Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-30
abel to thank you for your warning?"

abel to thank you for your warning?"
She shook her head saying:
"If it We're known that had ex-
posed their plans it would place me
peril. They are determined and re-
lentless men, who would willingly sac,
! rifice a woman in order to gain their
ends, which in this case is a large
fortune
and you will not tell me the name
of Adams associate in the matter?'
mo IL cannot do that. Please do
not ask me-" she answered hurriedly.
Rolfe was again silent for few mo-
ments. At last he asked:
Cannot you tell me something OF
the past relations between Adams and
Statham? You seem to know all the
! details of the strange affair.
"Admas makes certain serious al
| legations which he can substantiate.
| There is a certain witness whom Mr..
Statham believes to be dead, but who
is still alive, and is now In England"
"a Witnessed what?' asked Rolte
quickly.
"Of the crime which Adams alleges"
"Cr.me-what crime?" calculated
the young man in surprise, staring at
his pretty companion.
Some serious offence, bat of what
nature l am not permitted to explain
to you"
"Why not, Miss Lorena? You must!
Remember that Mr.. Statham is in
ignorance of this-I mean that Adams
intends to charge him with crime.
Surely the position is most serious!
imagined that Adams charges were
criticism Of Mr. Statham's methods OF
finance"
Finance does not enter into it at
ALL" said the girl "The allegation is
secret crime by which the million
aire laid the foundation of his fortune;
crime committed abroad, and OF
which there are two witnesses still
living, men who were. until few
weeks ago, believed to be dead
But you tell me that Adams as,
sociate will, if Mr.. Statham commits
suicide, profit to an enormous amount.
Will you not explain? If this is so,
why have they not attempted to levy
blackmail? If the charge has founda-
tion-which l do not for one moment
believe-then surely Mr.. Statham
would be prepared to make payment
be human If he refused"
"The pair are fully alive to the dan
ger of any attempt to procure money
by promise Of secrecy" she replied.
: "They have already considered the
matter, and arrived at the conclusion
: that to compel Mr. Statham to take
! his own life is the wiser and easier
course"
: You seem to be in their confidence,
Miss Lorena?' he said, gazing at the
pretty girl at his side.
Yes, | am. That is why | am un-
able to reveal to you the name OF
Adams companion" she replied. "All
, l can tell you is that the intention is
to make against him a terrible charge
of which they possess evidence which
} is, apparently, overwhelming.
"Then you know the charge it is in
I. tended to bring against him-eh?"
Yes was her prompt answer. etc
me it seems outrageous, in compre
:. hensible-and yet
e "Well?"
: And yet, if it is really true, II
g would account to very great degree
e for Mr.. Statham's eccedtricity O.
I which I've so often read in the papers
/ No one enters his house in Park Lane
0 Is not that so?'
d "He is shy, and does not care FOL
u strangers" was Rolfe's response.
n But it said in the paper only {
0 week ago that nobody has ever beer
t upstairs in that house except him
= self There is a door on the stairs
It they say, which is always kept LOCKED
J. and bolted."
"And if that is so?"
"Well-have you ever been upstairs
# Mr.. Rolfe. Tell me; I'm very anxious
# to know"
< 81 make no secret of it," was his re
= ply, smiling the while. II have neve
o been upstairs. Entrance there is fol
o hidden"
c Even to youths confidential sec
retary?"
d Yes, even to me-.
g and yet there are signs of the W
y stairs rooms being occupied" she re
e marked. 81 have seen lights there
K, myself as I've passed the house. l wa
along Park Lane late one evening las
is week"
;" so you have been recently in Lor
e DOM"
t. London is my home. l am onl
here on visit" was her reply can
e ascertaining you were coming here,
resolved to see wou.'
"And has this serious allegatio
ii which Adams intends to bring an
f. connection with the mystery concern
e ing the mansion?"
1T Yes. 1t has"
ell "In what way?"
She paused, as though uncertai
II whether or not to tell the truth
Because" she said at last, "b
lg cause l firmly believe, from fac,
known to me, that confirmation of tn
lie truth of Adams charge Will be di
ly covered beyond that locked doori"
70 fTo ho ConfipnadA