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

by Gertrude and myself We did not
mention Jack Bailey; I had found
nothing to change my impression OF
his, guilt. and Gertrude knew how |
felt. AS for the murder of the bank
presidents son. was of two minds
One day | thought Gertrude knew or
at least suspected that Jack had done
1t: the next feared that II had been
Gertrude herself, that night alone on
the circular staircase And than the
mother OF Lucien Wallace would OBJ.
trude herself, and an almost equally
good case might be made against her
There were times, of course, when |
was disposed to throw all those suspic.
ions aside, and fix definitely on the un.
known, whoever that might be-
had my greatest disappointment
when 1t came to tracing Nine CARING.
ton The woman had gone without
leaving trace. Marked as she was,
1t should have been easy to follow her,
but she was not to be found. A
description to one of the detectives, on
my arrival at home, had started the
ball rolling. But by night she had not
been found. ] told Gertrude. then
about the telegram to Louise when
she had been i'll before; about my
visit to Doctor Walker, and my suspic.
ions that Matte Bliss and Nina Car.
rington were the same. She thought
as ! did, that there was little doubt
of it.
said nothing to her however, of
the detectives suspicious about Alex
Little things that I had not noticed at
the time now came back to me. / had
an uncomfortable feeling that perhaps
Alex was a spy, and that by taking him
into the house | had played into the
enemy's hand. But at O'Clock that
night Alex himself appeared. and witt
MIN a strange and repUIsiye individual
They made a queer pair, for Alex was
almost as disreputable as the tramp
and he had badly swollen eye.
Gertrude had been sitting list
, lessly waiting for the evening
message from Mr.. Jamison, but when
the singular pair came in, as they did
without ceremony, she jumped up and
stood staring. Winters, the detective
who watched the house at night, fol
lowed them, and kept his eyes sharply
| on Alexis prisoner. For that was the
situation as it developed.
He was tall lanky individual
| ragged and dirty. and Just now he
| looked both terrified and embarrassed
Alex was too much engrossed to be
either, and to this day l don't think
ever asked him why he went off with
| out permission the day before.
\ .tMtco In
this man can tell us something yer,
important about the disappearance o
/ Mr.. lnnes. found him trying to sci
this watch
He took watch from his poke
and put it On the table. 1t was Hal
sey's watch. I had given it to hin
/ on his twenty-first birthday; | wal
dumb with apprehension.
He says he had pair of cuff link
also, but he sold them"
Fer doilar'n half" put in the dis
reputable individual hoarsely, witt
an eye on the detective.
He Is not-dead?" | implored TIL,
tramp clearned his throat
i Nom" he said huskily. He wa
used up pretty bad, but he weren't deac
49, /" e~.o NSiliiA w lll5oSll WHGu
! stopped and looked at the detective
4 i didn't steal it. Mr.. Winters" h
whined. Il found it in the road, homes
to God. did"
i Mr.. Winters paid no attention t
him. He was watching Alex.
I'D better tell what he told me.
Alex broke in. 1T will be quicker
When Jamieson-when Mr.. Jamieso
calls UP we can start him right. MI
4 Winters. found this man trying t
sell that watch on Fifth street. H
offered IT to me for three dollars
How did YOU know the watch !?
Winters snapped at him.
Il had seen it before, many times.
used it at night when l was watchin
at the foot Of the staircase" Til
detective was satisfied When h
offered the watch to me, | knew i
and pretended I was going to buy i
We went into an alley and / got tn
watch" The tramp shivered 1t wa
plain how Alex had secured the watcl
THEM got the story from this fe
low. He claims to have seen tn
whole affair. He says he was in a
empit,. car--in the car the automobil
! struCd.'
, The tramp broke in here, and tol
his story, with frequent Interpretation
by Alex and Mr.. Winters. He used
strange medley, in which familis
words took unfamiliar meanings, b,
it was gradually made clear to us.
: On the night in question the tram
: had been pounding his ear"-thi
5 stuck TO me as being graphic--in a
81 empty box car along the siding {
/ Casanova. The train was going ives
: and due to leave at dawn. The tram
3 and the ''brakey" We're friendly. an
/ things going we'll. About 10 oclocI
perhaps earlier, a terrific crash again;
, the side Of The car reused him. II
litfied TO open the door but could III