Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-17

with the body lying in Annalaka bury.
ing-ground?"
Eliciting no reply from the fence
post Kent returned to the Eyrie, GALE
up Hedgerow House, and declined
Blair's proposition.
Early that evening Francis Sedg.
wick came to the hotel. The clerk, at
first negligent. pricked up his ears
and exhibited unmistakable signs of
human interest when he heard the
name; for the suspicion attaching to
the artist had spread swiftly. More.
over, the caller was in state OF
hardly repressed excitement.
"Mr. Kent I'm afraid you can't
see him, sir. He isn't In his room"
isn't he about the hotel!"
The clerk hesitated II ought not
to tell you, sir, for It's Mr.. Kent's
strict orders not to be disturbed; but
thing very important? Any new evi.
dence, or something Of that sort?"
THAT is what want Mr.. Kent to
decide"
EN- that case might take the re.
sponsibility. But l think had better
take you to him myself"
After the elevator had carried them
to the top Of its run, they mounted
fight Of stairs. and walked to far
corner OF the building.
"Nobody's been In here since he took
It," explained the clerk as they walked.
Turned all the furniture out. Special
lock on the door. Some kind OF
scientific experiments, suppose. He's
very quiet about It,"
Having reached the door, he dis
creetly tapped. No answer came.
Somewhat less timidity characterized
his next effort. A growl Of surprising
savagery from within was his re-
ward.
"You zee, Mr.. sedgwick," said the
clerk Raising his voice he called,
"Mr. Kent, I've brought"
Get away and 60 to the DEVIL"
cried voice from inside in fury.
What do you mean by"
"It's l, Kent, sedgwick. I've got to
see YOU"
There was silence of some seconds.
What do you want?" asked Kent
at length.
you told me to come at once II
anything turned up"
$50 I did," sighed Kent. well,
chase that Internal bell-boy to the
stairs, and I'll let you in"
With a wry face the clerk retired.
Kent opened the door, and his friend
squeezed through into bare room.
The walls were hung and the floor was
carpeted with white sheets There
was no furniture of any kind. unless q
narrow mattress in one corner could be
80 reckoned. Beside the mattress lay
4 small pad and . pencil Only on the
visitors subconscious self did these pc
cularities impress themselves. such
was his absorption in his own interests.
TITS happened" he announced.
elias IT." said ant. Lean up
against the wall and make yourself at
home. Man, you're shaking!"
"You'd shake, too" retorted the
artist, his voice trembling.
"No; anger, doesn't affect me that
way. Wait! Now, don't tell me vet.
III, I'm to have . report, 1t must be
from a sane man, not from one in a
blind fury. Take time and cool down.
What do you think Of my ROOM
1T looks like the abode of white
silence. Have you turned Trappist
monk"
"Not such bad guess. This is the
retreat of my mind. think against
the blank walls"
What's the gamer asked Sedg-
wick, interested in spite OF himself.
'Tt dates back to our college days.
Do you remember that queer fresh.
man. Berwind 2"
"The mind-reader? Yes. The poor
chap went insane afterward."
Eyes. It was weak mind, but a
|singularly receptive one. You know
we used to force numbers or playing
cards upon his consciousness by
merely thinking of them"
II recollect. His method was to
stand gazing at a blank wall He said
the object we were thinking Of would
rise before him usually against the
Darkness. Did you ever figure out
how he managed to do it?'
mot exactly. But his notion OF
keeping the mind blank for impress
sions has its points. II you throw OF
the clutch of the brain. as 1t were. and
let 1t work along its own lines. 1t
sometimes arranges and formulates
ideas that you wouldn't get from it
under control"
CHAPTER X.
"Sort of self-hypnosis?
"1n sense. For years I've kept
bare white room in my washington
house to do my hard thinking in.
When your affair promised to become
difficult for me, rugged UP this spot.
And I'm trying to see things against
the walls
"Any particular kind of things?"
Kent produced the silver star from
his pocket, and told Of it's discovery.
.The stars in their courses may have
fought against Sisera,' he remarked;
"but they aren't going out Of their.
way to fight-to fight-to-to-"
Kent's jaw was sagging down. His
lean fingers pulled savagely at the
lobe Of his long-sufrering ear. The
stars in their courses-in their
courses That's IT," he half whis-
pered. "Sedgwick; what was it your
visitor said to you about Jupiter?"
"She didn't mention Jupiter"
"No, Of course not. Not by name.
But what was it she said about the
planet that she pointed out, over the
sea-"
w. ~,