Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-23

to some neighboring farmhouse or
store to lay in supply and prob
ably would soon return. Mr.. Crandall
suggested our hiding in the bushes un-
til his arrival, and we did so. We had
hardly taken our place behind the
bushes before we heard him coming.
Mr. Crandall stepped out, and the rest
Is SO mixed up don't know just what
happened. I heard shots and felt a
pain in my arm and thing screamed
and then I don't remember any more
until found you bending over me-"
"To think that it was my bullet hit
you!" I cried IT might have killed
you
tits only the lightest sort of
scratch" she protested. 1T doesn't
even hurt any more. It does not bother
me helf so much as to know how to
tell Katharine that we failed In our
mission"
"Tell her." said I, "that one of the
conspirators Is dead and that the
other Is safe in the hands Of Inspector
Davis and myself. Tell her that any
document either of US finds that In
any way relates to her father will be
placed in her hands at once. Tell her
that I will not leave the prisoners
side until I have 1t safe and that my
honor Is pledged both for Davis and
myself that no word affecting her
father will ever become public. Gran
dali is out there now talking with
Davis, and think you will find that
he, too, will tell her the same thing"
As if in confederation Of my words,
the three Of them, Crandall, Davis and
the constable, returned just at this mo-
ment .
: "Come, Miss Parrish" said Crandall,
IT think it time | was starting home
with you, if you feel able to travel. I
have run the car up just outside the cot.
tage think we can safely leave the
completion of our mission to the in
spector and Mr.. Kent" ..-
IT wish Mr.. Kent was coming back
with u.s." said Louise in sweetly
plaintive tone that made me long to
crafty her wish.
II need him here" said the inspector
almost roughly
"And that comes first for all of us"
she said bravely, as helped her TO
the car. , 20. T.
Whether or not Crandall knew our
relations do not know. but he con-
siderately busted himself with the en-
CINE for few minutes, leaving it to
me to make Louise comfortable with
blankets and cushions on the rear
seat, and enabling us to have few
brief words of parting alone ri y
q I watched the automobile out of
sight and then turned back into the
cottage, where found the constable
stretched on the floor, already fast
asleep. Davis, sitting on the floor be-
fore some smoldering logs that had
been placed in rudely-constructed
open fireplace. seemed wrapped in
thought and did not even look UP when
l entered. Vs..
Nevertheless / seated myself on the
floor beside him and, placing my hand
on his shoulder, said once more:
"And now I want to know all about
it." "
"Shut up" he said, savagely shaking
off my hand Cant you see want to-
Think"
Rebuffed and amazed by his rude
ness, sprang to my feet, only to get
a new surprise as. in tones as cour-
teous as his others had been rude, he
said: IF I were you, Harding, I'd fol-
low the constable's example and try to
get some sleep. You and have hard
day ahead Of us tomorrow"
Seeing that he was in no mood to be
questioned, l smothered back the
many things wanted to ask him and
stretched myself on the floor, not to
sleep, but to ponder. AS reviewed the
amazing events of today. of yesterday,
of the day before 1T seemed as If ages
and ages-grim. nlystifying, terrifying
ages-had passed since that hour
when l left my office light-heartedly
to call on Louise Parrish
. And the morning-the inspector had
said-was to bring hard day for both
of us. H..
What new terror could tomorrow
hold.
CHAPTER XIV.
Thump, thump, thump! a
I had not thought slumber possible
for me, and yet I must have slept.
My bewildered senses, dazed by a sud-
den recall to activity, took subcon-
scious cognizance of a regular, per-
sistent pounding ana eventually sue
ceeded in stirring me to attention.
suddenly sat up and looked about me
I found myself in the deserted cot
tage, the drug slave still motionless
on his couch and the logs still
in the fireplace.
That humping quickly saw
where it came from. Davis was stand
ing over the sleeping form Of Dodds,
the constable, engaged in the work of
awakening him by the park police
mans Misunderstanding him on the
soles of his shoes. ~ rs
The process was successful. The
constable snorted, drew up his legs,
rubbed his eyes and .sprang to bis
feet. r5"a ,..a .
1T will be daylight in half an hour"
I heard Davis tell him. Il want you to
go and get the blackboard and drive
around to where Rouser's body lies.
Bring me any papers you find in his
pockets. Leave his money and his
watch and keys, SO as not to arouse
any suspicion of robbery. AS soon as
you have done that l want you to