Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-05

"You do not know man, q
scoundrel- mo, hardly that-1ust q
rascal-to whom we might be of great
service?"
/ looked at the American with open
mouth. A buzzing filled my ears. Did
this man come to me in my terrible
emergency, representing tutelary
providence Was 1t possible that [
had met my fate?
l looked at him with fixed eyes.
He got up from the table and took
from desk at the other side of the
room bundle Of papers which he
placed before me.
Look" he said. Il have everything
necessary for an undertaking of this
kind. These papers belonged to one OF
my friends, Charles Douglass. who was
accidentally killed some years ago. he
came from Boston. am the only one,
who knows the story of his life, and
may tell 1t to you later. Have you the
subject we'll in hand? Now, there Is
100000 for you and 100000 for the
mani"
bit my lips and replied as IL had
been effectively Lawyer Marcadian.
"You ask me to be an accomplish IN
an Infamous undertaking, and my repu-
tation?"
"Who is talking about your reputa-
tion?"
Pardon me, the strict honesty
"Fiddlesticks! 1t Is not question
of your honesty, or Of mine. Both are
outside the question am proposing
a business deal to you. You are an
advocate, are you not?"
"Evidently," stammered. "You
see, monsieur, this Is matter which
requires consideration. One hundred
thousand dollars for me, one hundred
thousand for the other-am to I'M
sderstand that?"
Precisely"
very good. Then, in the event
that do not find the man. and my.
self decide to play the role in ques-
ton, there will be 100000 for me?"
AT my words this man, whom l
should have thought nothing could
have astonished, looked at me in
amazement.
"You!" he calculated.
eyes, I. Now, let us speak q little
more to the point. No one was aware
that you called upon me at my resi-.
dence in the Rue Michel Ange, pre-
sume?"
"No one, swear"
THAT is we'll. Now. whatever con-
sequences may occur from this pro-
ceeding. you give me your word Of
honor that no one will ever know Of
that visit?"
"sir, no one shall hear it from my
lips. You have my word"
["Are you sure of your servants?"
GAS I am Of myself But what Is 1t
you are aiming att"
"This: Henceforth l am Charles
Douglass Of Boston. Do you under
stand
My host opened his eyes in astonish-
ment
Didn't | say that you were an odd
individual? Who could imagine that
great lawyer could do a thing like
that. To say the least. you are orig
inal Now, you are my guest. You will
sleep here; you will take up your
abode here-then you will marry Lucie
sWeil?"
II will sleep here, will be your
companion was going to say your
accomplice-I will do all you wish
and I will marry Lucie WE'LL
The millionaire's face was radiant in
a transport of Joy.
Bravo! Then my son won't get
her! Now, come upstairs he con-
tinued, quickly. as If he had just de-
cided about something.
The Hindoo brought the candles,
for the night had already fallen, and
we went upstairs into one Of the front
rooms.
My host pushed me toward a long
beveled mirror.
"Sit down there, Douglass, my old
friend. Look IN the glass at your I'M
kempt beard and hair-nice things for
an American citizen to have!"
With sweep of the hand, showing
incompatible skill that had never
seen with any barber, I was shorn OF
my abundant fleece. The cold steel OF
the scissors got on my nerves, but
was like an automaton without Will. IL
seemed that this man was my execu-
tioner-that he was giving the last
shave to one condemned to death.
Barrabas. the King Of Fools, would
be no more:
There! Are you satisfied, and
would you know yourself. Charles?"
gazed in the mirror at the strange
face that looked back at me. The
ears. chin, forehead, the shape of the
head were strange to me. All my
p.aysiognomy had undergone such a
complete metamorphosis that burst
into nervous laugh at the sight OF
this poor caricature OF myself. And
the laugh which showed my mouth
was not my laugh. 1t belonged to
some one else. It was only the ex-
preston OF my eyes that had not
changed. I turned to my host, who
was laughing inmoderately. His mirth
seemed to me to be rather absurd.
Just then Jim's giant figure stood
in the doorway. He gave me quick.
surprised look from beneath his thick
black eye brows and let the porcelain
candlestick he held in his hand drop to
the floor.
ATTEND to your own business,
jim" the millionaire said, sternly,
"and show Mr.. Charles Douglass to his
rooms at once"
CHAPTER III.
The Power Of the Press.
49, - yy<,Sn