Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-22

You're yon tho track OF something.
and you're keeping II dark from mol"
I'm not travelling the most brilliant
" illuminated paths myself, my young
friend" replied Kent, and lapsed into
silence.
The artist set the Elliott sketch be-
side the copy, and compared them for
a time. Then he fell to wandering
desolately about the studio. Sudden
ly he turned, walked over to his friend
and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Kent, for the love Of heaven. can't
you do something for NOR
"You mean about the giYl?"
6edgwick nodded. II can't got my
mind to stay on anything else. Even
this Internal puzzle Of the pictures
doesn't interest mo for more than the
minMts. The longing for her 10 eating
the heart out Of me"
''My dear Frank" said the other
quietly, III thcre were anything n
could do, don't you think I'd be doing
Il! IT'S q very dark tangle. And
first OF all I have to clear you"
Never mind me! What do care
what people think?''
"Or Whist she may thdnk?'
Sedgwick's head dropped. II didn't
consldt- that"
IT may be tho very center point for
consideration"
''If there wsre only something to
dol" fretted the artist. res this
cursed tnaction that Is getting my
nerve!"
IF that's ALL" returned Kent slow
ly, "Ill give you something to do. And
I fancy" he added grimly, 1T win be
sufficiently absorbing to take your
mind from your troubles for time ut
least" >
Bring It on I'm ready"
"All in good time. Meantime. here's
a little test for your Intelligence.
Problem" continued Kent, with q.
smile: when tho bewfldered medieval
mind encountered puzzle too abtruse
for ordinary human solution. what WAS
It's refuge?''
Magic, I suppose" said sedgvick
after some consideration.
Good! You get high mark. The
medieval mind, may observe, was It
times worthy Of emulation"
Explain"
lam seriously thinking, my dear
young friend said Kent solemnly, of
consulting an astrologer.
You're crazy!" retorted Sedgwick.
II wish I,were for few hours" said
Kent with entire seriousness. 1T
might help
well, that's where I'll be II you
don't ind something for me to do
soon. So. come on, and mRterialize
this promised activity"
1T you regard trip to the Martin
dale public library as activity, can
furnish that much excitement"
What are you going to do there?
Consult the files OF tho newspapers,
and pick out q likely high class as
trologer from the advertisements"
THAT has mild nutty favor; but 1t
doesn't excite any profound emotion
In me except concern for your sanity"
you've said that before retorted
Kent. However, I'm not sure shall
take you with me, anyway"
Then that isn't the coming adven-
ture?''
NO; nothing 70 mild and innocu.
GUS
care you askiAg me to run some
danger? 70 It 70 sec her?" said sedg
wick eagerly.
Leave her out Of It for the present.
There is no question Of seeing her
now
The artist sighed and turned away.
"But the danger Is real enough, and
pretty ugly"
"Life isn't SO wholly delightful to me
just at present that wouldn't risk 1t
in good cause.
But this is a bigger risk than life.
There's an enterprise forward which,
1t fails, means the utter damning Of
reputation. What do you say?"
Kent" said Sedgwick after mo-
ment's thought, Pm thirty-two years
old. Ten years ago I'd have said yes
at the drop Of the question. Perhaps
I value my life less and my good name
more, than did then. What's the in
duceinent?"
"The probable clearing up Of the
case we're on"
as that all the information get?"
I'D rather not tell you any more at
present. II would only get on your
nerves and unft you for the job
Again Sedgwick fell into thought.
When come to tackle IT, con-
tinued Kent, Il may And that one man
could do 1t alone. But"
Wait. You're going into 1t, are
you?"
"Oh, certainly"
with, or without me?"
YES"
why couldn't you have said so at
first and saved this discussion" cried
his host. "Of course, II you're in for
It, SO am l. But what about your rep
utation?"
Its worth good deal to me-" con.
fessed the scientist. And / can't deny
I'm stalking it all on my theory Of this
case. II I'm wrong well, it's about
the hnis of my career"
See here, Chet!" broke out his
friend do you think I'm going to let
you take that kind OF chance for
me?"f
1T isn't for you," declared the other
with irritation. Its for myself. Can't
you younderstand that this Is my
case? You're only an incident in it.
I'm betting my career aginst-well,
against the devil of mischance, that
I'm right. AS told you, I'm natural
ly timid. don't plunge, except on q
$50 o<iooIlu u,,ro thing C0 hnn,f cot