Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-08
Copyright, 1908, by J. B. Harris Burland.

stopped, as Tankerlane caught him
by the arm.
said savagely; you can take it or
leave it. I'm not going to haggle with
you"
very we'll, guv'nor," the man re-
piled. "Pll tike it, and SO long as get
paid, I'll hold my tongue"
Exactly. We understand each 9TH
err If you speak, the allowance will be
stopped. If, on the other hand, l stop
the allowance, you will speak,"
Jest SO, guv'nor, and trifle in ad-
vance, if | might be SO bold as to arsk
for it. l amt tasted food since last
night
Tankerlane took three sovereigns
from his pocket, and the mans eyes
glistened at the sight Of the gold
you come from London" said Tan
kerlane. Get back there at once to-
morrow morning, if you can manage
it. The balance of the months money
shall be sent to you in three days
time. What address will find your"
"Twenty-three ST. Stephens Build
ings, Stepney." the man replied,
clutching the sovereigns tightly in his
hand. "That'll find me-
Tanerlane wrote the address on the
back Of an envelope.
We'll, stop here with the horse
he said, 'till 1 send my groom up.
Then find some shelter for the night
in our stables. But don't let me find
you in Laverstone after midday to-
morrow. Here's your lantern. Good
night"
Good night, guv'nor," the man re-
piled, looking at his face, now seen
for the first time in the light of the
lantern. Ell act square by you as
long as I'm paid for it."
William Tankerlane turned on his
heel, and disappeared out of the cir
Gle of yellow light. The man looked
after him and then slouched up to the
/ horse.
"H'm!" he said to himself, as Tan
kerlane's footsteps died away down
the hill. II wonder what 'es I'D ter.
e amt got SIGH ginrous face, after
all. And pore Enry as fallen on lis
feet at last
CHAPTER vi.
The inquest on Ben Holland was
held On the following day at three
o'clock in the afternoon.
The doctor certified that the pnfor-
tunate man had broken his neck, and
that a fall from such a height would
in nine cases out of ten, result in
death.
There was no reason to suppose
that the fall was the result of any.
thing but an accident. Evidence was
Forthcoming that Ben Holland was
the worse for drink when he left the
Blue Boar at the foot of the village
He was a big man, and his weight
alone was quite sufficient to break a
fence that was not altogether SO
sound as it might have been. 1t was
easy for man to slip, and especially
Tor man who was not quite sober
An examination Of the path close
to the broken rail had disclosed nc
signs Of struggle. But the ground by
the edge of the quarry had story OF
It's own to tell. The uprooted plant
the truf grooved and SCARED with
marks of finger nails, the scratches
on the stone itself, all pointed to the
!, fact that the wretched man had
struggled for life on the very brink
of the precipice.
Then John Shil was summoned as
witness. 1t was known that he had
returned to Laverstone from the hills
an hour after Ben Holland had left
the village. A previous witness had de
posed to having met him on the far
, side of the hill on the road which
would take him through the Round
Plantation. 1t was hardly credible
that he had encountered Holland, OF
else he would have come forward Of
his own accord as witness. AS il
was, the coroner only sent for him
after hearing the other evidence
J The young agent entered the room
with quiet air Of self possession
and though all eyes were turned or
; him, he did not appear to be in the
least embarrassed by the. interest he
!, aroused.
, Yet he had come there with ready
/ lie on his lips, and was glad that the
/ room was ill-lighted.
the inquest on Ben Holland
, 10 :. Shil gave his evidence calmly
and without hesitation. He expressed
no surprise at the coroner's summons
but he said that he would have come
Of his own accord, if he had been