Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
CHAPTER Ix-(continued) !.

CHAPTER Ix-(continued).
At present, however, he discovere'
that he was downright scared. Unless
nne of them rose up and told abou
Mary and then called her in to ver1f!
the truth it seemed that Hooar
Hitchin, idiot though he might be
had established something OF case
And instead Of sneering. johnson 30!
Ter grew redder and redder. unit
Hitchin said:
"Ah, you know all about it, eh?
had wondered :,
well, cut out your wondering!
johnson Boiler said roughly ne
cause"
Il wouldn't talk now, it I were you;
said Hitchin, kindly enough. I'm de
voting myself to Fry. Well. Fry"
As yet Anthony had not found the
proper line of speech.
1.-THE boy, stranger, comes mere Al
midnight" Hitchin puned relentAasss
ly. "There is q heavy fall or two
There is weeping before seven. the
weeping of q strange woman. THERE
are tho boys clothes-the rost o.
them are down stairs. So once more
where is David Prentiss?'
He waited, and Anthony Fry drew
4 lonx breath. All his life he had been
painfully addicted to the truth; it. was
part Of his cherished and spotlass
reputation. All his life he had
Stunned fiction and WAS therefore ig.
nerant Of plot technique. So he did
fairly we'll in smiling souriy and say
ing calmly enough:
$50 far as l know, David IL about
starting for his worn, Hltchin. The
thing had slipped my mind altogether
but I remember now that the boy
took a suit-a blue suft-for himself
and changed into it while here. That
outfit was decidedly shabby. After
that he left, and as to tho French girl
you may theoriIe and be hanged, for
she happens to be none OF your In
fernal business, and she has no con
aection with David"
'None, eh?"
''None whatever"
Mr.. Hitchin srinned without humof
and examined the trousers in silence.
thinking. and later hummtng to him
self. He smoothed them out and then
folded them carefully, finally replac-
ing them in his brief case. After that
he looked At Anthony.
IF I were you, Fry, should tell
the truth and let me help you. You
know, and know, that the boy never
left this apartment. Well"'
''Wen? snapped Anthony.
and you know and know that
what remains of him is still here and
-
Are you accusing me Of MURDER
Anthony demanded savagely.
II have been doinn8 that for some
time"
"Hitchin. you're tie most utter ass
that ever breathed! YOU"
Doubtless. but at the same time
murder is murder, and murder Will
out, Fry!" the extraordinary crime
student said steadily, as he arose.
Nov hear me quietly. shall do
nothing-you understand. nothing
until afternoon, unless circumstances
render action imperative. You know
where We stand; know where we
stand. l want to to help you, to come
to the unfortunate end quietly il moth
ing else. l shall be in my apartment
all morning. Think it over. Talk it
over with Boiler. Then, when you
have decided that you need help,
come and see me-" He took up his
case and faced Anthony squarely. At
least l can see that you obtain
privilege or two in the local prisons"
be concluded. Goodbye
"Good Lord" breathed Anthony
Fry.
''And in going" said Hobart Hitch
IN, "let me leave Just one caution be-
hind me, Fry. Have nothing shipped
from this apartment until we have
talked again."
Then Mr.. Hitchin courageously
turning his back upon the pair,
moved out Of the fiat leaving Johnson
Boiler and his Oldest friend in a state
Of partial paralysis. Anthony recov-
ered In perhaps three seconds.
THAT Internal idiot" said Anthony.
why lunatic asylums have saner
people in straight Jackets
Maybe they have" johnson Boiler
said hoaysely, "but all the same many
a good man has sat in the electric
chair on the strength of circumstan-
tial evidence not nearly 20 good as
be made OUT"
"Well, are you afraid of sitting
therer' Anthony snapped.
Dhnson Boiler mopped his brow.
Maybe not" he said. But with the
thing he's pfeced together he can go
10 the police and have EN- around
here in ten minutes! That son-of-a-
gun can have you and me locked up
without bail and-that'd be nice,
huh?"
He can do nothing of the sort!'
HE can unless you show him
David Prentiss!" Mr.. Boiler urged.
He can unless We have the girl out
and tell him the truth and have her
corroborate it! Are you going to do
thatT'
Anthony Fry Rugged his head for
An instant; it was really aching now.
MOI" he said.
Its better than being jugged. An
thony," suggested Johnson Boiler.
You know, I've got some reputation
as well as you, and-say. what did
you meanyou mean by introducing
her as my wife?"