Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-16

meath the white moonbeams actually
the stain of blood?
| CHAPTER L.
Face to Face.
| That Park Lane drawing room
should be transformed into the inter-
ior of log built house Of the Rus
sian steppe was surely unsupported
by any of those who passed up and
down that renowned thoroughfare ev-
cry day.
The popular idea associated that
long row of millionaires' houses fac
ing Hyde Park with luxuriant saloons,
priceless paintings, old Persian car
pets. and exquisite furniture. Who
would believe that behind those win
dows with their well kept curtains,
and brise-brise of silk and lace, was
a room arranged with such care, with
the snowy road and moonlight shown
beyond the false window?
with what object I wonder, Is all
this?' asked Charlie, speaking in an
undertone, as though to himself
There was something weird and un-
canny about the scene with that
white streak of brilliance falling like
a bar across the place, an indescrib-
able something which made 1t plain
that all had been arranged with some
evil design by the old man.
No second glance was needed to
show that every bit of furniture, and
every article in the place was genr-
inc. They were no stage properties,
but real things, brought from some
far-distant spot in Eastern Russia.
| Put vii vu1,o
Aye, that was the question:!
They had turned, and were about
to withdraw from the place, Max lead
ing the way, when suddenly he halted
for his quick ears caught some sound.
1t was curious, low, whirring noise,
followed almost instantly by swift
swish close to him, SO near, indeed,
that 1t caused current of air in his
face as some object passed him from
above.
At the same moment the noise of
mechanism ceased.
For a few seconds both intrude7s
hesitated.
Charlie asked breathlessly what 1t
could be, whereupon his friend turn
ed on the light, and the truth stood
revealed
By an ace he had escaped with his
life!
At the door, in order to prevent
the egress of any intruder, a cum
ming but dastardly mechanical device
had been placed. A hong iron lever,
to which was attached a keen-edged
Japanese cutlass, had come forth from
its hiding place in the Intel of the
| door on6 doccondipo u,ffb torri Az
force, had only just escaped cutting
Max down.
Both men saw the means by which
old Statham guarded the secret Of
that room, and shuddered To enter
was easy, but 1t was intended that
he who entered might not emerge
alive.
Apparently one of the floor boards
just within the door was loose, and,
being trodden upon, the weight re-
leased the spring or mechanism, and
the razor-edged cutlass shot forth
with murderous force.
"By Jove!" gasped Charlie. 81 had
no idea the old man set traps for the
unwary. We'd better be CAREFUL"
Eyes. That was indeed a narrow
escape!" whispered Max. at would
have been certain death. Let's get
out of it,
The steel lever was down, the point
Of the cutlass touching the floor
| Therefore they were both compelled
to step over the death trap in order
to leave the remarkable apartment
Then with careful hands Charlie
tried the next door 1t was locked
| Brief examination showed it to be
| the door of the back drawing room,
which had been thrown into the larger
room with the mysterious purpose of
constructing that striking rural in
terror.
So they crossed to the third door,
on the opposite side of the landing,
and, with greatest caution lest anoth-
er pitfall should Turk there, opened it.
That night of investigation was full
of surprises.
The instant Max flashed on his light
the pair drew back with low ex-
CARNATIONS of horror
The small apartment was unfurnisll-
ed. 1t contained only one object
gruesome and unexpected. In the
center of the place, upon the black
trestles, stood a coffin of polished oak
with shining electro handles and fit
tings.
The lid thew noticed u,e eorawad