Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-08


that imaginary fay. Imaginary! UNI
hum" continued Kent dryly, as he
stopped to the floor. II suppose this
is an imaginary hairpin, too"
my Chinaman-" began Sedgwick
quickly, when the other caught him
up.
Don't be uneasy. I'm not going to
commit the betise Of asking who she
is."
IF you did, I give you my word Of
honor I couldn't tell you. only wish
l knew"
There was silence between them for
a moment; then the painter broke out
with the air OF one who takes resolu-
ton:
"see here, Kent! You're a sort Of
detective, aren't your"
"Pve been called So"
"And you like my picture Of The
Rough Rider?" ..
give hundred dollars worth"
"You can have that and any other
picture In my studio, except this one"
he indicated the canvas with the
faces. eff you'll find out for me who
she u.s."
"That might be done. We shall see
But frankly. Sedgwick. there's mat
ter of more Importance"
Importance? Good heavens man!
There's nothing so important in this
world"
"Oh, is 1t as bad as that?"
A heavy knock sounded from be-
low, followed by the Chinaman's voice
intermingled with boyish accents de-
handing Sedgwick in the name OF the
Western Union Telegraph Co.
Send him up" ordered Sedgwick,
and the boy arrived; but not before
Kent had quietly removed The Rough
Rider from it's place of exhibit.
Special from the village" an.
nounced young Mercury. "Sign here"
After the signature had been duly
set down, and the signer had read his
message with knit brows, the urchin
fingered, big with news.
"Say. heard about the body on the
beach," .a.
Kent turned quickly, to see Sedg-
wick's face. It was interested, but I'M
moved as he replied:
mo. Where was 1t found?"
Lonesome Cove. Woman. Dressed
swell. Washed up on q grating last
night or this morning"
cts curious how they all come in
here, isn't IT." said the artist to Kent.
"This is the third this summer"
"And It's q corkerino!" said the boy.
Sheriffs on the case Body was all
chained up, they say"
I'm sure they need you at the office
to help circulate the news, my son.
said Kent. ''And I'll bet you this
quarter, payable in advance, that you
can't get back in half an hour on your
Wheel"
With grin the boy took the coin.
II got yer" he said. and was off.
And now, Sedgwick," said Kent de.
cisively, III I'm to help you, suppose
you tell me all that you know about
the woman who called on you last
EVENING""
Last evening? All, that wasn't the
girl OF the picture. It's an intermin-
able six days since I've seen her.
mo; I know it wasn't she, having
seen your picture. and since then
your visitor of last night The ques-
ton is. who was it,"
wait. How did you know that a
woman came here last night?"
From common gossip" .'
and where have you seen her
since?'' .a
ION the beach at Lonesome Cove"
Lonesome Cove" repeated Sedg-
wick mechanically. Then with a
startled glance: "Not the dead
woman!"
Kent nodded, watching him closely.
- kan w. hno TO a
very slow, and three very quick
there was silence between them. Kent
broke it.
do you see now the wisdom Of
frankness?"
"You mean that I shall be accused
of having hand in her death?"
STRONGLY suspected, at least
ION what basis ?"
"You are the last person known to
have seen her alive"
Surely, that isn't enohgh?"
mot Of itself. There's brlise back
of your right ear"
Involuntarily. Sedgwick's hand went
to the spot.
"Who gave It to your" pursued Kent.
"You know It all without my telling
you" cried Sedgwick. But never
saw the woman before in my life, Kent
Il give you my word of honor! She
came and went, but who she Is or why
she came or went have no more idea
than you have Perhaps not nearly so
much"
There you are wrong. I'm depend.
ing on you to tell me about her"
Not If my life hung on it. And how
could her being drowned on the beach
be connected with me?"
II didn't say that she was found
drowned on the beach"
"You did! No; pardon me. It was the
messenger boy. But you said that her
body was found in Lonesome Cove"
THAT Is quite different matter"
"She wasn't drowned?"
II should be very much surprised II
the autopsy showed any water In the
lungs"
"But the boy said that the body was
dashed to a grating, and that there
were chains on It, Is that true?"
ut was dashed to a grating, and
manacled."
"Manacled? What CHASTITY mys-
tery!Y Sedgwick dropped his chin in
Ill ~ nov,sk ,eAl