Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-31

His chin sank again upon his chest
and his deep-set eyes were fixed upon
the soft darkgreen carpet. The marble
clock chimed the hour of four, and re-
called him to a sense of his surround
ings.
He stretched himself, signing deep
ly. He was wondering when that shah
by watcher, who held his life in his
dirty talons, would return.
Thoughts CT the past, tragic and
bitter, arose within him, and NUT
tered imprecation escaped his thin,
white lips. He was faced with a prob
lem that even the expenditure of his
millions could not solve. He could
purchase anything on earth, but he
could not buy few more years Of his
own life.
He envied the man who was poor
and struggling, the man with a cheer
full wife and loving children, the man
who worked and earned and had no
far-reaching interests. The wage-earn-
err was to him the ideal life of man,
for he obtained an income without the
enormous responsibility consequent
upon being principal" His vast
wealth was but a milestone about his
neck.
That little leather book, with it's
brass lock, wherein was recorded his
financial position in nutshell was
lying upon the table. When he had con
suited It he had been appalled,. He
was worth far more than he had ever
imagined. And yet, by an irony of fate,
the accumulation of that wealth was
now to cost him his life!
The long bar of sunlight had been
moving slowly across the carpet all
the afternoon. Old Sam Statham had
risen and crossed again to his writ
ing table, searching among some pa
pers in a drawer, and finding silver
cigarette case much furnished by long
neglect. This he opened. and within
was displayed one tiny object. 1t was
not a cigarette, but tiny glass tube,
with glass stopper containing a
number of very small white pilules.
He was gazing thoughtfully upon
these. without removing the tube
from its hiding place, when, of a sud
den, the door opened, and Levi, his
pale face flushed with excitement and
half breathless. entered, exclaiming
in low whisper:
"Rolfe is here! Shall show him
in?"
"Rolfe." gasped the millionaire in
voice of amazement care you SER
ious. Levi?"
Serious? OF course. He has just
called and asked If you can see him"
"Show him in instantly" was Stat
hams answer, as hope became at that
instant renewed. 1--WE may find way
out of this difficulty yet-with his
aid"
eve may" echoed Levi, closing the
door for moment behind him. SO that
the young man might not overhear
his words. 1--WE may, but recollect
that he is man in love-"
"Well?"
"And he loves that girl, Maud Pet
rovitch Don't you understand-eh? ?"
asked Levi, with an evil fash in his
eyes.
"Ah! I see," replied his master. bit
ing his under lip. II follow you, Levi
the girl to me. Show him In"
"You know what | told you a few
days ago--of his friendship with Pet
rovitch" the old servant went on.
"Recollect that what said was the
truth. and act upon the confidential
information I gave you In this matter
you've difficult task before you, but
don't be chicken-hearted and sener-
Gus. as YOU are so very often. You're
! in a tight corner and you must get
out of it somehow, by hook or by
! crook"
"Trust me to look after myself
responded the millionaire. with a sud.
den smile upon his pale. haggard
face. for he saw that with his secre.
tary in London he might after all es
cape and he had already closed the
furnished cigarette case that contain
ed those pilules by which he had
been contemplating ending his
stormy existence TELL him to come
in
But beg of you to be firm. You're
not fool" urged Levi. bending earn
estly towards him. ''What is a WON
ans honor as compared to your flu
ture9 Won must sacrifice her-or your
self. There are MANY women in the
world. reco1lect-but there is only one
Samuel Statham,"
CHAPTER XI.
Samuel Statham Makes Confession.
When Rolfe entered old Sans pres
ence he saw that something was
amiss
Was it nossible that his emnlove1
knew his secret-the secret Of his Wis
if to Cromwell Road on the previous
nieht Perhars he did. The suggestion
crossed his mind. and he stood breath
less for few seconds.
~ thought YOU had left for Servia
Ro'fe.' exclaimed the old man in hi
thin, weak voice He had seated him
self at the writing table prior to hi
secretarv's appearance. and had triet
to assume business-like air But hi
face was unusually drawn and has
gard
81 missed the train last night" wa:
the Young mans reply cit is useless
to leave till tonight, as can ther