Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-27
YELLOW LETTER
A Fascinating Mystery Story
ByWlLLIAM JOHNSTON
COPYRIGHT .sll-rre eoeBs- MERRILL co.
CHAPTER |.

CHAPTER /.
They say that coming events cast
their shadows before, but certainly
had no intimation when left my
office on the afternoon of April IL, or
the maelstrom Of mystery and ira
gedy into which was about to plunge.
] was worried and anxious, it Is true,
but only as every young man Is VINO
finds himself for the first time deeply
in love. There was no portent of evil,
no foreshadowing of the terrible chain
of events that all but destroyed my
belief in my fellow man, and left its
mark so deep upon my memory that
I do not believe time ever can wholly
efface it.
Even now that 1t is all ended, and
the shadow which hung 50 heavily
over the household Of my sweetheart
has been dispelled and the fiend
whose devilish ingenuity brought
shame and grief and wreck to SO
many innocent lives rs paying the
penalty behind prison bars even
now I shhdder at the sight OF any
thing yellow. A scrap of yellow paper
wildly recalls-and fear always Will
recall-the painful events OF the last
few weeks.
had been waiting ever sinct my re-
turn from court for telephone mes.
sage that had not come-the Word
from Louise which felt would de-
eide my fate. / had written to her the
night before, asking If ! might go 10
her in the afternoon to speak on
subject of Importance. I knew she
would understand the object OF my
letter, though all that had asked was
that she would telephone me earlier
than four whether she would be at
home.
From my window l had watched the
great hand on the Metropolitan tower:
clock creep slowly to twelve. AS the
chimes began to sing the hour OF four
7 felt that I could bear the suspense
no longer. Message or no message. !
would go to her at once BEFORE Tug
vibrant note Of "On-n-n-n-e" mad dleo
away I closed my desk with a pang.
AS the fourth stroke reverberated
stood with hat and overcoat on, my
hand on the knob of my office door,
hoping yet to hear my telephone ring.
waited a minute ana
then dashed toward the elevator Inc
telephone, learned afterward, rang
almost the minute was out OF the
room and Louise's voice calieo
frantically for me, but was not there
to hear. 4 #r M %
It was only a short walk up Madison
avenue to the home Of General Far
IRISH, the father of Louise. With the
doubt that possesses every lover on
such a mission as this, walked IT,
now laggardly, as misgivings filled my
heart. now quickening my pace as
hope routed my fears. AS turned the
corner into the street where the Far
IRISH home is situated my steps were
leaden. What right had to ask Louise
Parrish to be my wife? The daughter
of man worth many millions, a girl
of exquisite beauty and OF many &C
complishments, one who could choose
a husband where she willed- What
right had I to hope that she would
ever consent to become the wife OF a
struggling young lawyer such as !?
To be sure my family was OF the
best With my earnings and the
modest little fortune my father had
left me / would be able to provide for
her. But as yet, though my prospects,
were bright, I amounted to nothing
in my profession. It would be years
before could hope to give my wife
the luxurles to which Louise Parrish
had been accustomed.
On the other hand, felt that with
Louise as my wife could do great
things. I loved her with a great love.
I felt that her affection and COM
panionship would be inspiration
enough for any man to conquer the
world. hoped that she loved me.
recalled the many trifles which
seemed to show, at least, that she
found pleasure in my society. tried
to comfort myself too. by remember
ing that General Parrish was self
made man, that when he married he
was as poor as I. if not poorer. knew
that he liked me and had confidence
in me- Was it then. after all, 1
asked myself, presuming in me to
hope that Louise would listen TO me
and that her father would consent to
her becoming my wife-yet, why had
she not telephoned?
AS dragged my hesitating feet
across the street I was aroused from
my reverie by the rush Of an automo-
bile that all but knocked me over.
With an angry imprecation at such
reckless driving I glanced up and
recognized the man who occupied It,.
He was standing beside his chauffeur
as If ready to leap out. It was Doctor
Wilcox, a noted practitioner who at
tended the Parrish family, and whom
j had met at their house. ] plunged
forward in anxious dismay as i saw
the machine halt before the Parrish
door and the doctor jump out and run
up the steps.
MY first. my only thought, was Of
Louise. What could have happened?
She must be ill-desperately Ill, as
the doctors haste suggested. Did not
this explain her failure to telephone?
Could 1t be that she was dead? What
thoughts flashed through my mind l
f,,r 7 nj