Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-24
CHAPTER V.
What a Constable Saw.

S11tAI In "
What a Constable Saw.
Slowly Max Barclay regained pos
session of his senses. The discovery
had so staggered him that, for a few
moments, he had stood there in that
room, staring at the woman's tweed
coat, transfxed in horror.
There was some great and terrible
mystery there, and with it Charles
Rolfe, the man whom he had so i'm
plicitly trusted, his most intimate
friend, and brother of the woman who
was all the world to him, was closely
associated.
He glanced around the bare garnet
in apprehension. All was so weird
and unexpected that queer, uncanny
feeling had crept over him. What
could have occurred to have caused
this revolution in the Doctors house?
Here in that house, only few hours
ago, he had smoked calmly with Petro-
witch, the studious Servian patriot, the
man whom the Servians worshipped,
and who was the right hand of his
sovereign the King. When they had
chatted of Maud's filtration there had
been no suggestion of departure. In
deed, the Doctor had invited him to
return after dinner, as he often did.
Max was an easy, gay, careless man
of the world, yet he was fond of study,
and fond Of the society Of clever men
like Petrovitch. The latter was well
known in literary circles on the Con-
tinent by reason of having written a
most exhaustive history of the Otto
man Empire. That night Marion, his
well-Deloved, had no doubt dined at
that house, prior to going to the con-
cert with Maud. At least she would
be aware of something that might give
clue to this extraordinary and hur-
ried flight, if not to the ugly stain upon
the woman's dress lying upon the floor
at his feet.
He was undecided how next to act.
Should he go to the police-station anc
inquire of the inspector whether re-
moving vans had been noticed by the
constable on the beat, Or should he
take cab to Queens Hall to try and
find Marion and Maud?
He glanced at his watch, and saw
that by the time he got to the concert
they would in all probability have
| left. Marion was compelled to be in
by eleven o'clock, therefore Maud
would no doubt come out with her
Indeed, in quarter of an hour his
friends daughter would be due to re
turn there.
This decided him, and, without more
ado, he left the house. Was it worth
while at present, he reflected, saying
anything to the police regarding the
| .t,i bo OH
give the explanation. He would see
him before the night was out
Therefore, finding constable at the
corner of Earrs Court Road, he in
quired if he had noticed any removing
vans before the house in question
The man replied that he had only
come on duty at ten, therefore, il
would be best if he went to the police
station, to which he directed him.
'If the man on duty saw any remov
ing vans in the evening, he would
certainly report it," the constable
added politely, and Barclay then Wen
in the direction he indicated.
quarter of an hour later he stood
in the police-office, while the inspecto
turned over the leaves of the big bool
in which reports of every untoward o
suspicious occurrence are entered TO
reference, in cases of civil actions O
other eventualities.
At first he could find nothing, blu
at last he exclaimed:
There's something here. suppos
this is it. Listen: P. G. Baldwin, whel
! he came off duty, reported to the sta
tion-sergant that two large pantechn
con vans and a small covered van O