Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-14

reasons for my success was that
never undertake anything that can
not accomplish. came out here to
find the man who has been using the
mails illegally to terroriZe people to
such an extent that they are driven to.
suicide I am confident that we will
quickly locate him and his accomplice
in crime. Rest assured that you can
safely leave the plan Of action to me-"
'But-but," l stamm cred, what Is
your plan of action? What are going
to do now?"
I'm going to bed" he replied, yawn.
ing as he rose from his chair. There's
nothing more that can be done to-
night 1850. ..- M.M
Impatient as I was, and anxious
though l was 10 alleviate Louise's
at the earliest moment possible, I
could not but feel that he was right.
There was nothing that could be done
that night. showed him where the
room was I had engaged for him-next
to mine-and, feeling much depressed
and preplexed, was preparing to turn
in when was startled by sharp rap
on my door.
"Come in" I called, thinking of
course. it was Davis with some new
theory to suggest. g.,
Instead it was the clerk from the
Office below.
you're wanted on the telephone"
he said. ~
had already taken off my coat and
waistcoat and did not wait to put
them on. Just as was sped through
the hall to the telephone booth. Who
could it be that was calling me at this
hour? It must be long after ten. l
could think of only two persons who
knew of my being in this hotel, Louise
and Hugh Crandall. felt that it
must be Louise Why should Crandall
call me up? True, he could have
learned my name from the hotel reg
lister, and from my question about the
yellow letter he must know that l was
on his trail, but having escaped from
the village, why should De communi-
cate with me? No, it could not be he.
1t must be Louise. She would not
call me at this time unless something
had happened. That was it. Some
thing terrible had happened Kath-
arine was dead, or perhaps her father.
Perhaps both of them. Or maybe
Katharine had spoken again. Perhaps
she had given some information that
Louise felt would aid me in the inyes-
tlgation that meant SO much for both
of us.
Isn't strange how fast we can think ?
I could not have taken me more than
thirty seconds to race from room to
the telephone booth in the hall below,
yet in that brief period all these
thoughts and hundred other queries
and fears pursued each other in mad
tlmult through my brain.
Breathlessly I rushed into the both
and grabbed the receiver. 1t was
the voice of Louise that heard. Faint
though it was, recognized it at once,
and was overjoyed to note that there
was nothing in it of the sadness there
would have been If the worst had
come to her father or Katharine.
rs that you, Mr.. Kent?" she asked.
Eyes, yes" l cried. What Is it,"
This is Louise Parrish speaking. l
want you to promise me that you will
drop your investigation at once and re-
turn to the city"
Whats that?" cried, not believing
my ears. .u. :.
IF you love me'-she was speaking
slowly and enunciating with labored
distinctness that there might be no
mistake-"you will drop all investiga,
tion at once without any questions. 30
you hear me? Repeat what l have
said 50 can be sure. you understand"
Word for word I repeated her mes
sage, amazed beyond thought at its
import. AS I finished repeating it
cried, "Why, tell me why" but
heard the thud of the broken connec-
tion
Frantically called central. plead
ed, urged, demanded that she get the
person at the other end of the wire
again. It was no use. 1 called for the
Farrishs' number. Central reported,
Don't answer" said that 1 had
been called just now from there. After
weary, impatient minutes of waiting
and wrangling, she told me the call
had come from another number, from
a pay station. / demanded that num-
Der at once and she finally got it for
me. 1t was a drug store near the Far
hish home The druggists clerk said
that the young lady who had been
telephoning had left the store. l
tried to get him to send messenger
around to the Farrishs' to ask Miss
Louise Parrish to come to the tele-
phone. He refused. 1t was useless.
/ was forced to give it up.
I emerged from the telephone booth
perspiring, frantic, puzzled beyond
measure at the sudden startling turn
in affairs.
What could have induced Louise to
send me such message? What could
have happened?
j.. CHAPTER TX.
I was up with the dawn the next
morning and down stairs to find a
train schedule. The only thought in
my mind was that must go to Louise
at once l could not understand her
sudden amazing change of front. Why,
after pledging me to solve the mys-
terry, should she all at once be as in
sistent that I should Immediately stop
all inquiry? I had lain awake the
whole night, bordering the situation
and seeking a solution. What reason
could she have? Who could have in.
fuenced her to such action?
rba 6rsf train found loft two