Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-25
CHAPTER xxv.-(Continued.

s{} CHAPTER XAV.-(COntlnueu.
"Don't know whether you under
I stand anything about these things,
Mr. Dorrington proceeded, but thos'
prints upon the wall, this furniture
4 the china. everything about this place
means money. They are the rooms
of a very wealthy man. Needless u
tell you, they aren't my rooms. The!
belong to young fellow about tow
who has had to disappear for time
He had to disappear SO suddenly tina
he had no time to make arrangements
or do more than leave his valet In pc
session"
disappear" Bliss repeated. VIVA
had he done, them"
MI. Darlington shook his heae
slowly.
ssNobody knows exactly. There
was a mystery about the whole ANAL
which, l suppose, will be cleared w
some day. The valet was honest fol
a couple Of months, but the thing go'
too much for him. He has let me the
rooms for a. paltry five pounds a
week.
..Dear me-" Bliss murmured, look
ing around. "fhey certainly seem
4 NOTlu uUIO IAdA tAoS' :,
"Not only have got the rooms,
Mr.. Darlington continued, Dut am
smoking this fellows-Bliss his name
iis-smoking his cigars and drinking
his wine at half-price all the time.
"You seem to be lucky" Bliss re-
marked, with little catch at MS
breath. us the-er-wine good?"
''There is some 1899 Veuve Cnc-
quot and SO port"
"How much of the port have you
Arunk?" Bliss interrupted eagerly.
4 Mr.. Darlington stared at him.
',Not much,' he replied. Port
doesn't agree with me. But the cham
paxno-well, I never drank anything
HIKE 1t" . :,
.srhere never was anything like It,"
Bliss murmured under his breath.
~However," Mr.. Darlington went
On. y made a few inquiries about this
fellow, Bliss, and I find there's not
much chance Of his turning up again
|for the moment. He must have got
into some trouble or other. There are
VII sorts of stories about, but 1t seems
certain that he's done something
which keeps him out of the way, and
win do so for some time. Most OF his
hetters seem to go to his lawyers, but
every now and then one gets deliver
"a here.
"The other day packet arrived.
EAs I. for the time, am Mr.. Bliss,
opened It. found it contained his
at the London and South
ampton Bank.
'.Now. tell me my friend, what sum
do you suppose this fellow, Bliss, who
ever he may be, has lying to his cred
II on current account at that bank,
oh?"
.No ideal" he replied, "A hun
Ared and sixty thousand pounds!
Mr.. Darlington started. He even
went little paler. He gazed at MS
visitor incredulously.
IA hundred and sixty! How the
the dickens made you
guess THAR" he asked.
"Just the frst amount that came In.
20 my head" Bliss assured him.
.'The balance" Mr.. Darlington said
empressively, "is one hundred and
1ifty-eight thousand, seven hundred
md thirty-two pounds. not to mention
! few shillings. All that money there.
mind, doing nothing. What do you
think Of it?'
~Ppdigious,. Bliss murmured.
sAnd mind you," MI Dorrington
continued, this fellow, Bliss, has
scarcely drawn a check since the day
be disappeared. which was in Decem-
her. That, moneys not doing any
body any good N-or, rather, por.
13on OF N-would do me great deal
bf GOOD. A smaller portion would also
help you, chi"
mo doubt about that" Bliss sighed.
NJ. Dorrtngton rose to his feet,
Deossed the room, and returned with
Dhotograph which he passed to Bliss.
Anything STRIKE you about that~
10 inQu1Sed.
Bliss gssed at his own presentment. |
no. ! don't kno~-e1cept that it's
rs&Aar lflbs NO." he added with sud
Zen intuition.
Mr.. Darlington smiled approvinsly.
That's just what thought when
Rou drove me to Princes last night"
he admitted. 'That is why I, asked |
kou TO oall this morning. That is why |
am Offering to make you partner
IN my little scheme for relieving this
lbssntee millionaire Of portion Of
ms superhuous belongings"
Bliss, for moment, half closed his
lyss. A gentle smile played upon his
Ds. n was hard to believe that he
WA not dreaming.
~ have found several of his sigma
knres." Mr.. Darlington continued,
saAd after q great deal of practice, I
natter myself that / can initiate it to
perfection. My proposition is simple
enough. A large check, however
clever the signature, might cause COM
ment II presented by a stranger. II
presented by you in suit of Mr..
Bliss discarded clothes-there's a
whole wardrobe of them here-it
would probably be paid"
Bliss paused for a few moments to
collect himself.
, '.Do you really think" he asked, /
that am sufficiently like Mr.. Bliss?"
There are differences Of course"
Mr.. Darlington acknowledged. "You
are rougher-looking chap. but you're
quite near enough like him to carry
This OF especially " you go in at v
busy time and wrap I'D as though