Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-16
shrubbery past you"
"The deuce YOU dol" said I.

are making, you'll find out who they
were yourself. That wouldn't matter
much, because you would very prob
ably keep your discoveries quiet. But
it's your enquiries that are dangerous.
In enlightening yourself you will very
likely enlighten the people who. if they
got the information, would do lot Of
harm in the way of causing an infer
nal scandal Now, I want to give you
my assurance that | am absolutely con-
WINGED that neither of these two had
anything to do with the shooting. Both
of them were as much surprised by the
reports Of that revolver as you were
yourself; and, as you say, both Of them
bolted They bolted in a hurry OF
course: but I believe that it was tho
very best thing they could have done
under the circumstances. for they were
very awkward. Now, I don't know
whether you care to accept my assur.
ance that those two are innocent; but
after what they told me and after test.
ing their story, am absolutely con-
vinced of their innocence"
"Of course I'll take your assurance"
said quickly. I'D sooner take your
Judgment in matter like this than
anybody's."
THANK you thought you would"
he said; and he sighed as If had TAX
en- weight off his mind.
Then he walked to the middle Of the
lawn and stopped and said: There are
one or two points which support my
judgment The man lay here" - he
tapped the turf with his foot - land
the revolver lay here, half way be-
tween the man and the right hand
shrubbery. The man who bolted, bolt.
ed from the left hand shrubbery on the
other side of the body. My opinion
is that the shot was flred from the
right hand shrubbery."
''Yes,' said. Il noticed that; and
it does rather complicate the matter.
It lets the man out pretty we'll; but It
rather makes it look as II the woman
fired the shot"
Eyes: but you yourself brought out
the fact quite clearly that she scream
ed after the shot was fred. am quite
sure that she told me the truth when
she said that she screamed because
the shot surprised and frightened her.
Besides. she had already got the let.
tiers: why should she shoot the black.
guard?'
'eWell, but il neither Of those two
fired the shot, who on earth did," said
well, I think that the police did not
attach enough importance to the wrist
bag they found in the right hand
shrubbery, and to the fact that thu
revolver was of French make. Those
seem to me to be the real clues" said
the duke.
Then who do you think the muir.
derer was?" said I.
"The woman in the feathered hat"
said the duke.
"The deuce you do" said I.
Eyes, do said the duke, in tone
of absolute certainty. "You say the
woman walked like a foreigner. The
man was foreigner. She was yelled.
believe she was following this black.
mailing scoundrel and the lady: that
she followed them right to the lawn
where he handed over the letters, and
slipped into the right hand shrubbery
to watch them. After the shot was
fired, YOU saw her running away. She
has disappeared entirely, though the
police made every effort to find her, In
case she could throw some light on the
affair. She never answered their ad.
vertisement. Why is she hiding
"These are pretty awkward facts,
said. 'T shall have to work it out from
this new point Of view. Didn't either
the lady or her husband - take 1t
that it was her husband - see this wo-
man."
mo; they only saw the flash of the
revolver. and both OF them declared 1t
Il, Ho~ oh ,
said the duke.
these are certainly new facts" said
"And you might put them to that in
fernal detective who is always nosing
about - Pardoe He comes to see you.
Working On his present lines. it's just
possible he might discover these two
innocent people and make great deal
Of trouble. 1t doesn't seem likely: and
I've seen to it that the police are not
being encouraged to show too much
zeal in the matter If you could put
them on the right track. the trail Of the
woman in the feathered hat - 1t would
be great relief: and they may show
as much zeal as ever they like
"I'll try my best to put them on it,"
said l.
Thank you" said the duke.
We turned and walked to the bottom
of the garden AS we came out of the
gate l said: 81 suppose, whether the
police come into it or not. this bust
ness has smashed up those two
peoples lives pretty badly?'
"No, don't think so,' said the duke
slowly. 81 think that it will be rather
the other way about They were drift.
ing apart. but this business being in
this mess together - Is rather drawing
them together again
That's all right" said.
After considering the matter. |
thought | had better lose no time put
ting the police on the trail Of the wo.
man In the feathered hat If l waited
till Pardoe's next visit. he might in the
meantime light on the two unfortun-
ates whom the duke wished to save
, from the scandal l therefore sent \
wire to the detective asking him to
look me up in the afternoon, and at
three O'Clock he turned up, looking
| rather eager, as if he expected to learn
something from me.
,.,,.o h;,, utt CT, and soda and q