Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-14

l
claimed irritably. THAT is q hateful
word, to which l much object. There
is no matchmaking in It."
'"It may not be money you exact, but
It's moneys kind; 1t is torture. sheer
and purposeless brutality"
Mr.. Cockerill sighed.
| How unreasonable you are this
morning, my dear Fenwick! 1t is
really very unkind Of you to come here
in this frame Of mind. You know
very well that have only two inter.
ests in life; my birds, and the strange
indescribable. but extraordinarily
subtle pleasure I feel" Mr.. Cockerill
went on, his voice growing moro earn.
est, his eyes shining I'm having peo-
pie sit in that chair-just where you
are sitting now. my dear Fenwick-
and watching their terror when they
realize that light is streaming In up
on some dark secret chamber Of their
lives. that they are face to face with
one who has power over them ),
which is as the power of life and
death"
Something was flashing out Of Mr..
Cockerill's eyes which Bliss had never
seen there before. His tone, too
quivered as though with ecstasy.
Pleasure or no pleasure the other
declared firmly, II have come to tell
you It's finished. You can go to my
partners tomorrow and tell them the
tlNth. Out with 1t whenever You like;
from the housetops. or in my clerks
ONCE. Tell them all that robbed the
firm Of few hundred pounds in the
days when I was an articled clerk.
You found It out and you've held 1t
over me all these years. I've finished
now! Not another word do you get
out of me. And, as for those unfortu-
nate clients whom you keep on tenter-
hooks, I am going to tell them the
truth, and they will understand how
little they have to fear
Thoroughly unreasonable this
morning. see, my friend" Mr.. Cock
erill sighed. what with dear Tom
my's indisposition, and your unreason-
ableness, I perceive l shall end the
day with bad headache
II don't care If you end 1t in hell!"
Mr.. Fenwicl1 declared fiercely. Il am
here for one purpose. and for one pur-
pose only. am going to have those
documents you robbed me Of, and re-
turn them to my clients, or wiring |
your neck"
Mr.. Cockerill sat back in his chair.
No violence, II you please" he
begged. Help yourself, my dear !
friend. This office and all it contains ,
Is at your disposal"
Fenwick commenced at once to
search the place, opening drawers, /
throwing around him the typewriter
sheets Of that wonderful treatise on
birds, glancing closely at evcry scrap
Of paper.
Mr. Cockerill sighed once more.
Thoroughly unreasonable, I regret
to see." he repeated you are making |
a shocking mess!'
Mr. Fenwick resumed his seat.
Until you hand over those docu |
ments," he said, 81 shall stop here"
IN which CASE Mr.. Cockerill >re.
piled. drawing his typewriter toward /
him. II shall 60 on with my work"
Bliss stole down the stairs, called a |
taxi, and drove to the Acropolis Club. !,
He presented Mr.. Cockerill's card, Of
which he had retained possession, and
was at once allowed access to his
room.
He was back again in his place at
he peep-hole within a quarter of an
lour. He peered into the room. Mr..
cockerill was banging away at his
machine: Mr.. Fenwick was sitting a
'ew yards of with folded arms
Then he slipped from his place.
knocked at the door. and entered the
Dom with a despatch-box In his hand
You were inquiring about some
he said to Mr.. Fenwick.
7 think you will find them in here"
Mr. Cockerill, for once, was discom.
POSED. He stared blankly at Bliss.
Mr.. Fenwick was speechless.
You're a thief" Mr.. CockerilI
,asped at last. You have been to my
ooms-you have robbed mel"
Bliss set down the box by Mr.. Fen.
vick's side.
"A thief. perhaps" he assented,
urning to his employer, and you are
blackmailer."
There was a moments breathless
Hence. Mr. Cockerill was very white.
III you want to give me in charge"
Bliss went on slowly. you can. / told
he hall-porter as came up that there
night be little trouble, and that II
ang the lift bell 1t would be for
oliceman."
I'll give the pair Of you in
Mr. Cockerill clustered,
Using to his feet THAT tox contains
ny personal securities"
Il don't like to have to speak so
lainly." Bliss replied. "but I believe
OH are a liar Anyway. you will have
D trust Mr.. Fenwick to return them
D you There is just one more little
latter" il
He held out his hand and pointed to F.,
he empty space in the window. and
he empty space over the mantelpiece.
Mr. Cockerill seemed. II possible.
lore agitated than ever.
What have you done with the
irds?" he cried quickly. +,
They are out on the leads enjoy.
lg the sunshine" Bliss replied. III
GU are going to take this matter rea.
onably, they will be back again in a
,w minutes; II you don't, will wiring {
,o;r oocLc mo nv ono and throw I