Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-26
cHAPTER. XIV.

HIS confluence, through lHS Wuol5 III
fair, it would have been much sim
pier II he had been altogether frank
about Jack Bailey. and if the day aft
er the fire he had told me what he
suspected, there would have been no
narrowing period for all of us, with
the boy in danger. But young people
refuse to profit by the experience of
their elders, and sometimes the elders
are the ones to suffer.
l was much used up the day after
the fire, and Gertrude insisted on my
going out The machine was temper
arily out of commission, and the car
rage horses had been sent to a farm
for the summer. Gertrude finally got
a trap from the Casanova liyeryman,
and we went out. Just as we turned
from the drive into the road we pass
ed woman. She had put down a
small valise, and stood inspecting the
house and grounds minutely. I should
hardly have noticed her, had it not
been for the fact that she had been
horribly, disfgured by smallpox.
"Ugh!' Gertrude said, when we had
passed" what a face! shall dream
OF it tonight. Get up, Flinders.
''Flinders?" asked. SIS that the
horses name?''
ut is She flicked the horses
stubby name with the whip. "He didn't
look like a livery horse, and the liv-
eryman said he had bought him from
the Armstrong; when they purchased
a couple Of motors. Nice Flinders
good old boy!"
Flinders was certainly not COM
mon name for horse, and yet the
youngster at Richfield had named his
prancing, curly-haired little horse Film
ders! 1t set me to thinking.
At my request Halsey had already
sent word of the fire to the agent
from whom he had secured the house.
Also, he had called Mr.. Jameson by
telephone, and somewhat guardedly
had told him of the previous nights
events. Mr.. Jameson promised to
come out that night, and to bring an
other man with him. + did not con-
slider it necessary to notify Mrs. Arm
strong, in the village. No doubt she
knew of the fire, and in view Of my
refusal to give up the house, an in
tereiew would probably have been I'M
pleasant enough. But as we passed
DR.. walkers white and green house
thought of something.
stop here, Gertrude l said. II
am going to get out
tTo see Louise?" she asked.
mo. want to ask this young Wal
ker something.
She was curious, | knew, but I did
not wait to explain. I went up the
walk to the house, where a brass sign
at the side announced the Office, and
went IN. The reception-room was
empty. but from the consulting groom
beyond came the sound of two voices,
, not very amicable.
'It is an outrageous figure" some
one was storming. Then the doctors
quiet tone, evidently not arguing.
merely stating something. But had
not time to listen to some person
probobly disputing his bill. SO l cough
ed. The voices ceased at once: a door
closed somewhere. and the doctor en-
tered from the hall of the house. He
looked sufficiently surprised at sec
ing me.
Good afternoon. doctor said for
mally. 81 shall not keep you from
your patient. ! wish merely to ask
you question"
VI won't you SIT GOWN!
cit will not be necessary. Doctor,
has any one come to you, either early
this morning or today, to have you
treat a bullet wound?"
Nothing SO startling has happened
to me-" he said "A bullet wound!
Things must be lively at Sunnyside."
n didn't say it was at Sunnyside.
But as it happens, it was. If any such
case comes to you, will it be too much
trouble for you to let me know"
Il shall be only too happy" he said.
81 understand you had a fire up there,
too. A fire and shooting in one night
is rather lively for quiet place like
that"
'"'It is as quiet as boiler shop"
replied as I turned to go.
And you are still going to stay?'
.'Until | am burned out respond
ed. And then. on my way down the
steps, ! turned around suddenly.
Doctor I asked at venture
shave you ever heard of child named
Lucien Wa1lace?"
Clever as he was, his face changed
and stiffened. He was on his guard
again in moment.
"Lucien Wallace" he repeated. mo
| think not There are plenty OF Wal
laces around, but don't know an.
Lucien.'
/ was as certain as possible that be
did. People do not lie readily to me
and this nan lied beyond a doubt. Bu
there was nothing to be gained now
his defenses were up, and left, hal
irritated and wholly baffled.
Our reception was entirely differen
at DR.. Stewards. Taken into the Dos
ON of the family at once, Flinders tie
outside and nibbling at the grass a
the roadside. Gertrude and I drani
some homemade elderberry wine ant
told briefly of the fire. OF the mor'
serious part of the nights experience
of course, we said nothing. But whel
at last we had left the family on tn
porch and the good doctor was unity
ing our steed. asked him the sam
question had put to Doctor Wake.
Shot" he said. BLESS my sou
no. Why, what have you been dom
up at the big house. Miss Innes?'
Some one tried to enter the hous
d,trino tbo fro and was shot an