Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-22

JUST mlUCNloI, pTOUADly nat
enough motive for his sort" Turning
to the storekeeper Kent asked: do
you happen to know how Mr.. bennett
spent the early part Of this after
noon?"
II surely do. He was up to Dim.
mock's rummage auction, an he got
something there that tickled him like
a feather. But he wouldn't let on
what 1t was
"The original" said sedgwick.
What does Dimmock deal in?''
"All kinds OF odds and ends. He
scrapes the country for bankrupt sales
an has q big auction once q year.
Everybody goes. You can ind any.
thing from a plough-handle to sec
ond-hand marriage certificate at his
place."
I'VE now call on Elder bennett"
said Kent.
That worthy was shout closing up
shop when they entered. a
Don't your lamp work right, yet,
Professor Kent!' he inquired.
Perfectly" responded the scientist.
I'VE have come to see you on another
matter, Mr.. Sedgwick and T."
First, let me thank YOU" said Sedg.
wick, "for the curious work Of art
which you left at my place"
"Hay-ee?" inquired the elder, with
q rising infection.
Don't take the trouble to lie about
It," put In Kent. "Just show us the
original Of, the drawing which you
traced 20 handfly.'
The town gossip shifted uneasily
- - u,
got the ptcture?" he giggled. II
didn't find 1t, myself, till got back
from the auction"
Never mind the process. Have
you the original herey'
Eyes," said Elder bennett; and. 60
ing to his desk he brought back a
square Of heavy BLUSH paper, slightly
discolored at the edges.
That's very good bit of drawing, .
said Sedgwick, as he and Kent bent
over the paper.
But unsigned said his companion.
Nov, Mr.. bennett, whom do you sup.
pose this to bel"
why, the lady that stopped to talk
with Mr.. Sedgwick, and was killed n
Lonesome Cove"
Then why did you leave out this
earring in copying the picture?"
"Aw-well;" explained the other in
some confusion. "she didn't have no
earrings on when seen her. And
it looks lot more like, without it,
your bent for gratuitous mischief
amounts to passion" retorted the
scientist Some day 1t will get you
into deserved trouble, L trust"
II guess there amt no law to pre-.
vent my givin' away picture, If |
like" sulked the elder
Perhaps you'd like to give away
another one"
Yankee shrewdness sparkled in the
eye OF Mr.. bennett. "Mr. sedgwick
said that was q good DRAWN, and |
guess he knows. ! guess It's worth
money"
How much money, would you
guess?"
Five dollars" replied the other, in
bold expulsion Of breath.
At this moment, Sedgwick, who had
been studying the picture in the light,
made slight signal with his hand,
which did not escape Kent
Five dollars is big price for a
rough pencil SKETCH" said the scient.
list. "rd have to know more OF the
picture to pay that for it. Where did
you find it?'
TN this book. | bought the book at
Dimmock's rummage auction" He
produced decrepit, loosely-bound edi.
ton of the Massachusetts, Agricultural
Reports "The picture was stuck in
between the leaves"
mo name In the book said Kent.
1.-THE fly-leaf is gone. But here's the
date of publication: 1890"
THAT would be just about right"
said Sedgwick with lively interest.
Right for what?" demanded Den.
nett.
Before there was time for reply,
Kent had pressed five dollar bill into
his hand, with the words:
you've made trade"
Watt" protested the elder. But
the sketch was already in Sedgwick's
possession.
TITS an Elliott" said that gentle.
man. I'm sure Of 1t. I've seen his
sketches ore-though they're very
rare-and there's an unmistakable
touch about his pencil work.
I'm that CASE said Kent suavely,
"Mr. bennett will be gratified to know
that he has sold for Ave dollars an
article worth fifty times that
They left him, grooming at his door,
and went to look up Dimmock, the
rummage man. But he was wholly
unable to throw any light on the form
er owner Of the reports, in which the
drawing had been tucked away. There
the investigation seemed to be up
against a blank wall.
Isn't it astounding!" said Sedgwick.
Here's portrait antedating 1880, of
a woman who has just died, young.
What was the woman saw; a reven-
ant in the flesh?"
"If you ask me-" said Kent slowly,
II should say, rather, an imitation"
Further he would not say, but in.
sisted on returning to the Nook. AS
they arrived, the telephone bell was
ringing with the weary PERSISTENCE OF
the long unanswered. To Kent's query
Lawyer Bain's voice announced:
1--WE been trying to get you for an
hour
Sorry" said Kent. lis it about the
newspapers?"
7 eyes, said the lawyer. i've got
the information" And he stated that