Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-19
CHAPTER XII.

Not since my early boyhood has the
terrible fear of darkness come over ma
as it did that night at eight as the
three of us set out from Ardway. Tha
mystery of the journey, too, added to
it's terrors, I had not seen Davis At
| ter his startling announcement Of his
nocturnal mission until he came into
the hotel dining room for supper. AL
through the meal he had laughed and
chatted on all sorts Of immaterial sub.
jects, influenced Undoubtedly BY tho
fact that there were several others
seated at the table with us. There
had been no opportunity for private
conversation between US before We
left the hotel together little before
eight for side street where Dodds.
the constable, was waiting for 10
with vehicle.
We had fingered at the, table until
all the others had felt. Just as We got
up, Davis turned to me and in q hard
ly preceptible tone asked:
"Have you got that revolver gave
your"
TITS upstairs" answered In tho
same undertone. do you want it2"
mo-" he said significantly, touch
ing his hip pocket, "but you may"
fastened upstairs to get the weo-
pom and when returned he was wait
ing for me at the door and hurried
me around the corner and Into the
blackboard With poddsf crowded in
between us we drove along that street
leading away from the station and
soon struck what Is locally known %
the Plank road, skirting chain Of.
hills which the residents dignity by
the name of mountains. So precipit-
GUS and rocky are these that little eff
fort had been made to cultivate them
and the habitations are few and far
between. There seemed to be prse.
tically no travel at night. We en-.
countered only one vehicle Of any sort,
and that was about two miles out
from Ardway, when we heard IN anto.
mobile in the distance behind u"
"Turn out" whispered Davis to
Dodds, 'tand stop until 1t has passed
U.s."
The constable drew In under the
shade Of some trees. It was pitch
Edark, the only light coming from an
ancient lantern hung over the dash
board. AS the automobile came near
er Davis unlocked the lantern and
holding it down between his legs
shielded it with the folds OF long
raincoat be was wearing. The auto.
mobile dashed by us, apparently un-
aware Of our presence.
"All right" said Davis, as soon -
it had vanished In the distance, Ego
on"
Dodds drove on in silence for Per.
haps two miles farther. We passed .
little stone cottage nesting IN clear.
ing under the hill.
It's just beyond here?s said Davis,
a note Of inquiry in his voice.
"Yep," said the constable, "Mil1ers
lane, they call it,
Though to my city eyes there was
no sign Of road, Dodds, about three
hundred yards beyond the cottage.
pulled the horse sharply to the right
and we began ascending q rocky lane
that led almost straight up the hill
"Wait minute" said Davis, and the
constable checked his horse.
Jumping out quickly the inspector
seized the lantern and dropping back
a few, PAGES began making what Ap-
peared to be a minute examination Of
the road
"'Taint much of road" the con-
stable whispered to me while we wait-
ed 'It's only used for logging, though
when we come up here this after
noon there was automobile tracks both
going and coming"
amy idea who made them? ?" asked.
"Nope, but guess he knows" with
a. gesture in the direction of the LAM
tern light.
Just then Davis rejoined us, hanging
the lantern over the dashboard again.
| Instead Of resIlming his seat he knelt
! on the floor of the blackboard, peer
! ing down at the road as it was dimly
revealed by the lantern.
go ahead slowly" he ordered.
| (To Be Continued.)