Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-10


o'clockr However, It's . good story"
Thank you.'
"As a. story. AZ information, 1t
leaves out most Of the important
points"
Thank you again"
You're welcome. Color size. and
trappings Of the horse?"
II didn't notice particularly. Black
I think; yes, certainly. black. Rather
a large horse. That's all can tell
YOU"
"Humph! Color, size and trAppinss
Of tho rider?"
Reddish brown hair with gloss
like butterhy's wipg." said tho artist
with ,enthusiasms: "deep hazel eyes;
clear sun-browned skin: tall should
say quite tall-but 500 feminine
that you wouldn't realize, her tallness.
She was dressed in light brown rid
ing costume, with q toQue hat, very
simple tan gsuntlets, and tan boots;
that u. the frst time saw her. The
next time"
Hold on! A dressmakers cata-
logue is no good to me. couldn't
remember It ALL Was she in riding
clothes on any Of her later visits?"
NO" H&
"Any scars or marks?"
Certainly mott"
That's pity; although you seem to
think, otherwise. Age?"
Well, twenty. perhaps."
add i've. Say twenty-five"
What for!" demanded Sedgwick
Indignantly. @M
I'm allowing for the discount Of
romance. Did you notice her boots ?"
mot particularly: except that she
was always spick and span from
"Humph! Was 1T pretty warm the
last week she called on your"
Piping"
did she show 1t - n =
Never . bit. Always looked fresh
as q hover
Then, although she came far. she
didn't walk, far to get here. There's
a road back OF the hill yonder, and a
little copse In an open field where
motor.car has stood. should say
that she had driven herself there
and come across the hill to you"
Gould >we track the carr" asked
Sedgwick eagerly. p
mo farther than, the main road.
What is the, latest she ever left here,
when, she arrived atoot?"
"Once she stayed till half, past six.
begged her to Il stay and dine; but
she drew into herself 1T the mere sug-
gestion.''
Half past six. Allowing for half
past seven dinner. and time to dress
for 1t, she, would have perhaps twelve
to fifteen miles to 60 in the car That
figures opt with the saddle ride, too.
Now, we haye. as.your visitor, . woman
'of rather inadequate description eked
out by some excellent sketches-young
passably good-looking don't lose your
temper, sedgwt$); ,passably good.
looking. at least; with command Of
some wealth: athletic, . traveller we'll
informed The name she gave 10
obviously not her own; not even, l
Judge, her maiden name.
Sedgwick turned very white. do
you mean that she 40 married WON
an ?" he demanded. 3,
How could you have failed to see
It, returned the other gently.
'But what 10, there to prove 1T"
Proof? None. Indication, plenty.
Her visits, in the first place. A young
girl Of breeding and social experience
would hardly have come Z to your
studio. "A married woman might, who
respected herself with full confidence.
and knew, with the same confidence,
that you would respect her. And, my
dear boy" added Kent, with his quiet
winning smile, you are man to in
spire. confidence. Otherwise, l myself
might have suspected you Of having a
hand in, the death Of the woman on the
beach"
Never mind the woman on the
beach. This other. matter IL more than
life or death. Is that himsy supposi-
ton all you have. to 90 on?",
mo. Her travel. Her wide ac-
quaintances with men and events Her
obvious .poise."
"All might be found in = very ex-
ceptional girl, such - she is. Why
shouldn't she tell mo, II she were mar
ried?'' .s,
"Oh, don't expect mo to dissect
feminine psychology. There I'm quite
beyond my depth. But you'll note she
doesn't seem. to have told you any
slightest thing about herself She's
let concealment, like worm L the
bud. prey on your damask cheek"
"Confound your Interpretations! It's
true,~ though, But there might be
many reasons"
DOUBTLESS. Only, my imagination
doesn't. seem to run to them. And
reverting to tangible fact, as clench-
ing evidence, there are her gloves,
which she always wore"
What about her Gloves" liz
"You never saw her left hand, did
you?" a IF LIZ
"Oh. I see. You mean the wedding
ring. Well, l, suppose" continued
Sedgwick, with a tinge of contempt
in his voice, "she could have taken of
her ring as easily as her gloves
There was no answering contempt
in Chester Kent's voice as he replied,
".but a ring, constantly worn and then
emoved, leaves an unmistakable mark.
Perhaps she gave you greater credit
for powers Of observation than you
deserve. I'm afraid, Frank, that she is
a married woman; and I'm sure, from
reading between your lines, that she
r~-~. What thu rnnnoc.