Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-04
.Opp0rtunity-
BY EDGAR FRANKLIN
Copyright The Frank A. Mun.sy Co.. wsst F.-tisth
Now York City.
By EDGAR FRANKLIN

would 90 up also-and with that one
would go Mary Dalton, and in the
evening papers one Of the most start
ling stories Of the year would be
featured.
We all Of us have a peculiar way OF
seeing our own side Of any eRen
case before examining the others; "a
1t was with Wilkins. Wilkins saw him.
self dismissed from what was really q
very excellent, very well.paid, very
easy job; he saw Anthony cursing
himself and his stupidity and ordering
him out of his sight forever!
Cant you START" he shot at his
driver.
"well, I'm just sitting down." that
person stated acidly.
well, get her a going and then
turn around; don't 90 over there. but
90 back up this block! And start"
said Wilkins.
The cab started and turned. and he
did not look behind. He had no need
for that; he could feel the oAicial
eyes boring him through the back Of
the cab and into himself; he could
hear running feet; once he was quite
sure he heard the pounding Of . club
on the curb. which meant every oficer
in hearing would flock into sight.
Wilkins. becoming stony Of countee-
nanc after struggle, shut his teeth
and sat back. quite forgetting that
Mary might welcome breath or two
LOT the outer Air.
1t was possible, after little, If the
police did not appear and stop the ma
chine, that he would order the cab in.
to the country and there release Mary
hat or no hat-but somehow wilkins
doubted whether he would make that
decision.
What he. c1aved more than any
thing else just now was security be-
hind brick and stone walls-like the
Lasande's.
Be it said that Hobart Hitchin had
regained enough Of his normal senses
to feel distinctly startled. His vision
cleared considerably as ne looked ut
Theodore Dalton, crouching behind
his table. He felt. in spite of himself,
that Dalton's grief was perfectly gen.
uine, but the utter mystery Of the
thing swept over him, too, and he
leaned forward and asked:
What did you say. sir? Your SOM"
"These-these!" Dalton said clutch.
ing the trousers. "My son Dicks
his fishing suit"
And your son, where is he sup
posed to be?"
In the north woods, somewhere. a.
though haven't heard from him for
week." Dalton choked: and then. be-
ing a powerful character, he threw OF
the hideous numbness and straighten-
ed up. what did you say? What
were you trying to tell me? Where
did you get-these"
From the dumb waiter where"
What dumb waiter?'
I'm the Hotel Lasande."
"When?'
Very early this morning."
How did you come to-"
Il saw tho young man when he
went into the house last night; II
live there, you know. had reason to
think that something happened to him
overnight, and this morning I man
aged to snatch this suit from the
dumbwaiter as it passed my door.
Further"
What was he doing there?"
'He came home last night with q |
gentleman you know" said Hobart
"One Anthony Fry!''
1.-THE liniment Fry" cried Theodore !
Dalton.
His gray face turned white and
then purple. He rose and ran one
hand through his shaggy gray mop.
"The liniment Fry Hitchin said.
my boy-my Dicky went home with !
that man.
"A boy who was introduced to me
as David Prentiss.'
Dalton's hands clutched his fore. ,
head for moment and the grinding |
of his teeth was audible.
"You were saying-what were you
saying about a trunk" !
Il said that the remains Of the boy !
had beenn brought here by Fry's per.
sonal servant, sir. / saw them taken i
INTO the side gate not ten minutes ago
md
Gomez" said Theodore Dalton.
He reached out and, gripping Hitch.
ms arm decided that sentleman's
course for him. AS Theodore Dalton
strobe to the back stairs as he went
straight down into the kitchen, Ho
bart Hitchin merely went along partly
IL stumbles, partly in little jumps;
md so they came to the laundry and,
,erving himself until the veins stood
'ut on his temples. Dalton faced his
'utler and spoke thickly:
"The-the trunkw
BEG pardon. SIR" said Bates
.umbly.
"The trunk which was brought
iere! Where is it,"
"Oh. that trunk, sir. 1t was took
way again, Mr.. Dalton. The person
hat brought it said it was for Felice,
he maid We dismissed this morning,
ir."
"For Felice?" Dalton echoed.
quite so, sir"
"Why was it sent to FeIice!
II couldn't say. sir" said Bates,
topping to the gate and opening it.
There it goes. sir. on the cab"