Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-04


here? And, Phillip, bring up a chair
if you will We must not permit our.
selves to worry, and I have something
here which may, perhaps, engage your
interest for a while"
To humor him and alleviate his evi
dent distress of mind, they acceded
Kirkwood found himself seated oppo
site Dorothy. Brentwick between them
After some hesitation, made the more
notable by an air of uneasiness which
sat oddly ON his shoulders, whose
composure and confident mien had
Heretofore been SO complete and sc
reassuring, the elder gentleman fun
bled in an inner coat pocket and
brought to light small black leather
wallet. He seemed to be on the point
Of opening it when hurried footballs
sounded in the hallway. Brentwick
placed the wallet. still with its secret
intact, on the table before him, as
Charles burst unceremoniously in
leaving the door wide open.
"Mr. Brentwick, SIR" he cried gus
tily. THAT other car"
With smothered ejaculation Kirk
wood leaped to his feet, tugging at the
weapon in his pocket In another in
slant he had the revolver exposed
The girls very of alarm, interruptins
the machinist. fixed Brentwick's at
tention upon the young man He too
stood up, reaching over very quickly
to clamp strong supple fingers round
Kirkwood's wrist. while with the 9th
err hand he laid hold of the revolve.
-, ,;rf IL
away.
Kirkwood turned upon him in fury
"so,' he cried, shaking with passion
This is what your hospitality meant
You're going to
"My dear young friend" interrupted
Brentwick with flash of impatier ce
remember that II I had designed te
betray you, could have asked no bet
ter opportunity than when YOU wer:
my guest under my own root
"But-hane it all. Brentwick," ex
postulated Kirkwood, ashamed and
contrite, but worked upon by despcr
ate apprehension: 81 didn't mean that
but"
would yon have bullets flving wher
she is near?" demanded BrentwicF
scathingly Hastily he slipped the re
volver upon a little shelf beneath the
tabletop. "Sir!" he informed Kirk
wood with some heat, ri love you as
,, my own son, but you're a young fool!
II as have been in my time
II and as I would to Heaven
mieht be again! BE advised, Philip
be calm. Can't you see it's the only
way to save your treasurer
Hang the iewels!" retorted Kirk
wood warmly. what"
| 'Sir. who said anything about the
jewels?"
AS Bentwicls smoke, Calendars cor
pulent figure filed the doorway
STRIKERS weather-worn features loom
ed over his shoulders, distorted in {
cheerful leer.
'As to the Jewels" announced the
! fat adventurer GIVE got word to say
if YOU put it to me that way
He paused on the threshold. partly
for dramatic effect, partly for his owr
satisfaction, his quick eyes dartins
/ from face to face of the four people
whom he had caugbt so unexpectedly
A shade of complacencv colored hi
/ expression, and he smiled evillv be
meath the coarse short thatch of hi
gray mustache In his hand revolve
appeared, poised for immediate use
there were need.
There was none. Brentwick, at hi
primal appearance, had dropped a per
emntory hand on Kirkwoods shout
der, forcing the young man back t.
his seat, at the same time he resumed
his own. The girl had not stirred from
here since the first alarm: she sat a
if trarsfyed with terror leaning for
ward with her elbows or the table
her hands tiahtIv clasped, her face
g little blanched turned to the door
But her scarlet lips were set and firm
with inHeyibIe Durpose, end her brow
ewes met Calendars with look leve
and rnAinching Beyord this she CAV
no sign Of recognition
Nearest of, the four to the adventul
ers was Charles. the mechaniciar
paused in affriehted establishment a
sight OF Ehe revolver. Calendar, choos
ing to advance suddenly, poked tn
muzzle of the weapon iocularly in tn
mans ribs. BEAT it, Four Eyes" h
snapped. This is your cue to duck
!; Get out of my way!"
The mechanician jumped as if sho
then hastily retreated to the table
his sallow features working beneat
the goggle-mask which had excite
the fat adventurer's scorn.
"Come right in, Cap'n," Calenda