Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-21

NEE
terview with Doctor Walker as a re-
suit. He came up early the next morn.
ing, just as we finished breakfast, in
a professional looking car with a
black hood / found him striding up
and down the living-room, and in spite
OF my preconceived dislike, had to
admit that the man was presentable
A big fellow he was, tall and dark, as
/ Gertrude had said. smooth-shaven and
erect, with prominent features and n
square jaw. He was painfully spruce
in his appearance and his manner
was almost obtrusively polite.
l must make double excuse for
this early visit, Miss Innes," he said
as he sat down. The chair was lower
than he expected, and his dignity re-
quired collecting before he went on
MY professional duties are urgent
and long neglected, and"-a fall to
the everyday misunderstanding
must be done about that body"
Yes" | said, sitting on the edge OF
my chair. II merely wished the adj
dress of Thomas people. You might
have telephoned If you were busy"
He smiled.
Il wished to see you about some.
thing else," he said CAS- for Thomas,
1t Is Mrs. Armstrong; wish that you
allow her to attend to the expense.
About his relatives have already
notified his brother, in the village. 1t
was heart disease. think. Thomas
always had bad heart"
| Heart disease and fright" I said
still on the edge of my chair. But the
doctor had no intention of leaving.
II understand you have ghost up
here, and that you have the house
filled with detectives to exercise 1t, !.
he said
For some reason felt was being
pumped" as Halsey says. "You have
been misinformed," I replied.
What, no ghost. no detectives!" he
said, still with his smile. What a dis.
appointment to the village"
l resented his attempt at playful
ness. 1t had been anything but Joke
to us.
Doctor Walker" l said tartly, 81
fail to see any humor in the situation
Since came here, one man has been
shot, and another one has died from
shock. There have been intruders in
the house, and strange noises. II that
is funny, there is something wrong
with my sense of humor."
you miss the point" he said. still
good-naturedly. "The thing that is
funny to me, is that you insist or
remaining here, under the circum
stances. should think nothing would
keep you"
"You are mistaken. Everything tina
\ occurs only confirms my resolution tt
stay until the mystery is cleared"
i have a message for you, Miss
lnnes." he said. rising at last. "Mrs
Armstrong asked me to thank you fol
your kindness to Louise, whose within
occurring at the time it did, put hel
to great Inconvenience Also-and this
is delicate matter-she asked me tt
appeal to your natural sympathy fol
her, at this time, and to ask you if yol
Will not reconsider your decision abou
the house. Sunnyside Is her home: sht
loves 1t dearly, and just now she
wishes to retire here for quiet ane
peace"
i she must have had change O
heart" said, ungraciously enough
Louise told me her mother despiset
the place. Besides, this is no place
for quiet and peace just now. Anyhow
doctor, while don't care 10 force al
issue. shall certainly remain here
for time at least
For how long?" he asked.
4 MY lease is for six months. | shall
stay until some explanation is found
for certain things. My own family ii
implicated now. and shall do every
thing to clear the mystery of Arnol.
| Armstrong; murder
i The doctor stood looking down. Sian
ping his gloves thoughtful.y agasns
the palm of well-looked-astc hand.
you say there have been intruder.
in the house?" he asked. You are sur.
of that, Miss Innes?"
Certain"
\ ''In what part?"
4 "In the east wing"
Can you tell me- when these in
trusions occurred. ard what the pur
pose seemed to be: Was L. robbery 2
4 NO I said decidedly. "As to time
once on Friday night week ago
!. again tho following night. when al
mold Armstrong was murdered, anC
again last Friday hight"
| The doctor looked seriols. He seem
ed TO be debating s ,,1,e question in hi!
mind an, &c reach 4 decision
Miss InI.r he said, IL am in pc
culiar position; l understand your at
t'tude, OF course; Du,-do W: tninl
byou are wise? Ever since yoI hay,
come here there have been hosti;,
demonstrators against you ana you
family. I'm not c-osker, b,;s-take
, warning. Leave before anything occurs
} that will cause you lifelong regret.
81 am willing to take the responsi
bility," I said coldly.
l think he gave me up then as poo
) proposition. He asked to be show,
where Arnold Armstrong; body hat
been found, and took him there. III
scrutinized the whole place carefully
examining the stairs and the lock
When he had taken formal farewell
was confident of one thing. Doctc
: Walker would do anything he could t
get me away from Sunnyside.
CHAPTER XXI.
1t was Monday evening when w
found the body of poor old Thomas