Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-29

fully it seemed to me.
why not?" ! demanded sharply.
"What do you meRn?"
My manner was not without It's
effect.
Hes gone away" the man ex-
planned little more respectfully.
"Gone!" l exclaimed, Here was
! new mystery, or perhaps the explana-
ton of the first one. 1t may have been
his departure that had depressed
Katharine SO.
where has he gone? When did he
go? How long will he be away?" |
volleyed.
Exasperatingly he delayed his reply.
i At last it seemed to occur to him that
l was not making these inquiries
| purely for his amusement. Somewhat
more politely than at first, he
answered: "Only an hour or two ago
about 3 o'clock it was--he came rush
Ing down into my room with his keys
In his hand. Mike says he, Tn go
ing away tonight, I may be gone
week and may be gone month. ]
don't know how long. Here are my
keys and don't let nobody into my
rooms while I'm away. on any pre-
text whatever And wild that he wah
into taxicab and off before could
be saying my thanks for the bill he
left in my hand"
Crandall suddenly gone, Katharine
dying by her own hand, General Far
IRISH stricken, all within two hours. I
knew now there must be some con-
nection between these events More
than ever l was anxious to find Gran
| do ~ r f1Ik No.
told me all he knew. could see In
knowledge Of the shadow descending
on the Parrish home. Surely his flight
was confession
There was nothing to be gained by
further questioning of the janitor.
From the manner of Crandall's de-
Iparture it would be useless to look for
him at either of the clubs to which
he belonged. might try to trace him
through the taxicab, which he had
probably called from the University
club nearby, but that could walt until
! later. Just now felt it my duty to
hasten back to Louise and tell her OF
this new development.
AS I turned from the door news
boy with an armful of evening
extras" thrust one at me. Impatiently
I waved him away
"All about the suicide" he bawled
as he darted off after another passer-
BY
Quickly pursued him and fairly
snatched one Of his papers from him.
Had the reporters, after all, learned
of the tragedy in the Parrish home?
1 Doctor Wilcox and had discussed the
matter of notifying the police and the
coroner We both felt that it would
be wiser not to communicate with
them, for such a course would In
Eevitably bring publicity.
There was enough agony In the Far.
IRISH home without having this sor
rowful secret blazoned to a curious
world in three-inch type, without hav
ing a horde of reporters and camera
! men constantly surrounding the
house. Besides, if Katharine recOv
cred, sooner or later she would bt
sure to learn what the papers had
said. The knowledge that her foolish
crime against herself had been thur,
sensationally proclaimed would be /
! blow from which the sensitive girl
hitherto jealously shielded--woulo
never recover. If she did not recover
Doctor Wilcox and were trusting X
chance to find way of explaining he.
death. The servants-all OF then
trustworthy and long in service--hat
/ been cautioned not to talk to any one
l'ahout the afternoons events. The
doctors aides and nurses, Of course
had been silent That Is part of theli
business. How, then. had the papers
obtained the news SO quickly?I could
think of but one possible way More
than likely some telephone girl who
had heard Louise calling Doctor Will
cox had given it to the press. Even
in the half darkness of the middle
hlock where / stood could read the
word "S-U-I-C-ID.E" stretched across
4 the page in letters Of red. fastened
to the corner where the double globes
shed down brilliant light, anxious.
yet dreading to read what the paper
said. At the first glance breathed
sigh of relief. The article was not
about Katharine Parrish. ! had not
thought Of the possibility OF there hav-
ing been another suicide that day, but
there it was:
MYSTERY IN sELF-MURDER OF
AGED LAWYER.
| Ordinarily I pay little attention to
stories of crime. But the afternoon
had given me new and bitter appre-
citation Of the meaning Of suicide.
Standing there under the light of
Fifth avenue corner read the hastily
written article word by word.
/ Ito Be Continued.)
A "TAFT COURT"
i Louisville Courier Journal. - The
! good record of President Taft as an
annninter IF reuhere. NJ tho ounrorro