Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-29
"What do Won want?"

vulstvely. The Kent that broke up
1.-THE Coordinated Spiritism circle?"
Yes"
Its Ill bargaining with the devil"
observed Preston Jax grimly. Whats
the exchange?"
II do not believe that you are guilty
of murder. Tell me the whole story.
plainly and straight. and I'll clear you
In so far as can believe you inno-
cent"
For the first time the seer's chin was
at peace.
"You want me to begin with this
lady's necklace?"
"why. yes. But after that, begin at
the beginning"
"The topa1es are cached under q
rock near the cliff. couldn't direct
you. but I could show you"
EN- time you shall. Ono moment.
As you realize, you are under presump-
ton Of murder. Do you know the
identity Of tho victim?"
"Of Astraea! That's all I know
about her. don't even know her last
name"
"Why Astraea!'
That's the way she signed herself.
her, without being told"
"And you played UP to that belsef!-
"Well--of couroe l did"
Eyes, you naturally would. But II
you had no name to write to, now
could you answer the lettors!"
Through personal advertisements.
She had made out q code. She was
a smart one In some ways, l can tell
you"
Have You any Of the letters here?"
'"Only the last one"
Bring It to me-"
Obediently as an intimidated child.
the astrologer left the room, presently
returning with plain sheet OF paper
with handwriting on one side. Kent,
who almost never made q mistake, had
forgotten in his absorption In the mat
ter OF the document, the presence,
even the existence, Of Marjorie Blair.
He was recalled to himself. with q
shock. as he felt her shoulder touch
his. Involuntarily he whirled the
sheet behind him.
"Let me sec the rest of It, please,
she said calmly enough.
Kent nodded. With dropping head,
and chin atwitch, the Master OF Stars
stood studying them, while they read
the letter together It was In two
handwritings, the date, address and
body OF the letter being in clear
running character, while the sigma sna
minute, detached lettering. the note
read:
"All is now ready. You have but to
carry out our arrangements implicitly.
The mace is known to you. There can
ha M diN,culty in your finding 1t. At
two hours after shutdown of July the
am We shall be there. Our ship will
ha IN waiting All will be as before.
Vii mo not Your reward shall be
-r.ater than YOU dream. Astraea."
: Vent looked askance at Mrs. Blair.
sha was very White, and her sensitive
Ina nmiverad 4 little, but she contrtved,
w;th an effort OF courage which he
= ! rked With a flashing access of ad-
!, IRA tim 10 smile reassuringly.
."nnn,t fear FOR me" she said. I'VE
I1,orrancas ara 81 Arm fiber"
$50 I see" he said warmly He
folded and pocketed the letter.
"Had you even been to this place be-
force" Kent asked Of Jax.
NO"
'.'Then how did you expect TO ma
it," 49,
4. "sbe sent me a map. lost it-t l'a
night
"What about the ship
~ wish you'd tell me. There WASH
any ship that, could see.
And the reference to all oeins as
It was before! 80. !,
most every letter there was son,0' r.s
about things didn't understand. one
seemed to think we used TO Know
each other. Maybe We o'd; a nun
dreds Of EN- come 70 NE. ea ~
remember 'em ALL Sometimes sn me
called me Hermann. NY na sav
Hermann. Right up to the time saw
her on the heights was afraid sne was
taking me for somebody else ana ina.
the whole game would De quHlieu 90
soon as we came face to race.
at seems quite probable" said Kent
with a faint smile. that you were
taken for some one else. Your personal
appearance would hardly betray the
error however"
- ~ u, >. -. or0thor