Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-26
CHAPTER VIII


ing it passionately in her own.
"Fred!' she cried, curious break
in her tone. MY little Freddie! On,
what has happened, dearie?"
ooh, hello, Mamma" grunted that
young man, submitting listlessly to her
caresses and betraying no overwhelm-
ing surprise at her appearance there.
Indeed he seemed more concerned rs
to what Kirkwood, an older man, would
be thinking, to see him so endeared
and fondled, than moved by any other
emotion. Ilirkwood could see his
shamefaced, sidelong glances; and de.
spised him properly for them.
But without attending to his re-
spouse, Mrs. Hallam ratified on in the
uneven accents of excitement. 81 wait
ed until couldn't wait any longer,
Freddie dear. l had to know-had to
come. Eccles came home about nine
and said that you had told him to wait
outside, that some one had followed
you in here, and that a bobby had told
him to move on. didn't know
what
whats O'Clock now?' her son in
terrupted.
cts about three, think. Have
you hurt yourself, dear? Oh. why
didn't you come home? You must we
known I was dying of anxiety"
ooh, say Can't you see I'm hurt?
Had nasty fall and must we been
asleep ever since
"My precious one How
Cant say, hardly. j. I say, don't
paw lchap, so mamma. /
brought Eccles along and told him to
wait because-well, because l didn
feel so much like shuttin' myself up
in this beastly old tomb. So left the
| door ajar and told him not to let any
body already in the house; I know
thought there was. 1t made me feel
creepy. rather. At any rate, I heard
voices down below, and the door bang
ed,4 and somebody began hammerin'
like fun on the knocker."
The boy paused, rolling an embar-
rassed eye up at the stranger.
eyes, yes, dear!" Mrs. Hallam urg-
ed him on.
why, IL made up my mind to cut
my stick-let whoever it was pass
me on the stairs, you know. But he
followed me and struck me, and then
I Jumped at him and we both fell down
the whole fight. And that's all. Be-
sides, my heads achin' like every
thing"
'tBut this man."
Mrs Hallam looked up at Kirkwood,
who bowed silently, struggling to hide
both his amusement and perpleXity.
More than ever, now, the case present
ed front inscrutable to his wits; try
as he might, he failed to fit an explana-
| in hn all
figured while this last Development
that his antagonist of the dark stair
way had been Mrs. Hallams son!--
seemed the most astounding of all,
battling calculation completely.
He had abandoned all thought OF
fight and escape. 1t was too late; in
the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue,
he was caught with the goods on. y
MAY as we'll face the music he coun-
seled himself, in resignation. From
what he had seen and surmised of
Mrs. Hallam, he shrewdly suspected
that the tune would prove an exceed
ingly lively one: she seemed woman
of Imagination, originality, and an
able bodied temper.
''You, Mr.. Kirkwood!"
Again he bowed, grinning awry.
She rose suddenly. "You will be
good enough to explain your presence
here" she informed him with danger
GUS severity.
"To be frank with YOU"
81 advise that course, Mr.. Kirk
wood"
Thanks, awf'ly. came
here, half an hour ago, looking for d
lost purse full--well, not quite full Of
sovereigns 1t was my purse, by tht
way"
Suspicion gllnted like foxfre in thu
cold green eyes beneath her puckeret
!, brows II do not understand" she
/ said slowly and in level tones.
81 didn't expect you to-" returned
| Kirkwood; mo more do l.
But, anyway, 1t must be clear to you
that I'VE done my best for this gentle
man here" He paused with an in
| terrogative lift of his eyebrows.
This gentleman is my son, Fred
erick Hallam. But you will
explain"
: pardon me, Mrs. Hallam; I shall
explain nothing at present. Permi
me to point out that your position her
: like mine-is, to say the least, an
amolous." The random stroke told
, as he could tell by the instant con
5 traction of her eyes of a cat. ''It woul'
= be best to defer explanations till
: more convenient time-don't yo
: think? Then, if you like, we ca
}, chant condolences in an antiphona
chorus. Just now your-ey-son /
: not enjoying himself apparently, an
j. the attention of the polio
+ had best not be called to this house to
e often in one night"
}, His levity seemed to displease an
q perturb the woman; she turned fror
him with an impatient movement c
S her shoulders
e Freddie. dear, do you feel able t
:. Iwalk?"