Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-09

gong upstairs and listen 10 MT. TT!
for while. think"
CHAPTER III. x;i~
| Opportunity.
The Hotel Lasande deserves a wore
or two
In the strict sense it is no hotel al
| all, being merely a twenty-story pile
of four and five-and even seven and
eight-room bachelor suites of the
very highest class. Moving into the
IIasande and assuming. one Of its
breath-stopping leases Is a process not
unlike breaking into the most exclds
i've sort of club. One is investigated,
which tells it all. The Lasande, cater
ing to the very best and most opulent
of the bachelor class, has nothing else
beneath it's roof.
Silent men servants, functionating
perfectly despite their apparent wood
enness, fit everywhere, invisible until
needed, disappearing instantly when
the task of the moment is done. There
are dining rooms for the few who do
not dine in the privacy of their own
apartments, and there is long, com
Portable lobby where, under the eagle
eye of the clerk in the corner, only
tenants or guests of tenants may
lounge.
Into this latter area came Anthony
Fry and Johnson Boiler and the boy,
and as the peculiarly intelligent eyes
Of the latter darted about it seemed
to Mr.. Boiler that their twinkle turn
ed to positive glitter.
It was absurd enough, it hailed
doubtless from the nervous loneliness
within himself yet johnson Boiler felt
that the youngster was downright
evil force, staggering along there,
tremendously conscious of his own
importance! He should have been Sc
date and subdued to put it mildly, yet
he grinned at the impeccable night
clerk from under his cap and sent his
impudent eyes rowing on, to alight f.
nally ON the big chair near the north
elevator.
Who's the party with the big specs
and why the prolonged stare?" the
youngster asked irrevantly.
neighbsr Of mine." Anthony smiled
He's an amateur detective, kid
Johnson Boiler added significantly.
HE knows every young crook in town.
He's coming here to give you the once
over"
Il should worry" murmured the
self-possessed young man.
johnson, don't be idiotic,' Anthony
said as he laid hand on the boys
arm. I'll have to introduce you.
What's your name, my LADY,
''Eh?" asked the unusual boy, star
ing hard at Anthony.
Your nam! What is it,"
'Well-er-Prentiss," the youth ad-
els that your first name or your last
name"
That's, my last name, the boy
smiled First names David
David Prentiss, eh?'' Anthony muir
INJURED with some satisfaction. for it
had substantial sound. "Well, David
-er, Hitchin, how are you? Mr..
Hitchin, my young friend, Mr.. David
Prentiss."
The boys hand went out and grip
ped Hitchin's heartily enough. Mr..
Hitchin held it for a moment and
peered at David-and one saw what a
really penetrating stare he owned.
1t bored, as point of tempered ice,
wordlessly accusing one of murder,
couaterfeiting. bank burglary and
plain second story work. Ere
quently deep students Of the higher
detective fiction grow this stare, and
Hobart Hitchin was one of the deep
est. But now, having pierced David
in a dozen places without finding
bomb or knife, the stare returned to
Anthony and grew quite normal and
amiable
"frentiss. eh?" said Hitchin. mot
the Vermont branch?"
New York." David supplied.
"Mr Prentiss is staying with me
fora little" Anthony smiled as they
moved toward the elevator again.
Staying with you, eh?' Hitchin re.
peated, with a careful survey of DAY.
ids well-worn storm coat; and added,
with characteristic bluntness: Work
ing for you Fry?"
my guest" Anthony said annoyed.
ly: and then the car came down and
the door opened and they left Mr..
Hitchin, but the boy cooked an-eye at
Anthony and asked fatty:
What was the idea of that-stay-
ing with you? I'm not staying with
you"
you may decide to stay for a
little"
mot me-" said David.
eve shall see,' Anthony chuckled.
This is our floor"
(To be continued)