Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

move it. He got out of the other side,
and just as he did so, he heard some
one groan:
The habits of lifetime made him
cautious. He slipped on to the bumper
of a car and peered through. An auto
mobile had struck the car, and stood
there on two wheels. The tail lights
were burning, but the headlights were
out. Two men were STOPPING over
some one who lay on the ground. Then
the taller of the two started on q dog
trot along the train looking for an
empty box car, and, getting In them
selves, stayed for three or four min
utes. When they came out, after
closing the sliding door they cut up
over the railroad emhanllment toward
the town. One, the short one, seemed
to limp.
The tramp was wary, He waited
for ten minutes or so. Some woman
came down a path to the road and in
spected the automobile. When they
had gone, he crawled into the box car
and closed the door again. Then he
lighted match. The figure of man,
unconscious. gagged, and with his
hands tied, lay far at the end. The
tramp lost no time; he went through
his pockets, found little money and
the cur links, and took them. Then
he loosened the gait had been
cruelty Highland went his way, again
closing the door of the box car. Out
side on the road he found the watch.
He got on the fast freight east. some
time after, and rode into the city He
had sold the cuff links, but on offering
the watch to Alex he had been
copied
villainy, was done. hardly knew IL
] were more anxious, or less. That
1t was Halsey, there could be no
doubt. How badly he was hurt, how
far he had been carried, were the
questions that demanded immediate
answer. But it was the first real in
formation we had had; my boy had
not been murdered outright. But in
stead of vague terrors there was now
the real fear that he might be lying
in some strange hospital receiving the
casual attention commonly given to
the charity cases. Even this, had we
known it, would have been paradis.
to the terrible truth. wake yet and
feel myself cold and trembling with
the horror of Halsey's situation for
three days after his disappearance.
Mr. Winters AMI Alex disposed of
the tramp with warning. 1t was evil
dent he had told us all he knew. We
had occasion, within day or two to
be doubly thankful that we had given
him his freedom. When Mr.. Jameson
telephoned that night we had news for
him: he told me what l had not realiz-
ed before-that it would not be pos
sible to find Halsey at once, even with
this clue The cars by this time, three
Union. But he said to keep on hoping,
that it was the best news we had
had And in the meantime, consunl-
ed with anxiety, as we were, things
were happening at the house in rapid
succession.
We had one peaceful day-then
Liddy took sick in the night. went
in when heard her grooming, and
found her with hot,water bottle to
her face, and her right cheek swol-
len until it was CLASSY.
''Toothache?' asked, not too gent
ly. You deserve it. a woman of
your age, who would rather go around
with an exposed nerve in her head
than have the tooth pulled! 1t would
be over in q moment"
$50 would hanging Liddy protest
ed, from behind the hot-water bottle.
| was hunting around for cotton and
laudanum.
you have a tooth just like it your
self, Miss Rachel" she whimpered.
and I'm sure Doctor Boyle's been
trying to take it out for years"
There was no laudanum, and Liddy
made terrible fuss when l proposed
carbolic acid. just because I had put
too much on the cotton once and burn
ed her mouth. I'm sure it never did
her any permanent harm; indeed, the
doctor said afterward that living on
liquid diet had been splendid rest
for her stomach. But she would have
none of the acid, and she kept me
awake grooming, SO at last l got up
and went to Gertrude's door. To my
surprise, it was locked.
went around by the hall and into
her bedroom that way. The bed was
turned down, and her dressing-gown
and night-dress lay ready in the little
room next, but Gertrude was not there.
She had not undressed
don't know what terrible thoughts
came to me in the minute / stood
! there. Through the door l could hear
| Liddy> grumbling with a squeal now
and then when the pain stabbed hard
er. Then, automatically, got the
| laudanum and went back to her.
1t was fully half-hour before
Liddy's groans subsidized. At intervals
went to the door into the hall and
looked out, but l saw and heard moth
ing suspicious. Finally, when Liddy
had dropped into a doze, even vent
ured as far as the head of the circular
staircase, but there fioated up to me
only the even breathing of Winters, the
night detective. sleeping just inside
the entry. And then, far off, | heard
| the rapping noise that had lured
Louise down the staircase that other
| night, two weeks before. 1t was over
my head, and very faint--three OIL
1 four short muffled taps, pause. and
| then again. stelthily repeated.
/ The sound of Mr.. Winters breath
- ~ l. Il