Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-10

Yield to her touch. There was no Dell
but there might be another and hum
bier entrance on one Of the side
porches: SO she hurried around to the
western wing Of the hotel and discover
ed another door! The door was slight
" lar and she pushed It wide and then
closed It, As she did so, the sound OF
it's closing was drowned in a crashing
volley.
She found herself in a small office,
desolate and untenanted. The closed
desks and the safe were covered with
last years dust. There was a curious
feeling Of loneliness about the place
that frightened her.
Cicely held her bag in one hand and
eripped her umbrella in the other.
She was surprised that there were no
signs Of life in the hotel ott1ce. she
passed through an inner door and
gained the great entrance hall.
"Ts any one here?" asked Cicely.
But another crash of thunder shook
the building. ooh, dear" she cried.
in panic of fear; what shall do
While she quivered there, she heard
another sound = a sound of footsteps
echoing through empty rooms over
head.
Some one else was here = she heard
mems voices and a rough laugh. I'M
pulsively, she darted through the little
gate In the clerks inclosure and
crouched under the counter.
what does it mean?' she asked
her frightened heart. "The place
seems clsoed, but Mr.. Charlson must
have received my note saying that
would obey his instructions and report
for duty today. Oh, dear. if it would
only stop laundering believe ia go
, back to the railroad station
Cicely came out from her cover ana
took survey Of the situation. Some
horrible mistake had occurred, for 1t
was evident that the Pebble Beach no.
tel was untenanted save by herself.
!. She must get out of the hotel as soon
as possible and communicate with Mr.
Charlson. Meantime, If she only had a
weapon:
She opened one of the desk drawers
and CROPPED in it's dark interior. Her
fingers closed on something cold and
hard. It was a revolver. A feeling OF
security stiffened her courage.
At that moment light footsteps sound
ed on the veranda outside. Someone
tried the front door and then Wen'
around to the Office entrance.
And then the door opened and clos
ed again and another presence entered
the hall. Cicely had, dropped down IN
to her hiding place once more.
The intruder paused in the middle
of the hall, scratched match and pre-
sently there was waited to C1cely the
scent Of a cigarette. The smoker open
ed one or two doors and banged them
noisiIy. Tim he mounted the stairs
and prowled around the upper nails
opening and closing doors.
| Now was her chance to escape
Cicely seized her bag and umbreils
and. still clutching the revolver IN mel
right hand, she left her hiding place
and made for the door by which she
had entered. It was still open. the
! little Office was unchanged except tina
It was folded by the afterslow OF pals
sunset, AS Cicely fumbled with the
latch OF the outer door to freedom, tht
revolver slipped from her fingers ant
thudded to the floor.
There was sharp report and, al
the shot rang out, Cicely screamed. !,
| overhead the prowler uttered vel
of surprise and came tumbling dowl
the stairs Cicely, frantically snatch
ing at tha latched door. saw him O.