Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-06

er something unusual will certainly
happen before long"
And Mrs. Atchison was quite right
in her surmise, as we shall see.
CHAPTER XII.
Mr.. Frank Collins, Of the Atlanta
Palladium, trod the ties beyond Kill
dare with light heart, gaily swing
ing suitcase. He had walked far,
but narrow-brim straw hat, perched
on the back of his head, and the
CHEEKY Tilt Of the waltz he whistled
spoke for jaunty spirit. AS his eye
ranged the landscape he marked a
faint cloud Of smoke rising beyond a
lonely strip of wood; and coming to
dilapidated piece of track that led
vaguely away into the heart of the
forest, he again noted the tiny smoke
and the gods arrive; and the world
that afternoon knew no cheerfuller
spirit that the Palladiunl's agile young
commissioner. Mr.. Collins was not
only in capital health and spirits but
he rejoiced in that delicious Utilization
Of expectancy which is the chief COM
pensation of the journalists life, His
mission was secret, and this in itself
gave flavor to his errand; and more
over, it promised adventures Of a kind
that were greatly to his liking.
AS the woodland closed in about him
and the curving spur carried him farth-
er from the main right of way he
ceased whistling and his steps became
more guarded. Suddenly man rose
from the bushes and leveled a long
arm at his detainingly.
stop, young man, stop where you
are!"
"Hello!" called Collins, pausing.
well, I'm jiggered If it amt old
Cookie. | say, old man, is the I'M
taxed juice flowing in the forest prim-
eval or what brings you here?
Cooke grinned as he recalled the
reporter, whom he remembered as a
particularly irrepressible specimen of
his genus whom he had met while pur-
suing moonshiners in Georgia. The
two shocks hands amiably midway of
the two streaks of rust.
Young man, think | told you once
before that your legs were altogether
too active. want you to light right
out of here-skiD!"
mot for million dollars. Our
meeting is highly opportune, Cookie.
It's not for me to fly in the face of
Providence. Pm going to see what's
doing down here
"All right replied Cooke. Take it
all in and enjoy yourself; but you're
my prisoner
ooh, that will be all right! So long
as I'm with you I can't lose out"
march," called Cook, dropping be-
hind; and thus the two came in a few
minutes to the engine, the cars and
the caboose. From the locomotive q
slight smoke still trailed hazily up
ward.
Thomas Ardmore, coatless and hat
less, sat on the caboose steps writing
messages on broad pad, while tele-
graph instrument clicked busily with
in. One of his men had qualified as
operator and pile of messages at his
elbow testified to Ardmore's industry.
Ardmore clutched in his left hand a
| message recently caught from the wire
which he re-read from time to time
with increasing satisfaction. 1t had
| been sent from Ardsley and ran:
l shall ride tonight on the road that
leads south beyond the red bungalow,
and on the bridle-path that climbs the
ridge on the west, called Sunset Trail.
A certain English gentleman will &C,
company me. 1t will be perfectly
agreeable to me to come back alone
G. D.
Ardmore was stilling writing when
Cooke stood beneath him under the
caboose platform.
81 beg your pardon. Mr.. Ardmore
but this is our first prisoner
Ardmore signed a despatch and then
looked up and took the pipe from his
mouth Collins lifted his hat politely
"Ah, Mr. 'Ardmore, you see | have
taken advantage of your exceedingly
kind invitation to look you up in NORTH
Carolina"
"He was looking for you very hare
| when I found him, Mr. Ardmore,' in
| terposed Cooke.
your appearance delights me- sale
Ardmore, extending his hand to the re
porter. at was nice of you to wall
out here TO find me. Wouldn't the,
put you UP at the house?'
well, the fact is didn't stop there
NV paper sent me in this general di
rection on business, but | had ever.
honorable intention OF making you
that visit after l finished my assign
ment. But Cookie here says Pm ar
rested"
Hes a dangerous character ant
can't be allowed to run loose in hes
parts. I'm going to tie him up" SAT-
Cooke.
MAY l ask you, Mr. Collins, jus
what you are doing here?' inquire
Ardmore.
"You may, and I'll bet a boilc
goose that Cooke and are on tn
same job"
What are you looking for?" dc
manded Ardmore's chief of staff.
Its big story if | get it, and
have every intention of getting it,
said Collins guardedly
"Out with it!' commanded Ardmorf
1.-THE fact is, then, that I'm lookin
for person of Importance"
GO right on, please"
"And that person is the governor
North Carolina, who is mysteriousl
absent from Raleigh. He attended tn
Cotton planters, convention in Ne