Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-05

presence. AS soon as he had left us,
with the memories Of the evening be-
fore glowing in my mind, turned to
embrace her.
Don't, please dont!" she said
coldly.
"Why, dearest!" stammered in
amazement.
She offered no explanation but said
in, the most matter.of.fact tones-too
matter-of-fact to be natural, thought
-"Tell me, Mr.. Kent, what you
learned at the place where Mr.. Elser
lived"
was dumfounded. What had come
over her? What could have happened
to make this sudden change in her at
titude toward me? Could this cool, dis
tant young woman be the same girl
who only a few hours before had chung
80 desperately to me and had wept
overnight forgotten the kiss with
which we pledged our Joint efforts to
solve the mystery?
"Tell me, Mr.. Kent" she persisted
quietly, sis there yellow letter in
that case, too? Do you believe there
can be any connection between Mr..
Elser and-and what Katharine did,"
Greatly perturbed, yet trying to con-
vince myself that her attitude was
only girls natural reaction as she
|recollected the events of the evening
before, was just beginning to re-
hearse what little we had learned in
the clearinghouse when Davis came
running down the stairs.
TELL me- he said abruptly to
Louise. what color are Mr.. Crandall's
eyes?"
"Blue," said Louise, "gray-blue."
Humph!"
I could see she was as much puz-
zled at his question as had been, but
he offered no explanation and made
no comment.
"Was Crandall left-handed?" he
snapped.
II don't think So" said Louise after
a minutes thought. II never noticed
that he was"
"Humph!" he repeated, his eyes row.
ing about the room. take me in to
see General Parrish" ."
The young doctor whom Doctor VIII
cox had left in charge happened to be
passing through the hail. and stopped
as he heard the request.
ut can do no HARM he said, in
reply to Louise's look of inquiry
The -four of us--the doctor. Davis.
Louise and myself in the order
named. tiptoed into the generals
room. was prepared for great
change in him, but his appearance, was
really terrifying. Perceptibly thinner,
aged as by many years. all shriveled
and shrunken, he lay chained to his
bed by affliction, unable to lift leg
or arm. his lips fallen ncrvelessly
apart. his tongue lo1ling Nncon-
trollably-dead, dead, dead save his
eyes.
AS Louise and approached tho bel
side it appeared to me that lie recog-
nized us both and could detect the
same pleading look I had noted the
night before. He seemed to be strug-
Cling with his deadened senses to nsk
us something. While did not know
whether or not his hearing had been
impaired I thought he might be wor-
rying about Katharine's condition, and
carefully and slowly began to enun-
ciate something about her, hoping that
had guessed what 1t was he wished
to ask But even as spoke saw
his eyes had LETT my face. Into them
returned the same acute terror he had
exhibited at the sight Of the yellow
letter. If those eyes could have spoken
their shrieks would have filled the
room. | followed the direction Of their
glance He was staring in terror at
the one strange face in the room
| the inspectors.
Seeing how much his presence dis
turbed the invalid, Davis turned
quickly and left the room. Louise and
followed, leaving only the doctor and
nurse.
.I wonder what made him look so?"
breathed Louise.
"He's afraid of something-or some
one?' said, hurrying to overtake
Davis, hoping to learn from him his
opinion as to what caused the pa
tents fears.
II was right. It's just as I thought"
II heard him mutter as he fastened to
the hall and reached for his hat and
coat. I saw that he. was making prep
arations for instant departure and |
was in quandry what to do. felt
it my duty to accompany my friend,
for from his manner was convinced
that he was on the track Of the mys-
terry. Yet I did not wish to leave
Louise until had gained some ex-
PLANTATION of the barrier that she
seemed to have raised between us. l
was conscious Of no way In which l
could have offended her, yet there was
marked difference in her attitude
toward me overnight. While was
still debating the question and Davis
had all but reached the door, seem
ing1y Indifferent to whether or not
] accompanied him, a nurse came rum
ming to Louise.
"Miss Parrish she said, II think
your sister is recovering conscious
ness. thought you would like to know
1t and to be at her side in case she
speaks"
Though Davis was some distance
away his acute ear must have caught
her words. He turned and was up the
stairs in flash. Louise convulsively
caught my hand. The barrier between
Jus was swept away. know then it
WAS only fear that she had been for