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

her star and And happiness, and that
perhaps 1t might lead mo to glory or
something"
A kind Of snort came from Kent.
''Where have my brains BEEN" he
cried He thrust the bit Of embroidery
back into his pocket, Then, with an
abrupt change of tone:
Well Is your temper in hand IT,
For the present"
TELL me about II, then"
"You remember the--the picture Of
the facet" said Sedgwick with an ef-
fort.
Nobody would easily forget 1t"
1--WE been doing another portrait
from the sketches. It was on apaque
glass, an experimental medium that
I've worked on some. Late this after
noon L went out. leaving the glass
sheet, backed against light board.
on my easel. The door was locked
with q heavy spring. eYt somebody
came in and smashed my picture to
fragments. II I can find that man,
Kent I'll kill him!"
Kent glanced at the artists long
strong hands. They were clenched on
his knees. The fingers were bloodless.
II believe you would said the
scientist with conviction. you
mustn't, you know. No Injuries. at
present"
DON'T joke with me about this.
Kent"
very good. But just consider, please
that I'm having enough trouble clear
ing you Of supposed murder OF your
doing, to want real one, however
provoked, on my hands"
Keep the man out Of my way. then. :"
That depends. Anything else IN
your place damaSed?"
\ mot that I noticed. But ! didn't
pay much attention to anything else.
came here direct to and you"
That's right. Well, I'm with you,
for the Nook"
Locking his curious room after him,
Kent led the way to the hotel lobby,
where he stopped only long enough to
send some kilograms. The sun was
still a few minutes short OF Its setting
when he and his companion emerged
from the hotel. Kent at once broke
into trot.
Such ruin as had been wrought in
Sedgwick's studio was strictly localiz-
ed. The easel lay on the floor. with its
rear leg crumpled. Around 1t we're
scattered the fragraments OF the glass
upon which the painter had set his
labor, OF love. A high old-fashioned
chair faced the wreckage. On It's peak
was hung travelling cap. Looping
across the back sprawled Norfolk
jacket belonging to Sedgwick. Ches-
ter Kent lifted the coat, and after q
swift survey let 1t drop.
Did you leave that there" he
asked. 9e s,tt
II hung it across the back OF the
chair answered Sedgwick.
North window closed?"
Eyes, as you see 1t now"
"And west one open?"
Nothing has been changed. tell
YOU, except this" sedgwick's hand.
outstretched toward the destroyed por.
trait, condensed itself voluntarily into
a knotty hst.
THE lock Of the door hasn't been
tanpered WITH" said Kent. AS fol
this window" he leaned out, looking
around, amy man gaining access here
must have used . ladder. which II un
likely in broad daylight"
How about . pass-key for the
door,
!. There's a simpler solution nearer
at hand. fancy. You didn't chance
to notice that things have happened to
the coat, az we'll - to the easel"
Then the invader went through the
coat and, not finding what he was
looking for. smashed my picture =
cried sedgwick. I.
Through the coat, certainly .
agreed Kent, with his quiet smile.
Now shang 1t across the chair back
just as 1t was, please"
Sedgwick took the Norfolk jacket
from him. why, there's hole
through it," he exclaimed.
Exactly; the path of the invader"
"A bullet"
Right again. Instead of numbering
as you pine to do, you've been muir
dercd. That the picture was destroy
ed is merely bit OF Ill fortune. That
you wern't inside the coat when the
bullet went through 1t and cut the
prop from your easel, is a bit Of the
other kind. Hang up the coat, please"
Sedgwick obeyed.
There said Kent viewing the re-
suit from the window. AT q distance
Of, say, quarter Of mile, that ar
rangement OF coat and cap would look
uncommonly like man sitting in q
chair before his work. At least,
should think 30. And yonder thicket
on the hillside" he added, looking out
of the window again, rs just about
that distance, and seems to be the only
spot in sight giving straight range.
Suppose we run up there"
Sound as was his condition, Sedg.
wick wss painting when he brought up
at the spot, some yards behind his
long-limbed leader. AS the scientist
had surmised; the arrangement Of
coat and cap in the studio presented,
at that distance, an excellent stimuli.
acrlm Of the rear view of man loung.
ing in chair. Bidding the artist stay
outside the copse, Kent entered on
hands and knees and made extended
exploration. After a few moments
the sound of low lugubrious whistling
was heard from the trees, and present.
ly the musician emerged leading him
self by the lobe of his ear.
Evidently you've found something
commented Sedgwick, who had begun
to comprehend his friends peculiar