Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-13

J. :
said, handing 1t to MIR. Dingley.
He read 1t and whistled. we'll" he
said; and then, there's one thing sure;
you will not go alone!"
why, you don't mean to say I'm to
got" cried.
He looked inquiringly. why mott"
ooh, but father doesn't even like me
to speak her name"
Mr.. Dingley coughed. "Quite right,
quite right! That Is, Of course, under
ordinary circumstances. But in affairs
Of this Sort where states evidence Is
concerned. we are obliged to lay per-
sonal feeling aside, Now from this let
ter" and Mr.. Dingley tapped the little
sheet which he held before him, Il
gather that the Sonora Valencia may
have some information concerning this
case Of ours now going forward. OF
course, II it's discriminating, the state
must have 1t. On the other hand, II 1t
should tend to exonerate the defend
ant, OF course we shall be very glad"
l murmured. "Oh, yes! The hope OF
a possible means Of clearing Johnny
Montgomery went flushing through
me.
II the Spanish woman had anything
to say knew it would be in his favor.
EStill, there was something strange
about 1t. But If she has this informa-
tion," I asked, "why doesn't she tell it
In the court?"
my dear Miss Ellie, why indeed :?
We never know why women do things.
But 1t has been my experience In legal
cases and especially in criminal ones,
that women will often give evidence in
some such high-fantastic way as this.
which could never be got out Of them
through the proper channel-that is
by means of cross-examination In
court Now she's evidently taken q
fancy to tell you something. and feel
it is our duty to see just how much is
in it,
ooh, yes" said again, but this time
more family, for when thought OF
whom was to face, some cowardly
thing in me wavered. "But are you
sure it's-safe?"
Mr.. Dingley laughed. "My dear Miss
Ellie, we don't live in the dark ages!'
He made me feel ashamed Of my hes
itations. went back into the hall, told
the Mexican in Spanish, yes, that |
would come quickly. He seemed salts
fled with this verbal message, and
watched him shuttle down the steps, in
spite of his loose-hung gait, with adj
mirable quickness. Then told Lee that
was going out; dinner at half-past
| two, all as simply and usually as IL
had been intending merely to stroll
4 over to the beach. But there the usual.
ness OF things ended.
Mr.. Dipgley did not at all take the
i he a RI
open way by the broad easy streets
'church-goers were promenading; but
we went roundabout, through unex
pected short cuts, and then across the
empty stretches Of the sand lots to
ward where the long gray facade of the
convent stretched; and close beside il
the high fence with the latticed tor
which surrounded the Spanish woman'i
house Above the fence the roof ant
. the small windows beneath the cave!
4 were Just visible. AS we drew near m!
heart beat quickly, and still felt tina
as when was child, was only 90
ing to pass 1t. But we turned, and re
allied / was actually stopping at tn
gate.
! This was so high 1t was merely /
door cut in the fence, allowing nj
glimpse Of what was within and in
stead of Immediately opening it. Mr.
i Dingley raped upon it with the iror
Iknocker, whose lion head had beer
wont to snarl at me years ago. heart
| a sharp clicking as OF something beins
unlocked, and the gate opened. Blu
after we were inside got an uncann.
shock, for excepting ourselves there
was not soul to be seen.
Clever CONTINUANCE that said Mr.
Dingley, glancing up. And then no
ticed a wire which ran from the fas
4 tening of the gate to its top and from
There in straight line to the house
But even this discovery didn't removt
my uneasy sense Of being in an en-
chantment
i Around us were weedy grass plots
bushes smothering in vines, broker
flower urns, dry and weather-stainet
fountain and to and fro across the
neglect of it moved the shadows Of the
restless eucalyptus trees. A brick path
very messy and giving uncertain foot
hold. ran straight to the front Of thu
house-a blank-looking facade, all the
shutters closed over the windows, ant
a deeply hooded door.
i Mr.. Dingley gave the bell handle {
vigorous pull, but not the faintest tin
kle re-echoed through the interior. W.
waited. There wasn't sound Of an.
J one inside approaching through The
hall. / was fully prepared to be admit
ted by the same unseen agency tina
1 had moved the gate. But when, quite
A suddenly, the door opened, was aware
of figure, very dimly seen in thu
gloom of the hall. We were allowed t
enter without question, without |
word; and as quickly the door closet
upon us. After the broad sunlight thu
hall seemed SO dark, could but sense
high ceilings and hanging draperie'
i above my head, and feel beneath m.
feet the soft depth Of carpe5. All tina
my eyes could distinguish was the littl,
white glimmer of Mr.. Dingley's car.
as he handed it to the person who hat
i opened the door.
i We were led through several rooms
but either they were interior room
without windows, or else the window
were closely muffled, for they we're 81
dark could hardly find my way. Blu