Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-20

him. They usually arrest everybody
In sight when one person has got
away and they don't know quite what
the trouble u.s."
Mr.. Tabor nodded. Eyes, they
doubtless have him safe behind the
bars by now; but don't think that
will hurt US any. Personally, can
imagine no place where should rath-
or have him, unless 1t were far upon
or under the deep blue sea-"
"But, father dear, that Is terrible.
If they have him in Jail, he will have
to talk, and he will be blamed for that
poor wrecked room and everything.
He'll have to give some explanation TO
save himself; and he must know that
we are the only people that would
be likely to come for Sheila In an auto
mobile"
THE Italian, my dear, is not that
breed OF man. We may be very glad
for once that he Is an Italian. There
Is only about one thing in the world
that man Of his race and class won't
do--and that is talk to the police. It Is
part of his faith not to. He will either
invent some all-enfolding lie that tells
-.othing whatsoever or else he will
not say word
"But he must have struck her with
something" said Lady. Suppose they
should find that. father. He'd have to
tell them to save himself"
l slipped my hand into my pocket.
Il don't think they will find it." said
I, and showed the thing above the
table, Lady shuddered, and quickly
ro$,,rno6 ~ m NV nnNknf
! Just what you would expect" said
Mr.. Tabor, land If you had left it, am
afraid Carucci would have had some
difficulty in explaining things. A mar
linespike, isn't it? Poor Sheila was
really very fortunate that he didn't
stab her with the sharp end. stab
would have been more In his line
the beast. AS it Is, I don't believe
the police will ever find out any OF
the truth of the matter"
"Well, even II they do said I, 1T
won't do any great amount Of harm.
They might arrest me for speeding.
but that would be about all. No one
in his senses would be likely to &C.
cuse us OF murder.
my good young man." Mr.. Tabor an
swered, they absolutely mustn't
dream that we had any hand In 1t at
all. They mustn't ever hear OF US.
And neither must anybody else"
Lady sighed YEARLY. I'm sure that
1t will be all right, father" she said.
"The chauffeur will be quiet for the
sake Of his own character" added.
He's as anxious to avoid any connec-
ton with 1t as we are And as for
me, sir, you may be sure that nothing
shall leak out through any indiscretion
Of mine
Mr.. Tabor pushed aside his finger
bowl. II understand that, Mr.. Crosby
and appreciate how uncomfortable
1t must be for, you to act IN the dark.
Believe me, regret very much the
necessity for 1t, and appreciate your
generosity" ''te
Lady was looking at US, and l color
ed. I'm very much at your service,
Mr.. Tabor,"I said.
"You may perhaps wonder what this
italian has to do with us at all. That,
at least can tell yon.. He was q
sailor on one of my ships In years
past, and when the girls we're
He paused. when Lady was little
girl. you understand, we took quite
q voyage for Mrs. Tabor's health
Sheila was Lady's nurse-and q very
pretty slip OF an Irish lass she was.
Naturally we took her along, and the
rest Is one of those WITNESSES OF fate
that you can never explain. This
Carlcci fell in love with her; what
attracted her was more than any one
Of us could imagine, but at: any rate
she married him. Married him as
soon as we got back to New York.
Well, after that things gradually went
wrong. The man got a taste for drink.
which, is unusual-the Italians aren't
drunken people-and although
kept him on against my captains ad-
vice for Sheilas sake. in the end had
to let him go. From time to time,
when there has been trouble, we have
taken Sheila into our family to give
the poor woman some protection
though her loyalty makes it pretty
hard to do much for her. Carucci,
however, resents our interference, and
pretends that we force her from him
He is becoming troublesome"
Mr. Tabor had lighted a cigar, puff,
fing it slowly throughout his story. He
idlNSu NCly CuCJly oAAA "sAO NoAANAAAS>A
Of myself for wondering whether he
was telling all the truth. Perhaps my
encounter with him had made me sus
picious, but l could not forget that
Doctor Reid had given Carucci money.
felt uncomfortable; and with the
mental discomfort, realized that
had been through sleepless and vic.
lent night, and that was very tired.
must have shown some shadow OF
this sudden WEAKNESS, for Lady rose
from her chair decidedly and stretched
out her hand.
Nov you must go back to your
room and get some sleep, Mr.. Crosby.
You can come back this evening ii
you like-we should have the evening
papers by then, and we shall see how
much notice has been taken Of u.s."
"Oh. I'm all right" 1 protested.
"Ycu are tired out" said Lady, Il
know. I'm tired myself, and Il" she
stopped, flushing.
Her father was looking at us with a
half frown, and it was to him that
turned. well, then, I'm off," said 1
"'but I'll be back to help you dissect
the associated press"
had not thought that could sleep