Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-17
A NOVELTY IN MYSTERY STORIES
TIE SECRET OF
LONESOME COVE
BIZ
SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS
AUTHOR OF AVERAGE JONES ETC
Copyright, 1919, The Bobbs- Merrill Company.

The scientist considered him
|thoughtfully. well, believe you."
said he shortly, and got into the ma
chine.
for me-" said Blair presently.
CHANGER" murmured Kent inter-
negatively.
The car swerved sharply, but i'm
mediately resumed the middle Of the
road.
Certainly, chance" said the motor
list. What else should 1t be?"
"Of course" agreed Kent. "As you
say"
Il said fortunate" continued the
other, because you are, believe, the
very man I want. There is an affair
that has been troubling me good
deal haven't been able to look into
lit personally, because of the serious
illness of my son, who is at my place
on Sundayman's Creek. But 1t Is in
your line, being chronological, and
perhaps criminal"
What Is it?' asked Kent.
can inexplicable destruction Of our
stored woolens by the clothes moth.
You may perhaps know that am
president of the KnselIa Mills.
We've been having great deal of
trouble this spring, and our superin-
tendent believes that some enemy is
introd icing the pest into our ware
houses. Will you take the case?"
"When?"
start tonight for Connecticut"
Chester Kent's long fingers went to
the lobe on his ear. "Give me until
three o'clock this afternoon to con-
slider. Can reach you by telephone?"
Eyes, at Hedgerow House, my
place."
THAT is how far from here?'
fourteen miles; but you need not
come there. could return to the
hotel to conclude arrangements. And
think" he added significantly, that
you would find the project a profitable
one"
Doubtless. Are you we'll acquainted
with this part of the country, Mr..
Blair?"
eyes, I'VE been coming here for
years."
els there an army post near by?"
"Not within a hundred miles,"
'tNor any officers on special detail
about?"
"None, so far as I know"
Kent produced from his pocket the
silver star with the shred Of cloth
hanging to it. This may or may not
b, an Important clue to a curious
death that occurred here three day.
ago"
Eyes, I've heard something of it, "
said the other indiferently. ~ took
It to be mostly gossip"
Before the death there was a strug-
gle. This star was found at the scene
Of the struggle"
"It looks like the star from the col
lar OF an officer. should say positive
~ that It was from an army or navy
uniform"
"PoSitiveness Is the greatest tempta-
ton and snare that have to fight
against" remarked Chester Kent.
otherwise should say positively that
no of1cer, going to q dubious rendez-
vOus, would wea- uniform which
would be certain to make him con-
81 :cuous. Are you yourself an expert
in wooden fabrics, Mr.. Blair?"
Il have BEEN"
could you tell from that tiny frag-
Is all wool?"
Without replying, Blair gave the
steering handle quick sweep, md
the car drew up before drug store.
He took the star and was gone few
minutes.
mot all WOOL he announced on his
return.
Exit the army or navy ofacer," re-
marked Kent.
"Why sou
Because regulations require all
wool garments-and get them. What
is the fabric?"
"a fairly good mixture, from the
very elemental chemica! test I made
Something in the nature of worsted
batiste, should Judge, from what /
could make out under the inferior
magnifying-glass that they loaned me"
THANK you, Mr.. Blair. You've
eliminated one troublesome hypothesis
for me- I'll telephone you before three
o'clock Good day."
Chester Kent went direct to the Mar
tindale Center library, where he in
terviewed the librarian.
DO you get Lne Agriculture D0pdEt-
ment publications ?"
eyes"
"Have you pamphlet issued by the
Bureau of Entomology, Helmund on
The Swarm Phenomenon in Lepidop-
tera?"
Eyes, sir. 1t vas inquired for only
yesterday by Mr.. Blair"
Gan, yes. He's quite interested in
the subject, believe"
TT must be quite recent. then" said
the librarian. 'sWe haven't seen him
here for a long time until two days
ago, when he came and put in morn
in;, reading on insects"
$50, Mr.. Alexander Blair" said
Kent, addressing the last fence post
on the outskirts OF the town, after
q thoughtful walk, "that was a fatal
break on your part, that mention Of
Helmund. Amateurs who have wholly
dropped a subject since years back
don't usually know publications is
sued only within three months. That
casual meeting with me was we'll car
ried out, and you called it chance. A
very la.pably manufactured chance!
But why am worth so much trouble