Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-09
CHAPTER XVIII Continued.
Yes I think do" agreed Mr. M
Win q Laugh in Every ine,
Earl e D. DER Bi9sers


CHAPTER XVIII Continued.
Eyes, think I do,'' agreed Mr. Ma
gee salty.
Il have told you the whole story"
Kendrick replied "and yet it seems
to me that still it is not all told. Why
should Hayden have killed himself?
He had lied to me, 1t is true, but life
was always sweet to him. and it hardly
seems to me that he was the sort to
die simply because his falsehood was
discovered. Was there some other
act of cruelty-some side to the story
Of which we are none of us aware? |
wonder"
He was silent moment.
Anyhow, l have told you all
know" he said. "Shall l tell 1t also
to the coroner? Or shall we olloW
Hayden's suicide to pass as the re-
suit of his implication in this attempt
at bribery? I ask your advice, MT.
Magee." 49,.
shy advice" returned Magee, is
that you befuddle no pompous Nttie
village doctor with the complication
of this unhappy tale. No, let the
story be that Hayden killed himsei1
"A the tolls closed in on him-the tolls
Of the law that Furnishes the bribe
giver-now and then and occasionally.
Mr.. Kendrick, you have my deepest
sympathy. Is it too much for me to
hope"-he glanced across the room to
where Myra Thornhill sat beside the
professor-"that the best of your Lire
Ia vet to come-that out of the wreck
this man made of it you may yet be
happy
Kendrick smiled.
"You are very kind" he said
"Twice We have met and battled IN the
snow. and l do not hold it against you
that both times you we're the victor.
Life in a tropic town. Mr.. Magee, Is
not exactly a muscle-building expert
ence. Once | might have given the
whole proceeding a different turn. Yes,
Miss Thornhill has waited for me-
all these years-waited, believing. IL
Is a loyalty of which I can not speak
without-you understand. She knows
why I went away-why stayed away
She is still ready to marry me. snail
70 again into the Suburban Office ana
try to lift the road from the muck into
which it has fallen Yes, 1t is not too
much for me to hope and for your
kindness-that great happiness Is
still for me-"
believe me, I'm glad replied Ma
gee with youthful enthusiasm, hold.
Ing out his hand. I'm sorry l spoiled
YOUR little game up here, but
81 understand" smiled Kendrick.
think none the less of you for what
Won have done. And who knows? IL
may turn out to have been the Wlsest
course after all"
All, would it? Mr.. Magee walked
to the window, pondering on the odd
stangle of events that had not yet been
completely Strengthened out. Ger
tainly her eyes were an honest blue as
well as a beautiful-but who was she !
Where was she? The great figure or
Mrs. Norton stirred restlessly near at
hand: the pulled lids, of her eyes
opened.
"Mr. Magee," she said, when she had
made out his figure by the WINDOW,
"you'ye been a true friend. as | might
say. to a couple of mad females who
ought to have been at home by their
own firesides, and I'm going to ask
one more favor of you. Find out when
the next train goes to Reuton, and see
that I'm at the station an hour or two
before 1t pulls out
"I'll do that, Mrs. Norton" smiled
Magee. "By the way, is Norton the
name?''
z eyes" answered the woman, that's
my name. Of course, it amt hers.
cant tell that"
mo matter" said Mr.. Magee, shell
probably change it soon. Can't you
tell me something about her-just
tiny bit of information. Just picture
Of where she is now, and what she's
doing with that small fortune gave
her"
.eWhere is she now?" repeated Mrs.
Norton. "She's home and in bed in
nv second floor front, unless she's gone
clear crazy. And that's where wish
was this minute-in bed-though it's
a question in my mind if I'll ever be
able to sleep again, what with the up
roar and confusion my house is prob
ably in by this time leaving it in charge
81 a scatter-brained girl. Norton always
nsed to say if you want thing done
right, do it yourself, and though ne
didn't always live up to the sentiment,
letting me do most things he wanted
done right, there was a lot OF truth in
his words. I certainly mus. get back
to Reuton, just as quick as the railroad
will take me-"
.Why did you Gomez" prodded Mr..
Magee. why did you leave your
house on this strange mission
"The Lord knows replied the
woman. II certainly never intended
to. but she begged and pleaded, and the
first thing knew, was on train.
She has winning ways, that girl-may-
be you've noticed?'
II have" assented Billy Magee.
81 thought so. No, Mr.. Magee, I
can't tell you nothing about her. /
amt allowed to-even you that has
been so kind. She made me promise.
He'll know soon enough she kept
saying. But will tell you, as told
you before, there's no occasion to
worry about her-unless you was to
think was she held up and murdered
with all that money on her, the brave
little dear. II you was considering
Offering yourself for the job of chang