Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-26

the affair has actually been the work
of thieves. II SO, then where Is the
doctor, where is his daughter Maud,
and where are the servants?"
yes I agree The whole affair Is
complete mystery, sir" the other re-
piled. There have been thieves here
without doubt. Perhaps the doctor
knew all about it, but for some reason
dare not utter word of complaint.
Indeed, that's my theory. He may be
in fear Of them, you know. It's a gang
that have done it, without doubt"
"And pretty ingenious gang, too"
declared Max, with knit brows.
''They evidently made short work
of all the furniture I wonder why
they took it and where it is at pres
ent"
eff 1t has gone to a sale room the
police could trace it," Max suggest
ed
Certainly. But suppose it was
transferred from the vans 1t was TAX
en- away in to the vans of some de-
pository, and removed, say, to Ports
mouth or Plymouth, and there stored.
It could be Zone quite easily, and
would never be traced
eyes. But It's big job to have
made whole houseful of furniture
disappear in a couple of hours"
s'Not SO big as it first seems, sir.
I'd guarantee to clear house of this
size in one hour If necessary. And the
way they turned out the things didn't
take them very long. They were in a
desperate hurry, evidently"
do you think that thieves did the
work."
'Tsm very strongly of that opinion
Everything points to 1t. If I were you
I'd 60 back to the police and tell them
about the safe, about that chest OF
drawers. and the flooring in the study
Somebody's been prying about here
depend upon It."
Max stood, still undecided. Did il
not seem very much as though the
thieves had visited there aftel
Charles Rolfe had fed so hurriedly?'
CHAPTER VIII.
The Pauper Of Park Lane.
About half way up Park Lane-the
, one-sided row of millionaire's resi-
, dences that face Hyde Park-not fal
from the corner of that narrow little
turning, Deanery street. stood a grea
. white house, out of short row. The
windows were protected from the sur
; by outside blinds of red and buff
striped holland, and the first doo1
5 stills were gay with geraniums.
The house was one of imposing I'm
portance, and dwarfed its neighbors
being both higher larger and more
} artistic. On the right dwelt one 0
$ Manchester's cotton kings, and on thu
: other a duke whose rent roll was ont
of the biggest in the United King
: doms The center house, however, wa
3 far more prosperous looking than tn
a others. and was often remarked ,lpol
, by country cousins as they passed VI
and down upon omnibuses. 1t wa
e certainly one of the finest in tn
whole of that select thoroughfare
S whose rents alone were ruinous, AM
l. where the possession of a hous
e meant that ones annual income mus
e run up into six figures The mere ne
r bilitv of England cannot afford to liv
|. in Park Lane nowadays. 1t is reserN
l. ed for the kings of British commerce
|. the stock exchange Spectator or tn
d get-rich-quick financier.
q Those who read these lines kno'
6 we'll the exterior of many of tn
n houses of notable people who liv
t. there. Some are in excellent tast'
e while others betray the blatant arr
r gance of the man who, risen frol
u penury. has suddenly found himself
controller of England's destinies.
d Birthday Knight, and the husband of
e woman whom the papers have suddel
o " commenced to dub "the Beautif,
r Lady So-and So" Other houses al
" quiet and sober in the exterior, SINAI
modest and unobstructfve. the tow
n residence of men of great wealth WI
posing as gentlemen, are hoping for
~ peerage.
s. The hopes in Park Lane are man
1T Almost every household possesses
secret ambition, some to shine In S
ly ciety, others in politics, and SON
rs even in literature The really wealth
lg man sneers at baronetcy an hon
r. which his tea merchant had receive
or year, and as for knighthood. well.
Of can plank down his monev this afte
IS noon and buy one just as he bong
cigar half an hour ago in Boz
at street He must have title. for h
\, IN