Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-17

now as It was, and 1t was mighty de
cent in him to hold his tongue and
say nothing. He strolled up to James
and laid his hand on his shoulder. He
would take James into his confidence
and make an aid Of him on the
strength of their former business re-
lations with each other.
Az frankly as he had told Algernon
his troubles, he now retold them to
James in low voice that no one nigh,
overhear, leading the little man down
the terrace steps and halfway across
the lawn.
Algernon was helping him to get
away, he exclaimed and he asked
James to do the same, simply and with
no excuse as to his own conduct.
II forged and I want to get away
Will you help me?" he asked frankly
bluntly.
What can do?" stammered James
in surprise. He didn't want to see any
one arrested. It must he 50 deucedly
embarrassing.
"Just keep the constable engaged
and distracted bit II he describes
this Holmes he is after, don't let him
think Of me, see? I'm Todd and don't
let him think for moment otherwise,
Distract him, get his thoughts on other
subjects"
Golf would be good,' thought James
aloud. Golf was his one hobby.
Just So" agreed Holmes, wonder
ing if the constable would know what
goli was. "Try him on that and other
subjects. Just keep him talking IN.
til Todd returns with the provisions
and can get off in the yacht"
why, yes" said James kindly, see
ing light through the darkness Of the
riddles that had been making him
think more and harder than he liked
to think. why, yes, shall be glad
to-"
Thank you,'' said Holmes.
They shook hands gravely anu
James returned to the house while
Holmes strolled carelessly down to the
yacht, not daring to run lest he be
seen and the sight cause unfavorable
comment from the constable. On the
sloop he told the astonished Bates that
he would help him in the cabin and
withdrew thither, keeping discreetly
out Of sight.
Molly was still on the terrace in
front of the house and did not see
James as he passed through the hall
into the drawing room. The girl ling
cred where she was until far down the
drive, turning in at the gates. she cav
the great red touring car and Joe at
the wheel. Then she hurried into the
hall, listened moment near the draw
ing room, heard the constable, James
and Hancock arguing strenuously the
possibility that Algernon was not
Holmes, and crept to the window to
watch what was going on down at the
wharf, wondering in her excitement
why Joe was alone. Where was his &C
complete? The voices in the room be-
yond rose and fell. James and Han
cock were indignant, the constable was
torn between doubt and anger, and the
girl listened and watched in GREATNESS
fear
Could they keep the constable long
enough to give her boy a chance to get
away? Why didn't they go faster down
there at the wharf? She saw that
Holmes was helping and believing him
Todd and that he was aware of Joe's
guilt. blessed him in her heart. They
were working with feverish haste. but
to the agonized girl at the window they
seemed to be crawling about their task.
It was hours to her since the car had
stopped at the wharf until the moment
when Bates staggered into the cabin
with the last armful Of goods. And
lust as he did so, the doors OF the
drawing room, closed by James On the
ground that Mrs. Todd did not care
to have the rest of the servants know
that one of their number was under
suspicion, opened and the three men
came out. Hancock and James still
talking, the constable silently and
grimly determined to fool no longer
but to search the place.
With flaming cheeks and her heart
beating SO that it stifled her, the girl
took one last quick glance out OF the
window before she turned to meet the
men, She drew a breath Of relief and
smiled for she saw the white sails OF
the little craft fill and the beat slowly
turn toward the sea and the dancing
white caps. Then her eyes fell on the
intervening space between the wharf
and the house and saw the car. she
grew slowly white and leaned against
the wall for support The car was COM
ing directly to the house across the
lawn and Joe was at the wheel. Why
had he not gone on the boat whose
sails she could glimpse as it joyously
beat it's way against the wind toward
the open sea?
CHAPTER XIX.