Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-12
CHAPTER xLVI.
To Learn the Truth

CHAPTER xLVI.
To Learn the Truth. ;.
The mystery by which old Sam
Statham sometimes passed beyond
that white enamelled door was mex
plicable.
| Whenever he left the library to as
cend the stairs, Charlie Rolfe stole
quietly out behind him and listened.
Sometimes he distinctly heard the key
in the lock; at others it sounded as
though the closed door yielded to
his touch and swung aside for him
| to pass beyond 1T closed always with
thud, as though felt had been placed
upon 1t to prevent any metallic
clang.
| While Charlie watched the great
| financier's every movement, Max was
unceasing in his inquiries regarding
| Marion. Advertisements had been pub
lished in the personal columns of
various newspapers, and the private
inquiry agents whose aid he had
sought had been unremitting in their
vigilance.
| The whole affair from beginning to
end now showed the existence of
some powerful hand which had d.
Irected and rendered the mystery be-
yond solution. The strange reappear-
ance of Jean Adam and Leonard Lyle
had been followed quickly by the ex-
traordinary flight of Doctor Petro-
witch and Maud. The latter had only
an hour before she had disappeared
into space made some remarkable
confession to Marion = confession
which might or might not save Sam
uel Statham from an ignominious
death.
But the girl had preserved the Sc
cret of the confession confided to her
by her friend, and, preferring shame
and misjudgment, she in turn had
disappeared, whittier no one knew.
| The two men, brother and lover,
who had now united their forces to
solve the problem and at the same
time ascertain for themselves what
| the secret Of the house in Park Lane
really was, were at their wits ends.
Their inquiries and their efforts al
ways led them into cul-de-sac. At
every turn they seemed foiled and
baffied. And was it surprising when
it was considered the power of Sam
uel Statham and the means at his
command for the preservation of
secret?
Charlie felt that he, was being
watched hourly by one or other OF
those spies who sometimes gave such
valuable information to the head of
the firm. Some of these secret agents
of Statham he knew by sight, but
there were others unseen and I'M
| known.
Even though Max and his friend
were able to enter unheard and Sc
crete themselves before the place was
locked up by old Levi, yet there was
that white door barring their passage
to the mystery beyond. Many times
they discussed the possibilities and
each time hesitated. Charlie was sore
ly puzzled regarding the key of the
iron door. Sometimes it was undoubt-
eddy used, sometimes not
AT last one evening after both men
had dined at the St. James, of which
Max was member, they resolved
upon bold move. Charlie suggested
it, and the other was at once ready
and eager
| So after Max had been round to his
rooms to put on suit of dark tweeds
| he went to Charles chambers where
the various implements were produc-
ed and laid upon the table. 1t was
then nearly ten O'clock
Rolfe, having sent Green to the 9TH
er end OF Jermyn street out of the
way, drew out the whisky decanter
from the tantalus stand, poured out
two pegs" with soda, and drank:
Success to the calculation of old
Statham's secret"
Then, carefully showing the various
articles in their pockets, they slipped
down into the street and were out of
sight before the inquisitive Green
had returned.
Arrived in Park Lane after hasty
walk. they strolled slowly along
by the park ratings past
the house. All was in darkness save
the hall, where the electric light
| showed above the fanlight. Old Sam
was probably In his study, smoking
his last cigar, for the shutters were
that night closed, as they sometimes
were. The shutters of the basement
were also closed behind their iron
bars, while at the upstairs windows
all the blinds were carefully drawn
Indeed, the exterior of the house
presented nothing unusual 1t was the
same as any other mansion in Park
Lane. Yet there we're many who on
going up and down the thoroughfare
4 afoot or on the motor-buses jerked
their thumbs at it and whispered. The
had earned reputation for