Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-16
The Pauper of Park Lane
BY WILLIAM ouEux
Copyright 1905 LIE Queux
Entered Stationers rights reserved
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx.

land blind was drawn, but as far as
he could ascertain the shutters were
not closed.
From his pocket he drew a GLACIERS
putty knife, and, inserting it betwes en-
the sashes, worked quietly until his
heart gave bound Of satisfaction at
feeling the latch slowly give.
A second later it went back with a
| sharp snap, and the window was
| free!
He lifted the sash, pushed the blind
| aside, and crept within.
Then leaning forth he whispered to
Charlie to follow. Up the latter came
by means of the rope as quickly as he
| was able, and a few moments later
both men stood within the room.
BY its sound, and by the fact that it
was carpetless, they knew it was de-
void Of furniture. Max flashed on the
light, and the truth was at once made
plain. The apartment was square and
Of fair size, but within was not a
single thing. 1t was perfectly empty
In a second thought occurred to
Charlie.
IF the doors locked on the outside
we're done" he gasped.
They both crossed to the door in an
instant, and Max placed his hand up
on It, The handle turned slowly, and
the door yielded. BY great good for.
tune it was not locked.
Creeping noiselessly outside, they
found themselves upon a big square
landing above half dozen broad
stairs. Below them was the white
enamelled iron door, which opened
only to its owner and which no per-
son had been known to pass.
The landing and stairs were thickly
carpeted, just as they were below the
door, But about the place was the
close musty smell of a house that for
years had remained closed and neg
lected
From the landing were three other
doors beside the one at which they
stood, all of them closed.
Charlie took his bearings, and point
ing to the door farthest away from
them, whispered:
That's the drawing room, no doubt
And that's the door of the room ad-
joining. I expect it's big room
opening from back to front li're all
drawing rooms in these houses,~
Awkward il it proves to pc The old
mans bedroom" Max replied, with n
laugh.
I'VE must risk that. My own be-
lief is that he sleeps up on the next
floor These are all reception rooms,
without a doubt was Charles an
swer. 1t was strange, after all the
time he had been in the old mans
employ, that this should be the first
occasion he should explore the house.
Those moments OF pitch darkness
were exciting ones.
| They resolved to enter the door
furthest away, the door which they
believed leo to the drawing room, and
together they moved noiselessly
across with that purpose.
They key was in the lock. Without
noise Max turned it, and slowly push
ed open the door.
Both entered, holding their breath
and fearing to make the slightest
sound, for they knew not whether
old Sam was asleep there.
For a full ten minutes they paused
listening for sounds of breathing in
the pitch darkness But there were
none, only the beating of their own
hearts.
Then, with Charles whispered con-
sent, Max pressed the button of the
pocket lamp and it shed a streak CT
light across to the opposite wall of the
big apartment
What was revealed held them
aghast and amazed.
This is indeed strange!" gasped
Charlie. What can it be-"
Max was turning the light from side
to side Of the room, examining evecy
corner.
What they saw had held them both
speeches.
Charlie saw an electric switch near
his hand, and touched it. In an in
slant the great room was flooded with
light, revealing a scene, curious, I'M
usual, extraordinary.
There was no thick carpet or up.
holstered furniture; no painted cell.
ing or pictures upon the walls; no
cabinet Of bric-a-brac, or grand piano
or palms, or anything connected with
drawing room furniture
Instead, the two, intruders found
themselves inside a peasants cottage
in some far off country-a house, it
seemed, with quaint furniture, painted
and carved. Before them was an old
fashioned oak press. black with
smoke and age, and along the wall q
row of shining cooking utensils Of cop
per. In the center was long old table
with big high-backed wooden chairs;
at the side a high brick stove
The men stepped within and gazed
around, bewildered.
At one end was small square win
dow, where beyond lay a snow-clad
scene, lit by the moons rays-a clev-
erly contrived piece Of scenery, show
Ing the white road winding into tn :
distance lined on each side by the
dark forest Of frs
The scene was intended to be Rus
sian, without a doubt, for over the
stove holy ikon hung against the
wall, a small painted head surround
ed by square of highly FURNISHED
gold.
Every object was quantity shaped
and foreign. In one corner stood an
old spinning wheel with the flax upon
it. while in another was an old fash
toned gun A courle of wo1vas, sLin g