Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-26

since two weeks.
And he has come here before?"
NO"
Then why do find him here with
you tonight this night Of all nights?"
HE Is not here with me-" said she,
flushing.
II came from-from where you saw
me-" began Sedgwick, ION a reckless
impulse. Believe me, sir"
"One moment! Marjorie, think you
had best go to your room"
The girls soft lips Strengthened into
line Of inflexibility. II wish to speak
to Mr.. Sedgwick," she said.
Speak, then, and quickly
mo; l wish to speak to him alone.
There is an explanation which owe
him."
+, "And there is one which he owes
you," retorted Blair. LAS he seems to
have been too cowardly to give 1t, /
will supply his deficiencies. In order
that there may be no misunderstand-
ing, let me present Mr.. Francis Sedg-
wick, the murderer"
A low cry, the most desolate, the
most stricken sound that Sedgwick
had ever heard from human lips,
trembled on the air. Before he could
gather his senses to retort and deny,
she had drawn herself to her feet
and the rose-bowered window framed
only emptiness. Sedgwick whirled
upon the other man. "Of course" he
said with deceptive calmness, you
know that you lie."
II know that I speak truth" re-
torted Mr.. Blair with so profound a
conviction that the other was shaken.
els it possible that you really be-
lieve it," he exclaimed.
$50 possible that, but for the scan
dial, l would do what I can not invoke
the law to do, and exact life for life.
And to crown all, find you with my
sons wife,
'Your sons wife!" The cry burst
from Sedgwicks lips.
'-in the dead of night, at rem
devious" concluded Blair.
THAT is lie," said Sedgwick very
low, "for which shall kill you II you
dare to repeat it even to your own
thoughts. It was no rendezvous. Is
your mind so vicious that you can't be-
lieve in innocence? Stop and think!
How could it have been a rendezvous,
when came here, as you know, for
another purpose?"
THAT is true said the other
"That still remains to be
explained"
"By you," returned the artist. "You
speak of your sons wife. To carry out
the farce Of the sham burial, shouldn't
you have said his Widow"
1.-THE widow Of day-as you we'll
know" answered Mr. Blair bitterly.
"As do not know, at all. But I think
I begin to see light The rose-topazes
on the dead woman's neck. Her
topazes. That helps to clear 1t up. The
dead woman was some past light-o'-
love of Wilfrid Blair's. She came here
either to reassert her sway over him
or to blackmail him. He gave her his
wife's Jewels Then he followed her to
the cliffs and killer. her, perhaps in
drunken frenzy. And you, Mr..
Alexander Blair, to save your son.
have concealed him somewhere, bribed
the sheriff and the medical officer,
contrived this false death and burial.
and are now turning suspicion on
man you know to be innocent further
to fortify your position. But what
damnable lie have you told her"
During this exposition, Alexander
Blairs face was study In changing
emotions. At the close his thin lips
curled in the suggestion of q sardonic
grin.
II leave you to the company Of your
theory, SIR" said he, and the door
closed sharply after him.
Three hours later, wet and be-
draggled, but with fire at his heart,
the night-farer came to his home and
reused Kent from slumber on the
studio couch.
s'And where have you been?" de-
manded the scientist.
"she was in the house. I've seen
her"
Exactly what wished to prevent.
I don't think you've done yourself any
good"
"Any good" groaned his friend.
"She left me believing that am the
murderer Of the unknown woman.
Indeed! You've done worse, even,
than had feared. Tell me-"
In brief outline Sedgwick told OF
the moonlight interview. Kent gripped
at his ear lobe, and for time sought
silently to draw Qualification Of ideas
from it. -
do you know he said at length, II
wouldn't wonder If Blair really
thought you the murderer
"I would" declared Sedgwick saw
agely. 'He knows who murdered that
woman. 1t was his own son. whom he
pretended to bury, for a blind" And
the artist proceeded to outline eagerly
his newly developed idea.
That's an interesting theory" said
Chester Kent slowly. "A very interest
ing and ingenious theory. I'll admit to
you now that something of the sort
occurred to my mind early in the de-
velopment Of the mystery, but for
sock 1t because of one fact that rather
initiates against its probability"
What is that?"
"The fact" replied Kent with slow
smile, chat Wilfrid Blair was dead
before his father ever learned Of the
tragedy Of Lonesome Cove"
CHAPTER XVII.
Chance Sets In.
Suit case at his side, Chester Kent
stood on the platform Of the Martin
dale Center station, waiting for the