Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-28

teCt competence and command;
where's the phone-ground floor and
top hall. All right; I'll use the TOP
floor; that's nearer. Any particular
coroner. Doctor? Lipschutz? All right"
The doctor gave look Of inquiry at
Dor rallncnt. 60 grotesquely mis-
matched with such a scene. Tommy
North, already perceivtng what might
happen to young man caught all
blood.smeared In proximity TO a MUIR
der. threw quick appealing glance OF
his own TIE woman seemed to catch
the inquiry and the appeal.
Don't you worry, young man. I've
got no connection with the police, an
ii you didn't do this thing you're all
right" end then to the doctor: "My
name Is Madame LIE Grange. l own the
house at 442-across the street. Never
mind, my dear" this to Miss Hard
Ing, who showed signs of coming out
OF her stupor and following. With
businesslike air. she hustled up stairs.
called police headquarters, informed
them there had been murder at 44o
and the doctor wanted Coroner Lip
schutz-also, they had better send
some policemen. This done, she spent
a moment in thought before she
descended.
IN the hall, she met the regular
patrolman. who had received the news
at last. The limb of the law had for
hidden the augmented crowd at the
door to follow him; he was ascending
alone. The sight of this woman In her
fashionable clothes-or was 1t her
compelling look of command-stopped
him.
Listen" she said, there's only a
second. Never mind who am. Look at
this" She produced the old and worn
piece OF paper which she had drawn
from her bag a minute before.
"To the police" 1t read. ANY matter
that concerns the. bearer, Mrs.
Rosalie LIE Grange, Is to be referred to
me- I request you to give her the great
est discretion.
Inspector Martin McGee."
"Not a word" pursued Resale lie
Grange. "Now mi1d didn't see this
thing, an don't know as much about
1t as you. But It's your job to tip mo
off to the reserves as soon as they
come-make them understand that
they amt to stop me whatever l 90.
And remember''-now the woman
smiled In q meaning way-"you got
here Just as quick as you could - not
a second later-I'll stick to that. Now
get inside" She waited q moment be-
fore she followed him.
Tommy North, fairly green now, was
sitting on q couch In his CHASTITY raj
ment. At that moment, Senior Estrilla
came down the stairs from his sisters
room. He had opened his raincoat, but
II was still wet. He had turned up his
hat brim, but an, occasional drop sell.
"My seester Is better" he said. "Oh,
can assist" And while he helped the
men to cover the body, he listened TO
scattered explanations from the
women.
Now the reserves had come; and
after them, the coroner and the
detectives. They cleared out the house.
holding only those who seemed to
them pertinent witnesses. At a signal
from Rosalie LIE Grange they detained
her for time, on the ground that she
had arrived suspiciously early. The
first unorganized search for the
criminal simmered down to Tommy
North, although even Mrs. Moore ad-
mitted that he had entered only a
minute before the body was discov-
cred. In the midst Of the investigation,
a new quandary presented itself. The
house was to be sealed while the
police Investigated. The innocent
would have to find some other dwell
ing place. That suited her, Miss Hard
Ing remarked; she wouldn't sleep
there again; whereupon Mrs. Moore,
declaring she was ruined, fell again to
weeping. And suddenly she who called
herself Madame lie Grange stepped
forward into the huddled distressed
group.
~ haven't introduced myself, she
said. with easy masterful calm, "but
rye Just opened the house at 442 as a
boarding house You amt going to
hold me. Of course"-this to the police
land, anyhow, you know where to
find me in case you want me. There's
room tonight In my house for you al.
She turned, with her eternal air OF
mistress In any situation. to Miss
Harding. Come, dress and pack mp
your night things, my dear. We can
move your trunks tomorrow. Me-
Chemically, Miss Harding obeyed, and
then Miss Jones. Suddenly Mr.. Estrilla
who had been minister1ng to Mrs.
Moore by the door, spoke up and
asked: my seester, too?"
"Shes sick. amt she?" inquired Mrs.
LIE Grange, as II for an instant that
gave her pause. Then the poor thing
needs It worst Of all!' she answered
her own argument. "Come on!" She
dashed away, lightly, In spite OF her
bulk. Estrilla following.
While Rosalie lie Grange was pre-
pairing to move the invalid on the top
floor, the police and the coroner
Strengthened out affairs little. There
was much man in Tommy North. II he
had played the craven in the first
rush OF his gruesome discovery, 1t
was because he had Weakened to that
state Of tense depression which comes
with the sudden departure Of drunk
enness. He became defiant now;
wheYeupon the police began to bully.
While they were trying to make Mrs.
Moore admit that she had not seen
Tommy North come up the stairs, q
detective sergeant put a sneering
question to her
sSvTyo1I 49, olso o<,,,1d H>o 1,a dora