Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-13
The Bobbs-Merrill Company
By Mary Roberts-R inehart

There was no shed or low building
outside, but not Ave yards away the
warehouse showed its ugly walls and
broken windows.
"Look here, Hunter" said, why
could he not have been shot from the
warehouse?"
Gle could have been-but he
wasn't" Hunter affirmed. glancing at
Wardrop's dropping figure. "Mr.
Wardrop, am going to send for the
coroner, and then I shall ask y,u to
70 with me to the Office and tell the
chief what you know about this. Knox,
will you telephone to the coroner"
In an incredibly short time the club
house was emptied, and before mid
night the coroner himself arrived and
went up to the room. AS for me, had
breakfast, lunched and dined on hor-
rods, and l sat in the deserted room
downstairs and tried to think how |
was to take the news to Margery.
At ,twelve-thirty, Wardrop, Hunter
and the coroner came downstairs,
leaving detective In charge OF the
body until morning when 1t could be
taken home. The coroner had cab
waiting, and he took us at once to
Hunters chief. He had not gone to
bed, and we filed into his library
sepulchrally.
Wardrop told his story, but it was
hardly convincing. The chief, a large
man who said very little, and leaned
back with his eyes partly shut, listen
ed in silence. only occasionally asking
a question. The coroner, who was
yawning steadily, left in the middle OF
Wardrop's story, as if in his mind, at
least the guilty man was as good as
hanged.
II AMI was-Mr. Allan Fleming's
private secretary" Wardrop began
II secured the position through a re-
latlonship on his wifes side nave
held the position for three years. be-
fore that read law. For some time
I have known that Mr.. Fleming used
q drug of some kind. Until week
ago did not know what it was On
the ninth of May, Mr. Fleming sent TOR
me. was in Plattsburg at the time,
and he was at home. He was IN
terrible condition-not sleeping at all,
and he said he was being followed by
some person who meant to Kill MIN.
Finally he asked me to get him some
cocaine, and when he had taken 1t he
was more ike himself. I thought the
pursuit was only in his head. He mad
a man named Carter on guard In his
house, and acting as butler.
There was trouble of some sort IN
the organization; I do not know Just
what. Mr.. Schwartz came here to
meet Mr.. Fleming, and it seemed there
was money needed. Mr.. Fleming had
to have it once. He gave me some
securities to take to Plattsburg and
turn into money. | went on the
tenth"
was that the day Mr.. Fleming dis
appeared" the chief interrupted.
Eyes. He went to the White Cat,
and stayed there. No one but the
caretaker aud one other man knew he
was there. On the night of the
twenty-frst, came back, having turn
ed my securities into money. car
ried it in a package in small Russia
leather bag that never left my hand
for moment. Mr.. Knox here sug-
gested that had put it down, and 1t
had been exchanged for one just like
1t, but did not let 1t out Of my hand
on that Journey until put 1t down on
the porch at the Bellwood house,
while l tried to get in. live at Bell
wood with the Misses Maitland, sis
tiers Of Mr.. Fleming's deceased WIFE
I don't pretend to know how 1t hap
pened. but while was trying to get
into the house 1t was rifed. Mr..
Knox will bear me out In that.
found my grip empty
affirmed it in word The chief
was growing interested.
what was in the bag?" he asked.
"A pair Of pajamas," he said, two
military brushes and a clothes-brush,
two or three soft-bossomed shirts, per-
haps half-dozen collars, and a suit Of
underwear
And all this was taken, as well as
the money!" ~
"The bag was left empty, except for
my railroad schedule
The chief and Hunter exchanged
significant glances. Then
4 go on, If you please" the detective
said cheerfully.
think Wardrop realized the alb
surdity of trying to make any one be-
l1GV3 LlaL part Vi Iuc SIOAy. IlO oAuI
his lips and threw up his head as II
he intended to say nothing further.
Go on" l urged. If he could clear
himself he must could not go back
to Margery Fleming and tell her that
her father had been murdered and her
lover was accused Of the crime.
: "The bag was empty" he repeated.
81 had not been five minutes trying to
open the shutters, and yet the bag had
been rifed. Mr.. Knox here found 1t
among the flowers below the veranda,
empty"
The chief eyed me with awakened
interest.
"You also live at Bellwood, Mr..
Knox?"''
mo, 1 am attorney to Miss Letitia
Maitland, and was there one night as
her guest | found the bag as Mr..
Wardrop described,empty."
How much money was there In 1t
when you-left it?"
"a hundred thousand dollars.
was afraid to tell Mr.. Fleming, but
had to do it. We had stormy scene.
this morning. l think he thought the
natural thing that l had taken It"
He struck you, | believe, ana