Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-27
groaning then he went on again louder

soda, mixed it, propped FredericI
against the back Of the sofa and he'll
the glass to his lips.
Frederick emptied it and said feebly
More"
Give the poor fellow another"
said: and Richards gave him another
Frederick swallowed it firmly, the1
he moaned 81 shan't be able to worl
fer weeks an weeks"
How came you to fall off the lad
der?" said.
1T was the fyce the 'orrible fyc'
wiz eyes like devil. 1t give me
start" said Frederick
well, that was silly fancy to buml
your head for l said.
1T warn't no fancy; l seed 1t plyne
1t 'ad pulled the blind on one side an
was a'starin' at me-" said Frederick II
firm voice.
Rubbish. The house is empty"
said.
With two brandies.and-sodas in him
Frederick proved of a very argumenta
tive disposition. He sat up to discuss
the matter. He would have 1t that II
was no fancy. He had looked up from
his work to see horrible face staring
at him round the corner Of the blind
1t was such a devilish face that the
sight of it had given him such start
that he had lost his balance and fallen
off the ladder. He grew more and
more excited about it the more firmly
expressed my disbelief in it. He for
/. got all about the Workingmen's Com
[ pensation Act and his weeks and
weeks of holiday; and at last, arguing
furiously. he walked to Number 16 with
me. l climbed the ladder myself:
there was no face there. I raped the
window: no face peered at me round
the corner of the blind The blind
never stirred
gave Frederick half sovereign to
soothe the pain Of the bump on his
head and fetched another gardener,
had the rest Of the window boxes trim
med and thought very little more Of
Frederick's silly fancy.
But night or two later, coming back
from playing baccarat and talking to
Alice at Scruton's, ] came upon
Brookes, the most intelligent of the
policemen who protect the Gardens, in
front Of Number 16. remembered
Frederick's story and stopped and told
him about 1t.
Brookes knows Frederick and he
said: "Lor,' m'Lord. there's nothin' in
what e sees or don't see. II e seed
purply-green iyce. it wouldn't have sur.
prised me, SEEM the amount of booze
e gets outside of in day
That's what l thought said.
"All the syme. as it 'appens, I'm
keepin' my eye on this ere 'ouse my
self Though it is empty. there's
people 'angs about it. m'Lord.'
81 wish they'd clean these filthy win.
dows, then They're disgrace to the
Gardens said.
"You may well say so, mLord," said
Brookes in very sympathetic way.
He went on to tell me that he had
seen men several men = foreigners
hanging about the house at night,
for the last fortnight, two or three Of
them at time. They were not the
foreign refuse with which London is
getting choked, but well dressed men,
sometimes even in evening dress. One
night he had seen two Of them come
out of the porch and asked them what
they were doing in IT, They said that
they were friends of Senior Vicenti and
had knocked to see If he were at home
I agreed with Brookes that 1t was
idiotic to leave house like that with
out caretaker In 1t.
But these men seemed to me sus-
picious; and wondered If there were
wrong with the house. But
thou ght 1t would be safe enough /:
BrookGs were keeping an eye on it;
for he is an uncommonly intelligent
policemen, and we'll on his way to be
prom oted to the rank of sergeant I
made a point of looking at the house !;
,ny2e'f when came home at night and !
of irving the door Of it as l passed !
About week later l came home
about half past eleven. and before 60 :
ing 20 bed I went out on the balcony |
There was a bright moon: and saw
q policeman, probably Brookes - going
up the left side Of the triangle. Then 4 ,
in black passed quickly along /
the pavement beneath me and slipped
I'D the steps into the porch Of Number
l6. .
lost no time. ran downstairs let |
myself ont Of the house and walked
past Number 16. | saw dark figure !
against It's door and caught glimpse /
Of white cheek and a glimmering |
eye as the woman turned her face to
see who passed. I walked on to the
corner, keeping my head over my
shoulder to see II she came out Of the
porch She did not. ! waited three
walked quietly back, and saw
he dark figure still in the porch, close
10 the door l walked up the steps
Ind said sharply: What are you do
ng here?"
She gave startled little cry. Then
she said in spirited tone: "Eet ees no
business of yours"
It was pleasant voice - the voice
If lady.
Pardon me- said ut is very
much my business This house Is
nine: my tenant is away and in his
,bse-ce keep an eye on it," Il
ooh, ees Get zo?" she said coolly;
md ] 'fancied that she slipped some
hing irtn her rocket.
"Tcs. Ir *, md should like an OK.
! said.
"Ett ees gcree simple she said
lowly Senior Vicenti ees my oncle. |
am zeeing # he ees> at re house.
IN coom to London lately: and | find
leem gone from eet" i