Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-06

too. III swear that Whatever stealing
was done, she did it. I'll not be trapped
this way by her and let her off without
squeal. Take nle-take her; d'you
hear?"
q think" put in the clear. bland
accents Of Brentwick I'VE can con-
slider the matter settled. I have here,
my man, '-nodding to the adventurer
as he took UP the black leather wallet,
Il have here little matter which
may clear up any lingering doubts as
to your standing, which you may be
disposed at present to entertain"
He extracted slip of pasteboard
and, at arms length, laid 1t on the
table-edge beneath the adventurer's
eyes The latter, bewildered, bent over
it for a moment breathing heavily;
then Strengthened back, shook himself,
laughed shortly with a n,irthless note.
and faced the detective.
TITS come with you now. guess?"
he suggested very quietly.
"The Bannister warrant is still out
for vou,' returned the man 'sThat'li
be enough to hold you on till extradi-
ton papers arrive from the States"
ooh, I'll waive those; and I won't
give you any trouble, either. g
I reckon" unused the adventurer, jing-
ling his manacles, thoughtfully, I'm a
back number, anyway When a half
grown girl, half-baked boy, fub
like Mulready- damn his eyes! and
club,footed snipe from Scotland Yard
can put it all over me in this way 3
why guess it's up to me. to go
they'd picked up MI. Mulready with a
woman named Hallam, and were hold
ing them on suspicion. It seems -
turning to Brentwick, they were
opening negotiations for the sale of a
lot of stones, and seemed in such a
precious hurry that the diamond mer-
chants suspicious we're reused,
We're sending over for them, Miss Cal
endar, so you can make you mind
easy about your jewels; you'll have
them back in few days
Thank you said the girl with an
effort.
well" the adventurer delivered his
peroration, ~ certainly am blame
glad to hear it. tTwouldnt We been a
square deal any other way.
He paused, looking MS erstwhl]e
dupes over with a melancholy eye;
then, with an uncertain nod ana com
pretending the girl KirkWood and
Brentwick, so long," he said thickly;
and turned. with the detectives hand
under his arm and, accompanied bv
the thoroughly cowed Stryker. wad-
died out of the room.
Journeys End
Kirkwood following the exodus,
closed the door with elaborate care
and slowly deep in thought, returned
to the table
Dorothy seemed not to have moved,
BILE slab, and rest her cheeks between
hands that remained clenched, as they
had been in the greatest stress OF her
emotion The color had returned to
her face, with slightly enhanced
depth of hue to the credit of her OK
citement Her cheeks were hot, her
eyes starlike beneath the wovenf mas
sv sunlight OF her hair. TemporarilT
unconscious Of her surroundings she
stared steadfastly before her, Thoughts
astrav in the irridescent glamour OF
the dreams that were to come.
Brentwicl, had slipped down in his
chair, resting his silvered head upon
its hack, end was smiling seren&ly III
at the low yellow ceiling. Before him
on the table his long white fingers
were drumming an inaudible tune
Presently rousing, he caught Kirk
woods eye and smiled sheepishlv like
a child caught in innocent mischief.
The younger man grinned broad!T
l"And YOU were responsible for al
| = he tc1 in Tnjto1I
amused.
Brentwick nodded twinkling self
satisfaction Il contrived it all ne
said; meat, call it, too" His ole
eyes frightened with reminiscent en-
| ioyment Inspiration" he crowet
softly Inspiration, pure and simple
I'd been worrying my wits for fully
! five minutes before Wotton settled tbs
matter by telling me about the cap
tains hiring of the motor car. Then
| in fash. ! had it. 7 talked
with Charles by telephone = his name
/ is really Charles. by the bye over
came his conscientious scruples abou
playing. his fish when they were al
readv all but landed, and settled tile
artistic details
He chuclsled delightedly. Its tns
instinct" he declared empheticali;-
''the instinct for adventure ! knew i
was in me, latent somewhere, bu
never till this day did it get the Oh
portunity to assert itself. A born ed
venturer- that's what I am.
! You see. it was essential that they
should believe we were frightened
and running from them; that wav
they would be sure to run after us
Why we might have baited doZei
traps and failed to lure them into II,
house, after that stout scoundrel knew
you'd had the chance to tell me- tn
whole yarn. Oddn'
Weren't you taking chances, yo'
and Charles?" asked Kirkwood cur
iously.
Precious few There was anothe
motor from Scotland Yard trainin!
Captain Strikers If they had ri
past, or turned aside. they would hav
been overhauled in short order
He relapsed into his whimsical rey
erie; the wistful look returned to hi
eyes, replacing the glow of triumph
and pleasure. And he sighed llttl
regretfully.
|