Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-14

He tried to put behind him that
Increasing suspicion that old Sam was
the friend" to whom the diplomat
had so mysteriously referred.
And yet as he watched every move,
ment, every gesture of the pair with
in that long room where the lights
were SO artistically shaded--the room
wherein deals involving the loss or
gain of hundreds of thousands of
pounds were decided-he saw that
the girl remained still defiant, and
| that the man stood vanquished by her
slow, deliberate accusation.
Old Sans bony fingers were twitch-
ing--a sign of suppressed wrath
| which his secretary knew well. He
held his thin lower lip between his
yellow teeth, and standing with his
back to the fire place, he now and
! then cast supercilious smile upon
| the pretty girl who had come there
in defiance Of the convenances-fn de-
| tiance, evidently, of his own imperi-
Gus commands.
Samuel Staham at that moment was
| not the hard faced old henefactor who
haunted the seats in the park and
gave 80 much money anonymously to
the deserving among the submerged
TENTH He was a man fighting for
| his honor, his reputation, his gold
nay, his very life. He was a man
whose keen wit was now pitted
against that of clear, level-headed
girl-one who had right and Justice
on her side.
Was it possible, Charlie thought,
that his well-beloved knew the old
mans secret-that secret which, be-
fore he would face its exposure, he
would prefer the grave itself?
He watched Maud and noted how
[ balanced was her beautiful counten-
ance, and yet how calm and how de-
termined she was. When the old man
spoke she listened with attention, but
her replies, brief and pointed, were
always made with gesture and ex-
preston of triumph as of one who
knew the naked and astounding
truth.
What can it all mean?" whispered
Max. "Why is she here? How tan
TALKING it is that we cannot catch a
single word she is uttering!"
"The doors bolted," Charlie said in
a tone of chagrin. 1--WE can only
watch. See!-shes evidently telling
him some home truths that are the
reverse of palatable. He looks as
though he could kill her!'
He'd better not attempt it," re-
marked Max grimly, and they both
stood again in silence, peering for
ward in breathless eagerness.
For full ten minutes longer the old
man and the young girl were in heat
ed discussion Sometimes ~Statham
spoke quickly and angrily, with that
caustic assertiveness that most peo-
pie found so overbearing. Of sud
den both watchers were aware of q
slow, stealthy movement behind them
la shutting of feet 1t seemed
1t was old Levi, on his tour of in
/ spection to reassure himself that all
was secure. In an instant both in
trbders drew back into the deep
\ shadow behind high stand upon
which stood choice plants in tiers, Or
rather the dried-up pots which had
once contained them.
They were only just in time, for old
/ Levi, peering forth into the semi
darkness as he stood in the doorway
leading from the hall, searched
around Then, finding all quiet and
detecting nobody, he closed the door
and locked it.
They were thus locked out by both
DOORS
To re-enter the house would be
difficult. 1t was a contingency for
which they had not been prepared
Still. they were too interested in
watching the pair within to think
much of the contretemps that had oc.
CURED. Old Levi had shuffled away,
and was waiting, no doubt, to usher
out the dainty little visitor before re-
turning to the regions below.
Maud, however, showed no sign CT
haste to leave. Comfortably en-.
sconced in her chair, with her veil
thrown back, she sat facing him, and
replying without hesitation to his al
legations.
The sinister expression upon the old
mans face told it's own tale. His i'm
patient bearing and quick gesture
showed his eagerness to get rid of
her. But she, on her part, seemed TO
have no intention of leaving just yet.
She was speaking, her gloved finger
raised to emphasize her words-hard
words, which, from the expression
upon her face seemed full of bitter
sarcasm and reproach.
Of g sudden he turned upon the girl
with fierceness which took her by
surprise. He uttered few words,
which she answered quickly Then,
striking his hands into the pockets of
his trousers, he bent towards her with
an evil grin upon his grey face and
made some remarks which caused In
her quick change of attitude.
She rose from her chair, her face
afiame with anger, and, taking a
couple of PAGES towards him, replied
with vehemence which neither of
the unseen onlookers suspected.
The battle Of words continued. He
was making some allegations, the
truth of which she was denying. This
girl, not yet out Of her teens, was
defiant of the man whose life had
been one long struggle to grow rich
and whose gigantic wealth was now
crushing the very soul from his body
Surely they were an incongruous
pair. His defiance Of her was only o
half-hearted one His sarcasm had
irritated her. and now, alleging some
thine which wac no bod ooo n oJ