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

"You never heard Mr.. Fleming use
them?" persisted.
He looked puzzled.
"Probably," he said. "In the very
nature Of Mr.. Fleming's position, we
used figures all the time. Eleven
twenty-five. That's the time the
theater train leaves the city for Bell
wood. Not what you want, he 2''@l
mot quite" / answered non-commit-
tally and began to wind my watch. he
took the hint and prepared to leave.
"1'll not keep you up any longer,
he said, picking UP his raincoat. He
opened the door and stared ruefully
down at the detective in the hall be-
low. THE old place is queer without
Miss Jane he said irrelevantly.
well, good night, and thanks"
He went heavily along the hall ana
I closed my door. heard him pass
Margery's room and then go back and
rap lightly. She was evidently
awake. IN
"Its Harry" he called. Il thought
you wouldn't worry II you knew | was
in the house tonight"
She asked him something, for
Eyes, he is here" he said. He stood
there for a moment, hesitating over
something, but whatever 1t was, he
decided against 1t.
Good night, dear" he said gently
and went away.
The little familiarity made me
vince. Every unattached man has
the same pang now and then. have
It sometimes when Edith sits on the
arm Of Freds chair, or one OF the
youngsters leaves me to run to
daddy" And one Of the sanest men
I ever met went to his Office and pro-
posed to his stenographer In sheer
craving for domesticity, after watch
ing the wife Of one Of his friends run
her hand over her husbands chin and
give him a reproving slap for not hay
ing shaved!
I pulled myself up sharply and after
taking off my dripping coat, went to
the window and looked out into the
May night. It seemed incredible that
almost the same hour the previous
night little Miss Jane had disappeared,
had been taken bodily away through
the peace Of the warm spring night,
and that I, as wide-awake as was at
that moment, acute enough Of hearing
to detect Wardrop's careful steps on
the gravel walk below, had heard no
struggle, had permitted this thing to
happen without raising finger in the
old lady's defense. And she was gone
as completely as if she had stepped
over some phychic barrier into the
fourth dimension!
| found myself avoiding the more re-
cent occurrence at the White Cat
was still too close to it to have gained
any prospective. On that subject
was able to think clearly of only one
thing: that I would have to tell Marg-
cry in the morning, and that / would
have given anything possessed for a
little of Edith's diplomacy with which
to break the bad news. 1t was Edith
who broke the news to me that the
moths had got into my evening clothes
while was hunting in the Rochies, by
telling me that my dress-coat made
me look narrow across the shoulders
and persuading me to buy new one
and give the old one to Fred. Then
she broke the news of the moths to
Fred!
was ready for bed when Wardrop
came back and raped at my door. He
was still dressed and he had the leath-
er bag in his hand.
Look here" he said excitedly, when
I had closed the door, this is not my
bag at ALL Fool that was. never
examined it carefully"
He held it out to me, and carried it
to the light. 1t was an ordinary
eighteen-inch Russia leather travelling
bag, tan in color, and with gold plated
mountings. 1t was empty, save for the
railroad schedule that still rested in
one side pocket. Wardrop pointed to