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

had been emptied! It's no wonder
question my sanity?"
"And then-tonight?" the chief per-
sisted.
Tonight, I felt that some one would
have to look after Mr.. Fleming; was
afraid he would kill himself. 1t was
bad time to leave while Miss Jane
was missing. But-when got to the
White Cat found him dead. He was
sitting with his back to the door, ana
his head on the table,"
"Was the revolver in his hand!'
eyes,"
"You are sure . from Hunter.
isn't it fact, Mr.. Wardrop, that you
took Mr.. Fleming's revolver from MIN
this morning when he threatened you
with it,"
Wardrop's face twitched nervously.
"You have been misinformed," ne re-
piled, but no one was impressed by MS
tone. It was wavering, uncertalns
From Hunters face l judged 1t had
been random shot, and had landed
unexceptedly.
How many people knew that MT
Fleming had been hiding at the White
Cat?" from the chief.
. very few-besides myself, only
man who looks after the club house IN
the mornings, and Clarkson, the cash
Ter Of the Borough bank, who met him
there once by appointment"
The chief made no comment.
s'Now, Mr.. Knox. what about you?'
IT opened the door into. Mr.. Elem
ings room, perhaps couple OF min
utes after Mr.. Wardrop went out" !
said. "He was dead then, leaning on
his outspread arms over the table;
he had been shot In the forehead"
"You heard no shot while you were
in the hall?"
There was considerable noise;
heard two or three sharp reports like
the explosions of an automobile en-
CINE"
did they seem close at hand?"
"Not particularly; thought, II
thought at all, that they We're on the
street"
"You are right about the automo-
bile" Hunter said dryly. THE mayor
sent. his car away as 1 left to follow
Mr.. Wardrop. The sounds you heard
were not Shots"
1T is strange thing" the chief re-
fected, chat revolver could be fired
in the upper room of an ordinary
dwelling house, while that house was
filled with people-and nobody hear 1t.
Were there any power marks on the
body?"
None Hunter said.
The chief got up stiffly.
THANK you very much, gentlemen,
he spoke quietly. II think that is all.
Hunter, would like to see you for a
few minutes
think Wardrop was dazed at find
ing himself free; he had expected
nothing less than an immediate charge
Of murder. AS we walked to the cor
ner for car or cab, whichever mater
ialized first, he looked back.
II thought So" he said bitterly. A
man was lettering after us along the
street. The police were not asleep,
they had only closed one eye.
~ The last train had gone. We took
q night electric car to Wynton, and
walked the three miles to Bellwood
Neither OF us was tai kative, and Linn
agine we were both thinking Of Mar
gerry, and the news should would have
to hear. ~
1t had been raining, and the roads
were vile. Once WARDROBE turned
around to where we could hear the de-
tective splashing along, we'll behind.
II hope he's enjoying it," he said.
II brought you by this road, so he'd
have to wade in mud up to his neck"
1.-The devil you did" | exclaimed.
"I'll have to scraped with knife be-
fore I can get my clothes off,
We both felt better for the laugh;
it was a sort Of nervous reaction. The
detective was we'll behind, but after a
while Wardrop stood still, while l
plowed along. They came up together
presently, and the three of us trudged
on, talking Of immaterial things.
At the door Wardrop turned to the
detective with a faint smile. tits
raining again." he said, you'd better
come in. You needn't worry about
me; I'm not going to run away, and
there's a couch in the library
The detective grinned. and in the
light from the hall recognized the
man I had followed to the police sta
ton two nights before.
II guess l will" he said, looking
apologetically at his muddy clothes.
"This thing is only mater of form,
anyhow" IS
But he didn't lie down on the
couch. He took chair in the hall
near the foot Of the stairs, and we
left him there, with the evening paper
and lamp. It was queer situation,
to say the least.
CHAPTER X.
Wardrop looked SO wretched that l
asked him into my room, and mixed
him some whisky and water. When
l had given him a cigar he began to
look little less hopeless.
you've been darned sight better
to me than would have been to you,
under the circumstances" he said
gratefully.
II thought we would better arrange
about Miss Margery before we try to
settle down." / replied. What she
has gone through in the last twenty
four hours is nothing to what is COM
ing tomorrow. Will you tell her about
her father?"
He took turn about the room.
II believe it would come better from
you," he said finally. II am in the
peculiar position Of having been sus-
pected by her father Of robbing him,