Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-24

schlsssr lay still. incoming . httls. !.
Good work, my boy" approved
Kent, who had retrieved the revolver.
WHO dubbed mot" grcaned tho
fallen man. II didn't zee no third feE
Ter. And what goods It going to do
you, anyway! There you are. and
there's the robbed grave. Exaggerated
by assault on an officer Of the law"
he added technically.
THAT Is right. too, Kent added
Sedgwick with shaking voice. what
over We do, don't see but what we
arc disgraced and ruined"
Unless" suggested Kent with mild
toned malice, I'VE rid ourselves OF the
only witness to the affair"
A little gasp issued from the thick
lips Of Len Schlaser. But he spoke
with courage, and not without GER
tain dignity. "You got me-" he ad-
mitted quietly. III It's killin'- why. l
guess It's 40 good . way to 60 ~ any.
An officer IN the discharge Of his
duty"
''Not 70 sure about the duty.
Schlager," said Kent with change Of
tone. "But your: life 10 safe enough, In
any event. Pity you're such CRATER,
forsyou've got your decent points. Lot
him. up, Sedgvick."
Relieved Of HE assailant's weight,
Schlager undertook. to rise. set his
hand on the ground, and collapsed
with groan.
"Too bad about that wrist" said
Kent. I'm TAKE you back In my car to
have Il looked sitter % soon % we've
finished here"
II s.pose you know am have to o.
rest you, Just the same"
Don't bluff" retorted the other
carelessly. TT wastes time. Steady!
Here comes the rest Of the party"
Across the moonlit lawn moved
briekly the spare, alert figure Of tho
owner OF sedgerow House. His hand
grasped . long-barTeied pistol. He
made straight for the grove Of graves.
Within five yards Of the willows he
stopped, because voice from behind
one Of them had suggested to him that
he do 30.
Il also am armed the voice added.
Hesitancy flickered in Mr.. Blair's
face for a brief moment. Then, with
set jaw, he came on.
1.-TWO men of courage to deal with In
single night. That's all out Of pro-
portion" commented the voice with
slight laugh. "Mr. Blair; really
should dislike shooting you"
"Who are you?" demanded Mr..
Blair.
Chester Kent"
What are you doing on my property
at this hour"
Digging
"Ah!" 1t was hardly an exclamation;
rather Z was q contained com.
mentary. Mr.. Blair had noted the *
humed casket- You might better have
taken my offer" he continued after 4
pause of some seconds. II think, sir,
you, have dug the grave OF your own
career"
THAT remains to. be seem"
"schlager! Are you there7''
Eyes, Mr.: Blair. They've broken my
wrist and got my gun
Mr.. Blair took that under constdera
ton. 1T doesn't strike me that YOU
are much Of 4 \ nanhunter, he OBJ
served judiciaIly. Who are they?"
Francis 6edgwick 10 the othor, al
your service" answered the owner Of
that name.
An extraordinary convulsion rage
! distorted the Get features Of the
elderly man.
YOU he cried. Haven't you done
enough-without this! would come
on now II hell yawned for me-"
Stricken with amaz ment At the
hatred in the tone. Sedgwick stood
staring. But Kent stepped before the
advancing man. This won't do" he
said firmly. I'VE cant any Of us II.
ford killing"
Il can" contradicted Mr.. Blair.
You would gain nothing by it. II
on. OF US 10 killed tho other will
finish tho task You know what am
he-e for Mr.. Blair. purpose to open
that coffin and then Co."
NO." said the master Of Hedgerow
House; and 1t was twenty years since
Ills "'no" had been overcome.
"Yes," returned Chester Kent
quietly.
MI. Blairs arm rose, steady and
slow. with the inevitable motion Of
machinery.
III you shoot pointed out Kent
you VIII rouse the mousse. - tnoIo Ao
one there from whom you wish to con
ceaE that coffin"
The arm rose higher until the muz
zle OF the pistol glared, like baleful
lusterless eye, into Kent's face. In
stead Of making any counter.motior
with the sheriff's revolver, the
scientist turned on his heel, walked tc
Sedgwick, and handed him thu
weapon. Pm going to open the coffin
Frank" he announced. THAT pistol Of
Mr.. Blair's is a target arm. It has only
one shot"
True" put In its owner, .'but l car
score one hundred and twenty with II
at a, hundred yards range
If he should fire, Frank, wing him
And then, whatever happens, get thai
caskct open. That IL the one thing yot
must do-for me and yourself"
"3ut he may kill you," cried Sedg
wick in an agony Of apprehension.
"He may; but l think he von't-"
Wont he!" muttered the o)del
man on an indrawn breath. I'D rather
| 1t was the other scoundrel. But either
OR BOTH
Sedgwick stepped to within two
| noca. - him "plair" he said with &