Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-22

Leonore herself certainly did moi
know. But the Fates, spinning their
webs in silence, knew we'll enough
and they smiled.
CHAPTER XIV.
Two months passed by. and
Leonore's engagement at the Colorado
Iheater was drawing to a close. An
eminent dramatist has completed his
English version of the play, and La
Petite Jackson had accepted an offer
TO play the same part in London.
During these two months John Shil
mad obtained no news of Laura or Will.
liam Tankerlane Monsieur Flamieu
had easily carried out the task en-
trusted to him. But subsequent in
quirles made at the Hotel Imperial
produced on definite information.
With the aid Of well-filled purse,
John Shil learnt that Madame Tank
erlane had left the hotel first, and then
Monsieur Tankerlane had departed
about three hours afterwards with the
baggage. Neither, SO he gathered
from his information, appeared to have
been In the best Of tempers. No one
knew where they had gone, and owing
to the time which had elapsed be-
tween their departure and the COM
mencement Of the search, all clues had
vanished
John Shil, however, chung to the
idea that Leonore Jackson knew
where the Tankerlanes had taken I'D
their residence and he was a fire.
quent visitor at her house. His at
titude toward her was that Of an ad-
mirer, and Paris had already begun
to talk of the young Englishmen's in
fatuation for the talented actress. He
was playing desperate game, and
was not over particular in his meth
DDS. A little admiration "a little love
making, well-simulated tenderness
in the voice, an ardent light in the
eyes, what were all these but means
that were justified by the end in view.
He was determined to get Laura's adj
dress, and he realised that he had first
to win Leonore's confidence.
Leonore, on the other hand, had her
own game to play, and, as it so hap
pened, her plans exactly dovetailed
with those of the man she wished 10
bring to her feet. She had resolved
to make Shil fall in love with her, and
he appeared to be doing so at an al.
most alarming rate. The very clumsi-
ness of his acting deceived her A
consummate actress herself, she look
ed upon his awkward advances as
bearing the hallmark of sincerity. The
situation contained all the elements of
a delightful comedy. Here were two
young people, both fore reasons of
their own, pretending to be in love
with each other, and each under the
Impression that the other was falling
a victim to the wiles and arts of love.
Great issues were at stake, but they
remained hidden In the background.
The scene itself was pure comedy.
And comedy it remained until one
evening a few days before Leonore's
departure from Paris. Then the grin
ming mask was torn away, and the
STERN features of grim tragedy were
exposed to view.
Leonore had finished her dinner,
and was enjoying cup of coffee and
cigarette in the drawing-room. In
her hand she held the English version
of the play which had made her
famous and was smiling at the dex-
terity with which the adapter had al.
tered certain scenes to suit the moro
sober taste of an English audience.
Then suddenly, like a whilwind her
maid burst into the room with news
paper in her hand
"Marie!" said Leonore shaply.
The girl stopped. white-taced and
trembling. Then she dropped the pa
per, and burying her face in her
hands, sobbed bitterly.
What is it?" exclaimed Leonore.
rising to her feet. What has hap
pened?"
"Oh. madame, oh madame!" the girl
moaned, the paper--it is there!"
Leonore picked the paper off the
floor, and glanced through the col
umns. The girl shrank towards the
door as though anxious to escape.
Whats all this nonsense?" ex-
claimed the actress. Where is it?
can't see anything there-take land
she thrust the pink shet into the girls
hand
ooh, madame, oh. madame!" whim-
pered Marie, fumbling with the sheet
of paper sit Is here, see!''
Leonore looked at the place indi-