Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-30

He lives In some apartment-hotel over
on Thirty-sevsnxh street--rve frogot
ten the name. He called last night
but he was out OF the house before
this Wade cams--before they heard
Wade and Hanslea Quarrellng-and he
didn't come In again until they'd dis
covered the body. He was In his
rooms all that time, too-we've talked
to tho elevator man In his apartment
hotel. Getting back to the women;
except Mrs. Moore, who's big and
husky, there's not one Of 'em has the
strength TO hit blow like that--and
women don't use knives, anyhow. Miss
Estrilla's weak - cat. Those two
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS referred to his
Harding and Miss Jones,
arc Just little city girls. with no great
Besides. where's the motivef
/ can't get line yet on Hanska--the
body hasn't been claimed. He's
boarded there three weeks. Nobody
liked him much, but can't ind that
any Of tho other boarders knew him
we'll enough to hate him. I forgot to
say we've looked over everybody and
everything for blood, and can't nnd .
drop"
"You don't have to tell me that" re-
sponded Rosalis with some asperfty,
"a set of your bull-headed detectives
has been ransackin' the suit cases In
my house all mornin'. Nesrty scared
the life out Of Miss Harding. by trytn'
to prove to her that the fruit stains ON
her shirt waist were blood"
Well. guess, they were fruit staans
all right" replied MCGEE. Cant hnd
any blood on Wade's things. either"
Which n natural A wound like
that don't begin to bleed right OF. No
necessity for gettin' bloody II the muir
derer only kept his head, which gen.
orally they don't OF course, you've
tried to fnd where the knife came
from?"
MCGEE smiled on her.
"Have I caught you asleep at last p
he asked.
Nope" replied Rosalie promptly
and cheerfully. "since you put 1t that
way. / saw the pile Of junk on the
table-an' there was another knife In
it. What do you find about that stuffI"
Nothing yet. But bet I'll and
more when / put Lawrence Wade
through the third degree. guess It's
Wade
Il guess probably" admitted Ros,
alie. Most mysteries amt mysteries
at all after the first day. Well, now
I'm botherin' busy man in ONCE
hours an must run along Let's see
five minutes to four, an it's bad luck
to go before the hour. Suppose you
tell me about yourself an how the
worlds usin' your"
Inspector MCGEE sat back In his Of
fee chair and waxed eloquent. How.
ever, his narrative of pulls and promo
lions and Tammany influence was
never finished. For before the hour
struck, the silent attentive doorman
entered and laid on his desk card.
Inspector MCGEE took 1t up, glanced at
II perfunctorily. and suddenly let out
an exclamation which had all the
power and verve Of an oath.
by the great cats! !" he exclaimed.
look at that-'Mrs. John H. Hanska. ="
Rosalies took the card and fingered
it. EiNs staSa
THE widow, bot. 81.
Thought he was single" remarked
the inspector Though. after all, I'd
Just been taking 1t for granted
WELL" said Rosalie, rising, that's
ome.again-soon for mo-
But the inspaptor was observing her
with eyes which held quizzical invita-.
ton.
Honest now" he said, wouldn't
you like to sit in on this interview
Rosalie flashed her dimples and con.
templated him for second. Then
with the unexpected lightness which
marked all her movements. she sat
down.
See here, Martin McGee," she said
you amt goin' to make fool of me-
draggin' me into this case-but I'm
dying to listen Just the same"
"Show them In said the inspector
on the instant, and as though fearing
that she would pull back her permits
sions
But not unless she's willing" said
Rosalie, as they waited.
And then through the door came two
women.
Good lord!" commented Resale un'
der her breath.
CHAPTER ILL.,
The first was tall and big. But he1
height was mainly the superb carriage
Of her shoulders, her size but the ripe
roundness of goddess figure. She
was dark; she was young; she was
beautiful. At that moment, her face
limited tragedy In every line and color
but at any moment she must have been
serious. It could smile only In flashes
that face-with its broad serene brow
which held its own only by force
against floods Of dark hair, with its
regular line of profile, with it's large
rippled mouth parting slowly even or
her speech. But mainly 1t was the
eyes which gave gravity to her beauty
They were clear and big; they had the
rare lift at the inner curve which lends
an appearance of frankness and in
oop,,o,,cnocc pov0n6 their hearty