Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-22
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Copyright. 1911, The BIOL
in flash and started for the door
Lady following. I had risen, too
startled at, the tense faces Of the rest
Don't you come, father DEAR" she
said, turning for an instant in the
doorway. Its probably only fol
sheila. Well call if we need you
heard their careful footsteps on the
stairs"
Mr.. Tabor had settled back into his
chair, the paper lying on his knee, his
head forward, and the muscles of his
neck rigid with listening. Somehow
in the sharp sidelong light he looked
much older Than had seen him: more
conQuerable, more marked by time arid
trial; and with the listless lands and
deep eyes of hts nights unrest went 8
strange look of being physically light
er and less virile than the formidable
old man I had begun to know. And
as the noiseless, minutes went by
grew presumptuously sorry for him.
with an evident effort and turned tC
me with his careful smile.
"A family man gets very fussy Mr.
Crosby" he said. "You learn sc
many things outside yourself to- worry
about"
Hadn't better. go and leave you all
free?" asked. tits getting time
anyway"
Il wish you'd stay" he growled. its
easier to wait when there are two"
sat down again and tried to talk
but neither Of US could keep any
movement in the conversation. We
fell into long silences, through which
the weight OF the silent anxiety above
pressed down like a palpable thing.
At last Lady's voice called softly, and
we rose.
Don't sell Inc anything.''I said, as
Il opened the front door, .but If can
he of any earthly us, will"
THANK you, Mr. Crosby" he an
swered, shaking my hand slowly, II
know that
CHAPTER XII.
! Sheila herself opened the door for
me.
You're Mr.. Crosby, l suppose" she
said, with that elusive Renaissance
Of a, brogue that may not be put into
words. Sure, I'm obliged to you. An
awful weight must have been"
"You were no feather 1 grinned.
Where is Miss Tabor?"
"She's in the library, sir, with a
young gentleman. There's letter
here for you sir?" She pointed to a
mail-strewn table near the door,. Sure
enough there was one-from Bob Aims
lie. I judged by the scrawled address.
. A young gentleman in the library
who on earth could he be, and what
did the fellow want?
:I've been, three days finding you,
you see," he was saying, but guess
there's no doubt I've got you right.
Now. l don't want to make any
trouble"
The. rest Of the sentence was too
low to hear. l had been ripping alb
sently at the letter, and now glanced
down at 1t. Then I stared with
startled eyes and turned over the en-
'velop to re-read the address. It was
a dirty envelop, of the same shape as
my own which still lay upon the table
and addressed not to me, but to Mr..
Tabor. ] carefully replaced the single
sheet and as carefully slowed the
whole in an inner pocket. It seemed a
matter for Mr.. Tabor's eyes alone.
Lady's voice came clearly through
the curtained door. thought it sound
ed a little strained.
Mr.. Maclean, don't see why you
should come to me at all about this
matter. II we have dark green
automobile, so have ten thousand peo-
pie. And your story of millionaire
kidnappers on an Grand of violence is
hardly the kind Of thing-if this is a
joke, it seems to me in very poor
taste"
1T won't quite do, Miss Tabor" the
man answered. 'Tisn't joke, and
maybe the best thing you can do is to
be frank with me-
what am I to be frank about? You
see, Mr.. Maclean, the last man that
came in to talk frankly wanted to sell
us silver polish. Excuse me, but you
have really nothing to sell, have
your
He laughed humorously embarrassed.
"Why, no. At least, don't want to
sell you anythin'. Don't you some
times call yourself Lady,"
"Mr. Maclean!
II only mean," he hurried on, "that
l found your telegram on the floor.
Coming for you in the car you said.
Honestly, don't you think we're wastin'
timer
Lady gave little cry, and with two
strides 1 was at the door and had
1erked aside the curtain. eff this fell
low is annoying you" began.
use it from distance, because 1t min
imizes his personal danger, because it
Is safer and surer weapon.
S1,n ,rl1 he 1no1