupt me-since you are
thinking Of taking a Polish servant
and Of asking him to accompany you
to England. by boat, If you should
find the journey otherwise incon-
venient-I merely put the idea to you
there Is young man in my employ
ment who might very honestly be
recommended to your notice. 1t is
not lucky that he is here at this
moment-on board this very barge,
Mr.. Kennedy?"
Alban locked about him astonishei.
He half expected to see Lois step out
of one of the cupboards or appear
from the recess beneath Herr Peter.