Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-18

sure you will manage to get past; and
once past, save for q chance encounter,
the rest will be pretty plain sailing.
My room Is on the second floor, as Ia
Nancy's and Is two doors from the
head Of the stairs and four from hers.
which Is, as you know, at the end OF
the corridor. You go right down and
get her first, and you both can stop for
me on the way back.
III you should run into that Mrs.
Olsen, you had better just choke her,
for she isn't worth saving. OF course,
you know, don't want you to kill her;
only you should take precautions
against her screaming, and 1t wouldn't
hurt any If you put some margins on
them. It won't be much loss to the
world If she isn't able to lie for two or
three days. Seriously. we must do
something about this place when we
are all we'll away from here. / was
having very good time, as you saw.
when I came in, and thought that we
were very clever, and that, for once,
was having an adventure worth the
having, but the woman In the room
next to mine has been sobbing all the
morning, and the fun has worn off
things. l have always had my doubts
about an actual hell, but shan't have
any more. There must be some place
further on, where devils who make
bells on earth can come into their own
at last
Don't kill anybody, John, but don't
be afraid of hurting anybody that tries
- ct1, ~ a tcv them
won't be half what they deserve.
II remain, ever your affectionate
"Aunt Sally"
CHAPTER XIV.
I made but few preparations. First
Of all, / looked up the telegraph Office
and telegraphed my friend the hotel
clerk to mail me the rest of my money,
so that I could get 1t the next day at
my present lodgings. Then wrote
long letter to Mr., Ogilby; and, last
OF all, I bought little pot of phos-
phorus from the local chemist, with
which smeared the face Of the cheap
watch / had bought to replace the one
taken from me in the park. 1t stained
the white cardboard face badly; but
I left it in the sun for an hour, and
was pretty sure 1t would glow suffi-
GENTLY after real darkness had come to
show me the time. About twilight l
started for the sanatorium.
This time left the road as soon as
the sanatorlum was in sight, and,
making long circle across the fields
came to my former hiding place in such
a way that I was pretty sure that ]
was not seen. AS settled myself
down to wait I saw q dim face in the
window I took to be Mrs. Lathrop's,
and could scarcely forbear making
some sort Of signal to her; for In the
gathering dusk the hideous old build
Ing seemed more forbidding than ever,
and Mrs. Lathrop's courage and unset
,fishness came over me in new real1za-
ton. would have given a good deal
to have told her that I was there. to
have lent some reinsurance and re-
lieye in a measure the anxiety, that
now realized for the first time, she
could not help but feel. But, of course
I dared make no sign, and only crouch
ed the closer In my ambush.
It was getting very dark indeed. and
already one or two windows had been
lighted and the curtains drawn, and
was watching for fash in the corner
room that might give me glimpse OF
Nancy. when some slight sound or
prescience made me turn my head. !
looked up to see the dim figure OF
man, figure that had already LETT the
road, and that was making steadily
and stealthily for the clump OF bushes
behind which lay concealed Natur.
ally my first thought was that had
been seen, and that this was one OF
the watchmen who came to put the
matter beyond any further doubt by
Investigating my hiding-plaoe.
Still crouching, got my feet under
me. that l might be ready for what
ever should chance. Perhaps, after all
this was not the Waterman but some
farmer taking familiar cut across
lots or a tramp in search OF COM
Portable hay-mow; SO that as he came
nearer, I moved slightly so as to keep
the clump OF bushes between us. To
nv surprise the man came directly to
the spot where had lain, and without
further search settled himself In the
hollow Of crushed grass that must still
have been warm from my body. Either
he was not the Waterman or, II he was,
he had discovered me, or some signs
Of me, on the night before, and now
was waiting until should come. l
flattened myself down on my side OF
the bushes, for heard a twig snap
under his hand, and saw the branches
stir. This man, too, was watching
either the road or the sanatonum.
It is strange thing to lie In the
dark within a few feet Of another hui
man being, who does not realize your
presence, being whose every thought
is, for all you know, to await your
coming and do you injury. Strange
little pricking fires ran over me. wave
after wave, and my tense muscles
twitched, as have seen the muscles
Of a dog as he stood tense at some I'M
known sound; and found that. al
thou oh I was not afraid, was flercely