Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-11

smiled. quite happily, too, because he
I was rather proud Of his quick witted
| ness.
i Hobart Hitchin gazed straight at
Mary.
| And Mr.. Boiler will remain with
us?"
whats the mystery" johnson
Boiler asked.
There is not, / fear, much mys
terry" Hitchin said. looking straight
at Anthony. "But there is a little
matter ia like to discuss with-er-
| you two gentlemen"
Mary rose hastily.
| I'D better go?" she smiled.
III 1t would not inconvenience you,
dear lady" Hichin said unsmilingly
and with stiff bow.
Chin squared. he stood in silence
until she had vanished down the cor
ridor. He crossed the room and
listened intently, dramatically; he
| held up the curtains and looked for
the sliding doors which had been
taken out five years before.
"No way of shutting up this room,
Fry he asked crisply.
mo need OF shutting it up either.
said Anthony. There is no one to
listen. What seems to be the trouble
Iiitchin?"
Hitchin wheeled suddenly and
turned his remarkable eyes upon 4.n-
thony.
You don't know, chr he shot at
him.
I'm sure do not"
+ vvA
do you think you're doing?" Johnson
Roller asked impatiently. Acting a
moving picture Or"
"Mr. Boiler, may trouble you to
keep out of this for a little?" the
crime student asked amazingly. Lat.
er on may wish to ask you a ques-
ton or two and IL you will answer
them 1t will serve me and-Mr. Fry
Just now, suppose we draw up around
the the table here, 80 that 1t will not
be necessary to shout?"
anthony was there already, scow-
ling. Johnson Boiler. with grunt
shuffled over and took chair; be-
cause this Hitchin creature, on the
face Of him. was the mornings latest
full blown freak and johnson Boiler
did not wish to miss anything.
Also II the chance came, he meant
to inform Hitchin that Mary was not
Mrs. Boiler at all, II 1t could be con.
trived without casting too much OF q
slur on Mary-although that could
wait until they learned the cause Of
Hitchin's pale cheek and his keen, ex-
cited eye.
Hitchin. however, had relaxed in the
most curious fashion; he was smiling
whimsically at Anthony now and. al.
though his eye was across the room,
one felt that 1t could turn, with one
thousandth of a seconds warning,
and peer through Anthony's soul.
FRY" he said thoughtfully, II have
been interested in crime for a good
many years have, as 1t were. dab.
bled in it partly for the love of the
thing and partly because, on one &C.
casion or another, it has been pos
sible for me to extend help that would
not have otherwise been extended"
That's a mysterious statement"
Anthony said.
"Crime--some OF it's mysterious"
smiled Mr.. Hitchin. Motives are
usually more mysterious. Mistaken
motives-motives formed under mis-
aDprehension-are most mysterious
of all But the consequences Of
crime" said Mr.. Hitchin, whirlin9
on Anthony, are inevitable.
unacceptable as the rising of the sun"
Johnson Boiler shook his head. The
man had always been queer; now.
overnight, he. too, had gone crazy!
who was largely nerves this
morning, asked: What the devil are
you talking about, anyway, Hitchin.
but I'm not myself this morning and
this rambling discourse about crime
is rather trying
You are not yourself this morn
smile.
ITO be continued