Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-18

London street, sis whether or not
there has been foul play"
Rolfe made no reply, a circum-
stance which caused him to turn and
look straight into his friends face.
He saw a change there.
His countenance was blanched; but
whether by fear of the loss of the
woman he loved, or by a guilty
knowledge. Max knew not.
Marion can tell u.s." he answered
at last. "But she refuses
"You, her brother, can surely OBJ
tain the truth from her.
mot when you. her lover fall"
Charlie responded, his brows knit
deeply.
But moment ago you said you
had clue"
81 think 1 have one. 1t is only a
surmise."
And in what direction does it
trend?"
Towards foul play" he said
hoarsely.
"Political?"
'It may be-
"And were both victims of the
plot?"
81 cannot tell. At present I'm max
ing all the secret inquiries possible
far afield in a continental city. 1t
takes time, care and patience. AS
soon as I obtain anything tangible I
will tell you But first of all, Max"
he added, 81 wish to have your assur-
ance that you no longer suspect me.
am not your enemy-why should
you be mine?"
81 am not, my dear fellow" declar-
ed Barclay "How can I be the enemy
of Marion's brother? was only sus-
picious You would have been the
same in similar circumstances, I'm
sure"
Probably" laughed Charlie. "Yet
what you've told me about the en-
deavor to implicate myself in the af-
fair is certainly extraordinary. don't
see any motive"
Except that you were known by
the conspirators, whoever they be, to
be Maud's lover"
eff so, then they intend, most prob
ably, to bring some false charge
against me. And-and-''
"And what?" asked Max in some
surprise.
"Why, don't you see?" he said
hoarsely, staring straight into his
friends face with a Mortified express
sion as a terrible truth arose within
him. Don't you see that you yourself
Max. would become the principal wit
ness against mel"
Max stood wondering at the others
sudden anticipation of disaster. What
could he dread if this denial of his
Jpac tho oof,Io1 rtr,,}1o
Again he grew suspicious.
How can i be witness against you
if you are innocent of any connection
with the AFFAIR."" he queried.
Because the Doctors enemies have
done this, in order to shield them
selves"
But if the Doctor is really still
alive, what have you to fear?"
"1s he alive? That is the poirt'
Marion gives me to understand
that both he and Maud are safe,'
Max responded quickly.
The other shook his head obviously
saying: IF she has told you that
then 1t is exactly contrary to what
she has given me to understand"
What? She has expressed of fou
play?"
"Yes-more than a suspicion
"Well-this is certainly strange
Max declared. Marion has all along
been trying to allay my fears"
Because she feared to upset you
perhaps. With me it is different. She
does not mind my feelings"
I'm sure she does, Charlie. She's
devoted to you. And she ought to be
Few brothers would do what you have
done"
That's quite outside the question,
he said, quickly pacing anxiously w
and down the room. "She told me
distinctly the other day that her fears
| were of the worst"
) "Ah! if you could only induce he1
to tell us what Maud confessed to her
1t was a confessional serious anc
tragic one, I believe"
Eyes. 1t was, no doubt; and if she
would only speak we could, believe
quickly get at the truth" Rolfe said
ITO me it seems incredible that the
Doctor, your most intimate friend
) should not have found some secre
manner by which to, communicate
with you, and assure you of hi
safety"
ASAS was q petuoC. MAJ
turned to the speaker and exclaim
t ed
Tell me, Charlie. Be perfectl,
frank with me. Have you, do yol
!, think, at any time recently givel
, some cause for offence to the Doc
tor?"
why do you ask that?" inquired
the other in quick surprise.
Il have reasons for asking. I'll tel
;, you after you've answered my ques
tion."
81 don't know" he laughed uneas
lily Some men. and especially for
, eigners, are easily offended"
:. But have you offended the doc
! tor?"
: Perhaps. A man never knows whel
he gives unintentional offense."
= Are you aware of having don
. anything to offend him."
NO, except that Maud asked m
: not to visit there SO often, as he
! father did not approve of it,
s'Did che ayer toll va, tba+ +bo