Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-09

uGdllUS.
CHAPTER Xiv.
Tells of Determination.
Entering his chambers in Jermyn
street half an hour later, Rolfe was
met by the faithful Green, to whom
he gave orders to ring up" Mr.. Bar
clay at Dover street.
Then ne went alone to his room to
wash and dress.
A few moments later Green came
in saying:
"Mr Barclay left town five days
ago. sir. He's up at Kilmaronock."
His master made no reply for some
moments. Then at last he said:
Pack my suit case and phone to
Euston to reserve me a seat to Perth
on the ten-five tomorrow morning"
Eyes sir
"And to everybody except my sis
ter if she calls, you don't know
where I've gone-you understand"
Perfectly sir
And the man sat about packing his
masters traps.
"You may as we'll put in a dinner
coat Max may have friends" Rolfe
said.
Very well, sir"
His master dressed quickly and
went alone to the club for a late din
ner Most of his friends we're away
shooting, therefore he idled alone for
an hour over the paper and then re-
turned to his chambers.
Next morning he scrubbed hasty
note to Mr.. Statham, making an ex-
cuse for his sudden absence, and di-
raot1u oftnr bn IN, a
Scotch express travelling out of Lon
don.
At eight that evening he stepped
out upon the big dark station at
Perth, sent telegram to the Grown
Inn at kilmaronock village for a
machine" as fly is called, and
then took the slow branch line that
runs by Grief and skirts Loeb Earn
to the head of Glen Ogle, where lay
the old castle and fine shooting Of
which Max Barclay was possessor.
A drive of three miles on the road
beside Loeb Voil brought him to the
lodge gates, and then another mile up
through the park he came to the
great portico of the castle.
1t was nearly midnight. Lights
were still in the billiard room of the
fine old castellated mansion, which
Max's father had modernized and
rendered SO comfortable, and when
Charlie rang, Burton, the butler,
could not repress an exclamation Of
surprise.
In few moments, however, Char
lie burst into the room where Max
and five other men were playing
Smoker" before retiring.
The hosts surprise was great, but
the visitor received hearty welcome
and an hour later, when the guests
had gone to their rooms, the two
friends stood 'alone together In
the long, old-fashioned drawing room
which, without a woman's artistic
hand to keep things in order, was
rapidly going to decay.
A big wood fire blazed cheerfully in
the wide, oldfashioned CRATE, for Oc-
tober evenings in the Highlands are
damp and chill, and as the two men
stood before it they looked at one
another, both hesitating to speak
Across Charles mind flashed
those suspicious which had oppressed
him in Belgrade. Was the man before
him his enemy or his friend?
"Well," he blurted forth, I've come
straight to see you, Max. only arriv-
ed home last night. want to see you
concerning Marion"
His companions lips hardened.
Marion" he exclaimed 1--WE
done all can. I've left no effort I'M
tried. have sought the aid of the
best confidential inquiry agency ii
London, and all to no avail. She's dis
done!"
yes, know" replied her brother,
thrusting his hands deep into the
trousers pockets of his blue serge
travelling suit. 1--WE seen Statham."
"And SO have l. He wrote to Gun
nington's, but the latter has not re-
piled. saw Cunnington myself"
And what did he say?"
"The fellow refused to say any
thing" he replied in hard tone
Silence again fell between the
pair
The long, old-fashioned room, with
it's blue china, it's chintz coverings, its
grand piano and its bowls of autumn
roses, though full of quaint charm,
was wierd and unsuited to the home
of a bachelor Indeed, Kilmaronock
was a white elephant to Max. He re-
ceived fair rental from the farms
on the estate, but he never went near
the place except for sport for six
weeks or so each autumn The old
place possessed some bitter memories
for him, for his mother had died there
quite suddenly of heart disease on the
night of a large dinner party He was
only eighteen then. but he remember
ed it too well. 1t was that tragic
memory which had caused him tC
abandon the place except when he in
yited a few of his friends to shoot
over the estate.
Lets go into my room to talk" he
suggested It's more cosy there" A:
a man hates all drawing rooms, sc
did Max Barclay detest his. 1t was fol