Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-15

He INDUCED in q long spell OF
thoughtfulness. mo. by George, I'll
not turn tail at the first sign OF dam
ger. I'll stay here and assist Dangloss
In unraveling this matter. And I'll
go up to that witch's hole before I'm
day older to have it out with her.
I'll find out where the smoke came
from, and I'll know where that eye
went to- He sighed without knowing
1t. "By Jove. I'd like to do something
to show her I'm not the blooming
dutfer she thinks am"
He could not find Baron Dangloss
that night nor early the next day.
Hobbs. after being stigmattEed an the
only British coward in the world.
changed his mind and made ready to
accompany King to the howell in Gan
look gap.
BY noon. tho streets In the vicinity Of
the plaza were filed with strange.
rough looking men, undeniably iaborers.
who ara they?" demanded King.
There's strike ON among the men
building the railroad" said Hobbs.
They'll better hook out for these fell
lows" said King, very soberly. II
don't like the appearance Of 'em. They
look like cutthroats.'
''Take my word tor It, air, they are.
They're the riffran Of ali Europe"
II hope Baron Dangioss knows how
to handle them?" In some anxiety.
In due time they rode into the SOM
Der solitudes of Ganlook gap and up
to the witch's glen. Here Mr. Hobbs
baked. He refused to adventure far
ther than the mouth Of the stony ra-
vine. Truxton approached the howell
alone, without the slightest trepida-
ton. The goose herd grandson was
driving a flock Of geese across tho
green bowl below the cabin. The
American called out to him, and 2 mo-
ment later the youth, considerably ex-
cited, drove his geese up to the door.
While they were vainly haranguing
each other the old woman appeared.
Uttering shrill excEamations, she hur-
ried down to confront King with bla1-
ing eyes. Her horrid grin OF derision
brought flush to his cheek.
ks"I1l lay you hundred gavvos that
L
fake Of the worst Sort" he announced.
"Have it your own way-have 1t
your own wayw she cackled.
"Tell you what I'll do--if can't ex-
LDse that trick In ten minutes I'll
make you present Of a hundred CAV
vOs.''
She took him up like fash. fact
which startled and disconnected him
not little. Her very eagerness au-
cured i'll for his proposition.
With low. hooking bow the shriv-
eled bag stood aside and motioned
for him to precede her into the hovel.
"A hundred gavvos is fortune not
easily to be won." said the old dame.
How can be sure that you will pay
me II you lose?"
1T is In my pocket, madam. II
don't pay. You may instruct your ex-
cellent grandson to crack me over the
head. He looks as though he'd do 1t
for a good deal less money, I'll say
that for him."
HE Is honest-as honest 40 his
grandmother" cried the old woman.
She bestowed a toothless grin upon
him. NOV, what Is 1t you want 70
doY
II want to 60 through that Kitchen.
just to satisfy myself Of one or two
things" King was looking hard at
the crack In the kitchen door. Sud
denly he started as II shot.
The staring, burning eye was again
looking straight at him from the jag
ged crack in the door!
Ell get you this timer he shouted,
crossing the room In two eager leaps.
| The door in his violent clutch swung
| open with bang.
The owner of that hooking, phan-
| tom eye was gone!
Like frantic dog, Truxton dashed
! about the little kitchen, looking III
every corner. every crack. for signs Of
| the thing he chased The old woman
! was standing In the middle Of the
| outer room, grinning at him with gen.
! uine malevolence.
| ..Ha, hav she crooked. ''You fOolt
! You fool! Search! Smell him out! All
| the good it will do you! Ha. haI'
| by CAD, will get at the bottom Of
thisv shouted Truxton, stubborn rage
possessing him. There's some one
here, and ! know 1t. I'm not such q
| fool as to believe Say! What's that1
| The ceiling! BY the eternal, that scrap
ing noise explains it! There's where
the secret trapdoor is-in the ceiling!
! Within arms reach, at that! Watch
me, old woman
| The bag was standing In the kitchen
door now, still grinning evilly. She
watched the eager young man pound
upon the low ceiling with a three leg
1 ged stool that he had seized from the
| floor.
He was pounding vigorously on the
| roughly boarded ceiling when ths
sharp voice OF the old woman, raised
in command, caused him to lower the
stool and turn upon her with cleaning.
triumphant eyes. The look he saw In