Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-06

to Nancy; so that might question
him exhaustively before he even an
nounced me to Mr.. Bond. Just what
method / would take with Mr.. Bond
himself left to circumstance and our
meeting. But I made up my mind
that he should give me information II .
he had any, and In any case, what Inn
mediate assistance needed got
down from my bus very truculently
and with my heart beating wildly at
the possibility that my search might
| need go no further, that perhaps l.
was to find Nancy again In the place
that first found her. 1 had rung the
bell for the third time in my Inn
patience before came down to earth.
They had seen me. I thought, and
would not answer. Then, with weary
certainty, went down the steps and
looked up over the house. The sign
OF an Electric Protective Co., hung in
front of the drawn shade OF the lower
window, as indication to all the world
AM more particularly the under
world-that the house was closed and
empty and-wired against intrusion.
That might leave no stone unturn-
ed, rather than through any hope OF
success, / looked up the Lexington
avenue stable, only to find it locked
J as had expected. 1t was like beat
ing against stone wall. And like a
man suddenly thrown into dungeon
and finding suddenly that there is no
way of escape, for little while, l.
think, I went mad. Nancy was some.
where, probably not far away, and for
all my strength and for all my love,
could not find her. The fact dinned
itself through my consciousness as 1
blindly paced the crowded city streets
and walked aforementioned miles.
brought up again, at last, before the
Lexington avenue stable. Like some
one lost in the woods had probably
walked In great irregular circle.
looked about YEARLY for place where
/ might rest and, IL possible. bring
myself to some condition of reason.
Across the street from the stable,
and sandwiched In between a strand
ed dwelling and a tobacco shop, was
little lunch room dignifed BY the
name Of the Golden Cafe" The place
as entered 1t was almost empty, and
I took table In corner by myself.
The red-haired, Indifferent boy in
charge brought me black coffee. Two
women were chatting over tea by the
window, and I fingered impatiently
over my coffee, waiting for them to
leave; for I wanted to have the pro.
prietor to myself. They were an I'M
considerable time, and made sure
that other patrons would drop in; but
no one else came, and at last the
women departed, leaving a tip just
large enough to put the red-haired
boy into bad humor.
| "Do you know" asked him, who
owns that red brick stable across the
way?"
What did you say you wanted?" he.
replied, passing me and speaking
across the counter behind me-
| II wanted to know repeated, "who
owns that stable directly opposite?"
Dunno" said the boy.
He spoke as If he had paid no at
tention to my question, 30 that l
turned around for my next and
launched 1t squarely at him. We'll,
have you ever heard of Ephriam
Bond?" asked.
Nope; want any more coffe?''
| II suppose So" / said, and turned
hack to my table.
The boy came out from behind his
counter, and shuffled past me; and
looked up to see that another custom
err had entered. He was small
white-haired man, whose pleasant
face, with its widely-set, attractive
looking eyes, seemed perfectly "a
miliar When he had given his order
he looked down the room at me, and
bowed, for was certain that I had
met him somewhere. Indeed, he
might have been some old friend of my
fathers, aged now beyond instant
recognition, put still certain mem
|ory. He returned my bow nervously,
! and bent over his food; but once or
twice as | slipped my second cup Of
coffee, found his mild eyes studying
me- had forgotten about him, how
ever, and the idle wonder of who he
was, when he abruptly slid into the
chair opposite me.
did hear you ask, SIR" he said
in queer, quiet little voice, '*for
man named Ephriam Bond?"
(To Be Continually
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