Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-21

white-bearded old man who lived
there. He took US in, gave US food
and allowed us to sleep. was drowsy
and slept heavily. It was late when I
awoke-when I awoke to find lying
besides the table opposite me the old
man stone dead, stabbed to the
heart! The place had been ransack-
ed; the old mans hoard Of money
for there are no banks there-had
been found, and my two companions
were missing. They had gone-no
one knew whittier! What could do?
70 remain, would mean to be accused
Of the crime, and probably sent to
Siberia. Well, I reflected for mo-
nent Then I took some food, stole
out, and made my way fnto the SNOW
covered wilderness. All! the recollec-
tion of 1t all is still uponshe, though
years have since elapsed"
"And them" asked Max, when he
found tongue.
"Since then and my brothers Levi
and Ben have abandoned the old life,
but have ever since determined to
avenge the brutal murder Of that poor
old peasant. 1 made q VOW not to en-
Joy the Injuries which my money
OlOu6uI AuC uuIA1 NY SOuSC1SuCc uau
been cleared and the assassin
brought to justice. Hence, l have
lived in the desolation attendant upon
pauperism. have been the Pauper of
Park Lane. Seven years ago sent
an agent to the place, and purchased
all the interior of the house. Then,
when I came to live here, had the
drawing-room fitted as you see it,
and have since awaited my opportun-
ity. The other night as you know,
Jean Adam came to renew his false
charge against me, and I took him
upstairs and ushered him suddenly in
to the scene of his crime. All! his
terror was horrible to witness: he
trembled from head to foot. He saw
| the hangman's rope around his neck.
Then l took him into the next room,
and showed him in silence what had
prepared for him. He read his own
name inscribed there, and with a
curse upon his lips, drew his revolver
and put an end to his life.'
Both his hearers remained in
silence. 1t had surely been a Just
vengeance-bloodf for blood!
A year has now passed.
Marion is now the wife of Max
Barclay, and the pair spend the great
er part of their time at the beautiful
old castle Klmaronock, up in Perth
shire, for in her perfect happiness she
prefers healthy outdoor life to that
of London.
Rolfe, who Is still confidential sec
rotary to Mr.. Samuel Statham, has
married Maud, and has abandoned his
bachelor chambers in Jermyn Street
for pretty little house in Curzon
Street, where he is quite near to the
mansion in Park Lane.
Doctor Petrovitch has returned to
Servia at the invitation of the King,
and is expected to accept the portfolio
Of Prime Minister. Old Duncan Mac
gregor has been promoted to be gen
eral manager of the great Clyde and
Motherwell Locomotive Works; while
Levi acts as servant to his brother,
their secret still being kept, and the
City is today higher than 1t has ever
been.
AS regards the Park Lane mansion,
with the red-striped sunblinds-the
house you know we'll, without
there is now no further mystery con-
corning it. The rumours regarding it's
beautiful interior, and the sounds of
piano-playing were all of course, the
outcome of gossip. The truth, how
ever, is now common knowledge, and
society during the past nine months or
so has been amazed to see painters
decorators, and upholsters SO busily
at work 1t is evident that old Sam
intends to entertain largely during
this coming season.
The house is now exquisiteiy fur
nished from top to bottom. He no
longer sleeps on his little camp bed,
or dimes off chump chop cooked over
gas-stove by old Levi. The dark
shadow has now been lifted from his
! life
In fact, he no longer lives in the
squalor of an empty house as THE
| Pauper Of Park Lane"
The End