Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-11

Iopeu anu Lahe your cue AHoAA "hoC
ever I'm saying. l hope"
"Pst." said johnson Boiler
Anthony left the room with a motion
that was more witch than anything
else, and he left it none too soon. The
shock, or the first of it, was over:
Robert Vining was coming. back te
them, not like a nice young man, but
rather like a Kansas cyclone! Three
thuds in the corridor and he appel be-
fore them
Roberts countenance was gray
white; his white lips, parted q little
seemed to be stretched over his
teeth his eyes blazed blue FIRE! And
behind Robert-and be it confessed
that there was a certain indefinite at.
mosphere of fright about her
Beatrice smiled!
so you-you-you beastly scoun
drel!" Robert began, his hands work
ing as he looked straight at johnson
Boiler and ignored the very existence
of Anthony Fry. Il don't know
| whether a thing like you can pray
but if you can, pray quick"
"Me?" Johnson Boiler gulped.
Robert laughed dreadfully.
DOuL WdSSC yOuA CA1u0 60HAn8' liz
said thickly. pray if you want to. be-
cause you're going to die! Dye hear?
I'm going to choke out your nasty life
as I'd choke the life out Of mad
dog"
"Not my life!" Johnson Boiler pro-
tested with pale lips, as he pointed at
Anthony. He"
Whatever he may have had to do
with Turing her here can settle with
him afterward!" Robert cried. my
concern is with you: and il you want
,, to say anything. hurry about it.
can't hold myself more than another
second or two!"
BY the way of proving it, he stalked
down upon Johnson BOller-not rapid
ly, but with deadly slowness and de-
liberation which suggested the tiger
coming down upon it's prey. His fam
ing eyes had fascinated the victim,
too, for Johnson Boiler could not
move muscle. once he tried to smile
a farewell at Beatrice; his eyes would
not remain away from Robert. long
enough for that Once he tried to look
at Anthony, but it was quite useless.
And from that ominous region of
the doorway came wilkins warm
tones:
well, that's all right, gentlemen,
but he's busy now"
Hes not too busy to see me-" said
an entirely strange voice, and heavy
steps passed by Wilkins.
Into the large room which had al
ready seen so much suffering, the dis
tinctly scared person of Hobart
Hitchin was propelled by large
hairy hand. The owner of the hand
glanced at him for an instant; and
then for five terrified seconds stated
at Anthony Fry, who after the first
violent start had turned immobile as
Johnson Boiler himself.
"Mr.-what's your name?-Hitchin!"
Dalton barked.
Hobart Hitchin Strengthened up
with an effort.
Fry said he, ''we-er-that is, ]
accuse you of the-ah-murder OF
Theodore Dalton's only son, Richard,
alias David Prentiss.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Lie.
Even Robert Vining halted his death
march. A man of but one idea in the
world just a second ago, he jerked
about suddenly and cried:
"Dick?"
Dalton, a strong man half-benumbed
by mental agony, turned slowly upon
him.
Are yo,,-here, too. Robert" he
muttered. Eyes Ddcky!'
And slowly he turned back to An
thony and, slowly also, he drew forth
the automatic in all its steely- blue
nastiness.
well, Frye"
Anthony Fry merely shook his head.
The mood that was come upon him
now passed any explanation; he was
neither frightened nor excited. He
heard the latest absurd accusation
without even forming an opinion on
it. Either he had passed the point
where one may feel the sensation Of
establishment or infinite desperation
had blessed him with a calm past any
understanding. He did not know
which and he did not care; it was
enough that he could look straight at
Dalton and not even change color!
Il have no idea what you're talking
about, Dalton he said quietly.
Beatrice leaped into action.
'Dalton!" she cried. Mary Dali
tons father?'
"What?' Dalton momentarily side
tracked, whirled upon her. you've
heard something from Mary, madam?
You know"
Il know all about Mary said
Peafrice Roller
Madam" Anthony broke in. II
forbid you to say one word of your
ridiculous and unjustified-" s.,
Beatrice simply ignored his pres
ence and favored Theodore Dalton
with her unspeakable smile.
MARY Dalton passed the night in
this apartment" she said quickly.
MARY" Dalton cried, just as
Robert hurried to his side and
clutched his arm.
They say she was here!" he
pointed THE woman says so, and
Mary's hat see! She's holding 1t
even now! And Mary's bag is in a
room down there, and her comb and
hruch and two IF hor handkerchiefs