Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-13
crrAprEp Ixcontinnea

thought 1t was an automobile out in
the street"
Hunter was listening while he ex-
amined the room, peering under the
table, lifting the blankets that had
trailed OF the couch on to the floor.
Someone outside tried the door knob,
and finding the door locked shook 1t
slightly.
"Fleming!" he called under his
breath. "F1eming!"
We were silent, in response to sig
nal from Hunter, and the steps re-
treated heavily down the hall. The
detective spread the blankets decently
over the couch, and the three OF us
moved the body there. Wordrop was
almost collapsing.
"Now," Hunter said quietly, before
call in Doctor Gray from the room
across, what do you know about this
thing, Mr.. WARDROBE"
Wardrop looked dazed.
"He was in bad way when I left
this morning" he said ,huskily.
"There isn't much use now trying to
hide anything; God knows I've done
all could. But he has been. using
cocaine for years, and today ne ran
out of the, stuff. When got here,
about half an hour ago. he was on the
verge Of killing himself. got the re-
volyer from him-he was like crazy
man, and as soon as dared to leave
him. I went out to try and find a
doctor"
ITO get some cocaine?"
Eyes"
"Not-bccause he was already
wounded. and you were afraid it was
fatal?" :,
Wardrop shuddered; then he pulled
himself together, and his tone was
more natural.
I ::What's the use Of lying about it?'
he said YEARLY. "You won't believe
me if | tell the truth, either, but-he
was dead when l got here. heard
something like the bang of door as
went upstairs, but the noise was ter
rife down below, and I couldn't tell.
When 7 went in, he was just dropping
forward, and" he hesitated.
'The revolver" Hunter querled,
ynx-eyed.
"Was in his hand. He was dead
then"
where is the revolver !.
az will turn it over to the coroner"
y, "ye,, will, give it to me-" Hunter re-
piled sharply. And after little iumo-
ling, Wardrop produced 1t from MS MP
pocket 1t was an. ordinary thirty
eight. The detective opened II ana
glanced at it. Two chambers were
empty.
"And you waited-say ten minutes,
before YOU called for help, and even
then you went outside hunting a doc
tor! What were you doing In those
ten minutes?"
Wardrop shut his lips and refused
to reply.
III Mr.. Fleming shot himself"
the detective pursued relentlessly:
.there would be powder marks around
the wound. Then, too, he was IN the
act of writing letter. II was q
strange impulse, this-you see, ne hao
only written a dozen words"
I glanced at the paper on the taDle.
The letter had no superscription; II
began abruptly:
q shall have to leave here. The num-
bers have followed me. Tonight
That was all.
"This is not suicide" Hunter said
gravely. 1T is murder, and | warn
YOU. Mr.. Wardrop, to be careful wnat
YOU say. Will you ask Doctor cray
to come in, Mr.. Knox?"
went across the hall to the room
where the noise was loudest. Forum
atelv Doctor Gray was out OF the
game. He was opening can OF cavi-
are at a table in the corner and came
ont in response to a gesture. re ald
not ask any questions, and let MIN
90 into the death chamber unprepared:
The presence of death apparently mad
no Effect on him, but the identity OF the
dead man almost stupefied him.
.sFleming." he said, awed, as he
looked down at the body. Fleming,
Nv ali that's sacred! And suicide!'
Hunter watched him grimly.
"How long has he been dead?" ne
asked. ,,,uo+
in the forehead, and from there
to the g-oup arouhu INC
couch. - .h.n
half" he said. cts strange we neard
nothing. across the hall there
Hunter took clean folded hand
rerchief from his pocket and opening
# laid It gently over the dead face. l
th;nI # was a relief to all Of us. The
doctor cot up from his kneeling pos
fire beside the couch and looked at
Hunter inquiringiy.
"What about getting him away from
," he said. There is sure to be
a lot of noise about it.. and-you rem
ember what happened when Butler
killed himself here.
"He was reported as being found
dead in the lumber yard Hunter said
dryly. "Well, Doctor this body stays
where it is, and 1 don't give a whoop
If the whole city government wants it
It won't be. This is murder
not suicide"
"Murder.' he repeated. Why
who
But Hunter had many things to at
teend to: he broke in ruthlessly on the
doctors amazement.
"See If you can get the house empty,
Doctor; just tell them he Is dead-the
story will get out soon enough.
AS the doctor left the room Hunter
80 :. 49, onan window through