Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-30

III 81 SECONDS, ana leaves Inc pcIlOIul
condition. The most versatile band In
range Of two notes and leaps from one
ton. When brass band graduates
and begins to mingle with Rossinl, Me
acrobats, It is called an orchestra an
ence with all Of the most popular dimi
been sprayed with the labored utteran
were not thought much Of while they
silver cornet band and its ragtime rem
heart out. don't want to talk about
that part of 1t; It makes me shudder.
to think OF 1t. II made any protest
Ephraim kept me quiet with threats
of what he would do to Nancy.
II might have been there yet. for
all know, IL 1t hadn't been for that
rascally son OF his. Under one OF
Ephraim's threats signed q paper
which I have since thought was my
will, and, for time, lived In mortal
terror lest my brother should make
away with me altogether. Then. by
great good fortune, he was called away
for q day or 30, and his son, who was
always hard up, came in to see me.
"Erskine needed a good deal of
money. and he needed 1t right away;
80 that was able to make terms with
him. He had come prepared, with a
fountain-pen and check-book, but this
was my opportunity, anu for once
stood fast. deaf to any threat that he
might make. agreed to let him have
twice the amount he wanted on one
condition, and one condition only. My
condition, naturally, was my freedom.
He was afraid to do 1t at first, sorely
as he needed the money, but despera-
ton and his natural criminal bent
finally suggested way that was salts
factory and fairly safe for both Of us.
"He had at one time half completed
a course in some medical college and
still retained one or two friends
among the more interruptions men,
bers of his class. Through one of them
he obtained body, and with 1t GER
tificate that had died of an infectious
disease; so that was out Of the house,
and my funeral over, before his faith
er's return. It was q beautiful plan;
for It left me free to 30 where liked
as long as kept the secret Of my
identity, and think that until my
brother went to the bank the other day
with his papers as executor, and found
that l, in the flesh, had withdrawn all
my funds. he never suspected anything.
l hadn't been dead much more than q
week when met you in that cafe,
Mason. and took you up to my rooms,
where you gave me news Of Nancy.
You almost killed me with 1t, but ]
think I managed to hide 1t. AS 1t all
turned out, my dear" he said to
| Nancy, II could not be better pleased,
but shall never get over being
ashamed of myself. ought OF course
to have got you right away from my
brother. but could think of no harm
that could come to you, and put It
off little. 1t was dreadful and
cowardly thing to do.
| t"I don't know whether you can I'M
derstand it. child, but hope you can.
1t Is many years since / have been a
man Of action. and am afraid my
moral courage suffered sadly. Long
years of absolute confinement made
me timid as well as weak. was free.
and dared not face Ephraim. l
steps, which should secure freedom for
dare. had been told was insane for
so long, that I had come, myself, to
mistrust my mental balance. What,
L
| they were able to lock me up again
It takes some little time for man to
get back his courage. spent my first
week OF freedom buying everything l
saw in the shops. 1t was childish of
ing it. Everything you saw In that
room, Mason, was brand new. l had a
revel Of buying"
/ o~ua Maze, o~ae< 1.,,~ 0~A
chuckled.
But the beautiful part Of 1t was the
suggestion Of the whole affair. Erskine
had seen how easy 1t was to shut some
one up and say that he was insane.
l. am sorry 1t suggested his way Of
kidnapping you, daughter dear; but
you have found greater love and hap
piness through It and 1t has all come
out all right You and Mason will be
the closer for 1t all your lives. But
the joke Of 1t all, the beautiful joke
OF 1t all. 10 that he tried 1t success
fully on his own father; that he gave
him taste of what suffered 30 many
! years. l could almost forgive him his
/ other misdeeds for that"
| But whore are they now, father and
SOM" asked.
1
well. said Jared Bond, Il had
proof Of their rascality, evidence
enough to send them both to jail. some
OF which you gave me, Mason, 30 that,
as soon as got back to New York,
put detectives on them. In spite Of
their quarrel their mutual apprehen.
sion drew them together. My brother
Ephraim, although he waited for my
4 fL..Sl
nevertheless, In the last five years
amassed quite tidy fortune: and
three days ago he and his precious son
set sail for parts unknown where. l
think, they will have the sense to re.
/ main"
.I wonder if they took the boat with
Doctor Mayhem / said.
II hope so," said Nancy's father;
| CASTORlA fslnt,nh nd carAn.