Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-28
CHAPTER X.
Shows a Woman,S Peril,


Several hours had gone by, hours
which Samuel statham spent seated
in a deep easy chair near the empty
fire CRATE, reviewing his long and
eventful life
With his head buried in his hands
he reflected upon all the pasr-its
tragedy and its prosperity. True he
had grown rich, weather. than he had
ever dreamed, but ali. at what cost!
The world knew nothing The world
of finance, known in the City, locked
upon him as a power to be rcckoned
with. BY a stroke of that stubby, ink
stained pen which lay upon the writ
ing table he could influence the mar
kets in Paris or Berlin. His aid AMI
advice was sought by men who wnrc
foremost in the country's commerce
and politics, and he granted loans to
princes and to Kingdoms. And vet The
tragedy of his own heart was a bitter
one. and his secret one that none
dreamed
He like many another world-famoIs
man, had a skeleton in his cupboard
And that day it had seen the light,
and the sight of it had caused him to
begin the slow and painful process OF
putting his house in order, prior to
quitting 1t forever-prior to seeking
death by his own hand
For nearly an hour he had been
huddled up in the big leather arm
chair almost immovable. He had
scrawled two or three letters, and
written the superscription upon their
envelopes. and from his writing table
he had taken bunch of letters lied
with faded blue ribbon One by one
he had read them through, and then
placing them in the crate. he had ap
piled match and burned them all
Some other business documents frl
lowed as we'll as an old parchment
deed, which he first tried to tear. but
at last burned until it was merely
twisted finder.
1t was now afternoon, and the 81
lence of that house of mystery, where
in no one save Charles Rolfe ever
penetrated, was unbroken. Across tho
soft green carpet Law a bar of warm
sunlight that seemed strangely out oil
place in that sombre apartment, witt
| it's despairing owner, while outside
the shabby stranger was no longer tr
be seen.
He MIGHT be lurking in the vicinity
but Levi had an hour ago entered an,
informed his master that the patien;
vigil had been relaxed.
| Old Sam had dismissed him with {
srunt Of dissatisfactio Those las
hours of his life he wished to spe.l,
| alone
He had been trying to see some
way out of the cul-de-sac in which l.:
found himself. but there was none
That shabby wavfarer-his worst e.,
envy. had found him. Years ago he hat
sworn a terrible Vengeance hat tn1
secret reasons. known only 10 Stat
! ham himself he had laughed hi.
! threats to scorn. Then came mis- death
/ and Statham was free, free to pros
per, become rich and powerful. ant
evil as he felt so inclined.
He had. however. used il for good
His contributions to charity wer,
many and handsome. Am>re othc
! things. he had hri't ari endowed
wing Of the london H"en;.rl fo
which his Majesty signified his inten
/ ton of conferrinc a hi"arctrv nrol
/ him. But that honor he declined T,
| MS DrOther IN the CIV he mad said
| 81 don't wish FOR Any honJ:, and l.;
remain nlair Sam to he end of m,
Gays" There was a raiSNn--a secre
! renson-whv ha was nnlble ~ re
se.ve the distinction. Mon knew it
none ever dreamed
The papers EXPRESSED wonder a. til,
refusal. and people called him a fool
! IE Old Broad st" let men we,n eDvious
ard lauehed III their sleeves. w! i
;n"y had known the real reason The,
would surely nave stou! aghass.
One day, however. his private score
tary. young Rolfe had come to hin
With strang' and imp ,bable tale
His enemy WIS alive AMI VOL an
vas. moreover actually in England
Fac questioned i've youn MN III;
found certain discrepancies in tn
statement Therefore, shrewd and far
seeing. he refused to believe it. an,
suspected blackmail to be the ulti
mate intention He did not. however
suspect Rolfe of any inclination tina