Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14
pulsively swinging about, marched
straight away for the Enclosed door.
cold ard, guvner!''


the plunge, or withdraw? Synchron-
ously he was conscious that mans
figure had detached itself from the
shadows beneath the nearest portico
and was drawing nearer. with every
indication of haste, to intercept him.
Ere now, gunner yer maxim a
mistyke You don't live ERE"
How do you know" demanded
kirkwood crisply, tightening his grip
on his stick.
Was this the second shadow he hal
seemed to see-the confederate of
him who had entered Number 9: a SEN
try to forestall interruption? If so,
the fellow lacked discretion, though
his determination that the American
should not interfere was undeniable
1t was with an ugly and truculent man
ner, If more warily, that the man
closed in.
! knows. You clear bout, or"
he flung out hand with the
plausible design of grasping Kirkwood
by the collar. The later lifted his
stick. DETECTING the arm, and incon-
tlnently landed his other fist forcibly
on the fellows chest The man reeled
pack, cursing. Before he could re.
cover kirkwood calmly crossed the
threshold, closed the door ard put his
shoulder to it. In anoth..~ instant,
stumbling in the darkness. Re found
the bolts and drove them hcne.
ana u was done, the transformation
accomplished; his inability tc refrain
from Interfering had encomI assed his
downfall, had changed a peaceable
laW-ahiding alien within British shores
INTO busybody, trespasser, mis-
aemeanant, yes, for all he knew
10 the contrary, in the estimation of
the law, burglar, prime candidate
Tor a conyl"t's stripes
Breathing hard with excitement he
turned and laid his back against the
panels, trembling in every muscle ter.
rliied o., the result of his impulsive
audaclty, thunder-struck by light.
ming foreglllnpse of its possible. conse,
quences. @ what colossal imprudence
mas he not been guilty?
The devil!' he whispered "What
an ass, what ar utter ass ami"
Behind him the Knob was ratified
urgenlJ. to an .r:u.nlnnn: ;nent of
feet sh lt,,ri', IN he stone. and i'm.
medlafe:y--if he Wee Ia ,oake a log.
lcal dedG,g:on fro,l lie ';sp;ng and
scrapins sound within the door easing
The bell-pull was violently agitated,
without, however, educing any re.
spouse from the bell itself. wherever
that might be situate. After which
as If In despair. the outsider again rat.
tied and jerked the knob.
be his status what it hight. whether
servant of the household, it's care
taker, or a night Waterman. the man
was palpably determined both to get
himself in and Kirl1wood out, and vet
(curlous to consider) determined to
gam his end without attracting I'M
due attention. Kirkwood had expect
ed TO hear the knockers thunder as
soon as the bell failed to give tongue,
but 1t did not sound, although there
was knocker-kirkwood himself
mad remarked that antiquated and
rusty bit OF ironmongery affixed to tho
middle panel of the door. And it made
MIN feel sure that something surrepti-
tlous and lawless was in process
within those walls, that the confed
crate without, having failed to prevent
a stranger from entering, left unem-
ployed means so certain-sure to
arouse the occupants.
But his inferential analysis Of this
phase of the proceedings was sum-
marily abrupted by that identical
alarm. In trice the house was filed
with flying echoes, Weakened to SON
orous riot by the crash and clamor OF
the knocker; and Kirkwood stood
fully two yards away his heart ham
mering wildly, his nerves a-jingle,
much as If the resounding blows had
landed upon his own person rather
than on stout oaken planking
Ere he had time to wonder. the
racket ceased, and from the street fill
tered voices in alteration. Listening,
Kirkwood's pulses quickened, and he
laughed uncertainty for pure relief,
retreating to the door and putting an
ear to a crack.
The accents Of one speaker were
new in his hearing, stern. crisp. quick
with the spirit of authority which ami
mates that most austere and dignifed
limb of the law to be encountered the
world over, a London bobby.
Now then, my man, what do Won
"ei' IhCiS. SoluS liOW, SPEAK I'D,
and step out into the light. where [
can see YOU
The response came in the shifting
snarl of the London ne'er-do-xell, the
unemployable rogue whose chiefest oc-
cllpation seems to be to march in the
ranks Of The Unemployed on the ac.
casion of its annual demonstrations.
lie me alone, carntcher? Ah'm
doin's no arm, officer"
Didn't you hear me? Step out here.
All, that's better 4. . No harm. Ell?
Perhaps you'll explain how there's no
harm breaken' into unoccupied
'ouses?
"Gorblimy 'ow was to know?
'Ere's a toff 'ands me sixpense for
hopenin is cab door to-dye, an, sezee,
My man. e SEE, 'yer've got a 'onest
fyce. wy don'cher work?' sezee. s'Ow
can ~ seq 1. ERE m l bout Of a job
these six months, lookin' fer work
every dye an carn't find it. Sezee,
Come an see me this hevenin' at me
home, Nome, Frognall Stryet,' e
seq, an"
'That'll do for now. You borrow a
nanri1 and Manor and u,ito ~ 5ou,,,