Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-12
THE OF
S COVE.
U HOPkINS ADAMS
AUTHOR Of AVERAGE JONES ETC
~ - vlIN1A9l II
Copyright. 1912. The Robbs Merrill conpsny.

CHAPTER w Continued.)
He returned to join Sedgwick. To-
gether they entered the building, while
behind them q rising hum testified to
the interest felt in them by the vii
layers.
Within, a tall wizened man, with
dead fishy eyes, stalked nervously to
and fro On q platform, beside which q
hastily constructed comm with q hasped
cover stood on three sawhorses. On
q chair near by slouched the sheriff,
his face red and streaming. A few
perspiring men and women were scat.
tered on the benches. Outside a
clock struck eleven. There va a
quick inflow Of the populace, and the
man on the platform lifted up a chit.
tering voice.
"Feller citizens" he said. las medi.
cal oficer l declare these proceedings
opened. Meaning no disrespect to the
deceased, we want to get through as
spry as possible. First we will hear
witnesses. Anybody who thinks he
can throw any light on this business
can have a hearing. Then those as
wants may view the remains. The
burial will take place right afterwards,
lin the town buryin: ground, our Teller
citizen and sheriff, Mr.. Len Schlager,
having volunteered the expenses"
"That man." said Sedgwick in
Kent's ear, lis q great deal more
nervous this minute than I am"
Perhaps he has mor cause to be-"
whispered the scientist. Here comes
the first witness"
A sheep-herder had risen in his
place, and without the formality Of an
oath told of sighting the body at the
edge of the SURF at seven o'clock In the
morning. Others, following, testified
to the position on the beach, the lash.
ing Of the body to the grating, the
wounds, and the manacles. Doctor
Breed announced briefly that the de-
ceased had come to her death by
drowning, and that the skull had been
crushed in, presumably, when the
waves hammered the body upon the
Lreefs.
Then the corpse must have come
from a good ways out" said Sailor
Smith: 'for the reefs wouldn't catch
it at that tide"
Nobody knows how the dead come
to Lonesome Cove" said the sheriff in
his deep voice.
There was a murmur of assent. The
people felt a certain pride in the Ill.
omened locality.
Elder Ira bennett was the next and
Hast witness called. Somewhere be
meath the Elders dry exterior lurked
1.-THE instinct OF the drama. Stalking tc
the platform, he told his story with
skill and fervor. He made q telling
point Of the newly finished picture he
had seen In Sedgwick's studio, depict
ing the moonlit charge Of the wave.
mounted corpse. He sketched out the
l%encounter between the artist and the
dead woman wildly. As he proceeded
the chances turned upon Sedgwick
darkened from suspicion to enmity,
Kent was almost ready to wish that
he had come armed, when bennett,
with a final fling Of his arm toward
the artist, stepped from the platform
and resumed his seat, amid a sur.
charged silence.
Then Sedgwick rose He was white
J but his voice was under perfect control
as he said, IT presume I have the right
to be heard in my " d~efense?"
"Nobody's accused you yet" growled
schlager.
Public opinion accuses me. That
J is not to be wondered at, in view OF
what Elder bennett has just told you
It Is all true. But / do not know the
woman who accosted me. l never saw
her before that evening. She spoke
\ strangely to me, and indicated that
she was to meet some one and GO
aboard ship, though saw no sign of a
ship"
"You couldn't see much Of the ocean
from your house," said the medical Of
lcer.
II walked on the cliffs later" said
ISedgwick, and a murmur went through
the court room; "but I never found the
woman. And as for throwing her out
Of a ship, or any such fantastic non
sefse, I can prove that l was back In
my house by a little after nine O'Clock
that night"
He sat down, cody enough; but his
eyes dilated went Kent whispered to
him:
Keep your nerve. The probability
will be shown that she was killed be
fore ten o'clock"
Now, however, Doctor Breed was on
his feet again. Form in line, ladies
and gentlemen, " said he, "and pass the
coffin as spry IS possible"
At this, Sheriff Schlager stepped
forward and loosened the hasps, pre-
paratory to removing the cover "The
body has been left" said he, slipping
the lid aside, "just as OF a sudden,
his eyes stiffened. A convulsive shud.
der ran through his big body. He
TANNED the cover back, and, with 1ng.
ers that actually drummed on the
wood, forced the hasps into place.
"She's come to life!" cried a voice
from the rear.
mo, mol" rumbled the sheriff,
Whirling upon the medical officer, he
whispered in his ear; not more than
a single word, 1t seemed to the
watchful Kent. .
The doctor turned CHASTITY. Gents"
he said in a q%uavering voice to the
amazed crowd, "the program will not
be carried out as arranged. The-the
,I-well, the condition Of the deceased
is not ftten-' He stopped, hopping
his brow.
pu} yankao c%uriosity was not SO