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

il striving to conceal some scandal,
the nature OF which I have no wish to
guess. BY the way, should have
added that he suspects q third person,
an artist, resident not far from his
place. of being his sons sssailant."
Francis Sedgwick."
"You know the man?"
1T 10 on his behalf that I am act.
ing" replied Kent.
my informant, however. inclines to
the belief that Alexander Blair 10
wrong: that Wilfrid Blair killed the
woman and then inflicted mortal
wounds upon himself. Perhaps you
would better see my informant for
yourself"
Unnecessary, thank you. Mr.. Blair
Is not telling quite all he knows.
Nevertheless the theory which he
propounds as to his sons assailant. 10
natural enough, from his point Of view.
Although" added Kent thoughtfully.
1T will be most unfortunate II 1t leads
him to distrust Mrs. Blair"
Marjorie? Am I to infer that her
good name is involved?" demanded
the old man.
Hardly her good name. Mr.. Blair
believes-if correctly follow his
mental processeS-that Francis Sedg-
wick met his son on the night Of the
tragedy, by chance or otherwise, and
that in the encounter which be be-
lieves followed, Wilfrid Blair was
killed. Unfortunately, some color Of
motive 10 lent to this by the fact that
Sedgwick had fallen desperately In
love with Mrs. Blair"
Impossible! Marjorie is not the
woman to permit such thing"
Without blame to her. or. indeed.
to either Of them. She also believes.
now. that sedgwick killed her hus-
band"
"And-and she was interested in
your friend?" asked the old scholar
slowly.
II fear-that is, trust So"
"You trust so? With this horror
standing between them!"
1T must be cleared away" said
Kent earnestly. "Circumstantial evil
dence Is against Sedgwick: but. I give
you my word, sir, 1t is wholly impos-
sible that he should have killed your
nieces husband"
ITO doubt your certainty would be
crassly stupid And are you hopeful OF
clearing up the circumstances?"
There want your aid The night
OF the tragedy person wearing q
dark garment embroidered with silver
stars, was on Hawkill Heights. havs
reason to believe that this person
came there to meet some one from the
Blair place; also, that he can tell me.
il l can find him, the facts which !
lack to fill out my theory. It 10 to run
him down that l have come to-.
Boston" a
"A man wearing dark garment
embroidered with silver stars" said
the philosopher. Surely otrange
garb in this age OF sartorial ortho-
doxy."
mot for an astrologer."
"Ah; an astrologer! And you think
he came from Boston,"
II think" said Chester Kent, draw
ing some newspaper clippings from
his pocket; that somewhere among
these advertisements, taken from the
newspapers which are subscribed for
at Hedgerow House. he Is to be found. Is
There ought to be able to help. |,
Through my association with the &C.
cult society I have Investigated many
Of these gentry. Great rascals, most Of
them"
Whom would you consider the most
able of the lot?'' I'll
The old man set finger on one OF
the clippings. Preston Jax," said he,
lis the shrewdest Of them all. Some
times have thought that he had dim
flashes of real clairv0yance. Be that
as 1t may. he has a surprising chenille
of which he makes the most, for he Is
master-hand at cozening women out
Of their money. More than once he has
been in the courts"
Probably he is my man. Anyway I
shall visit him first, and, II ! find that
his office was closed on July fifth
1T was, and for day or two there
after as chance to know, because one
OF the occult society's secret agents
was to have visited him, and could not
get an appointment"
Good! shall see you, then, tomor-
row, sir"
CLARITY of vision 90 with you, amid
your riddles" said his host with
smile, shuffling the cards which Kent
had gathered up for him. "Here IL my
all-sufficient riddle. Watch me now.
how meet and vanquish the demon
mischance." He turned card. "Ah.
said he with profound satisfaction,
"the seven Of spades. My luck runs In
sevens.'
CHAPTER XVIII.