Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-04
CHAPTER XIV.

conessnine Thves Groups.
16e the h1t, Wilkins and those
9Aout him.
wilkins looked At Mr.. Bates and
thought swiftly. Having thought fol
h& . minute, he had accomplished Z
complete circle and was exactly
where he had started. It was plain
that the maid Felice was somewhere
else; equally plain was it that, for
the purpose OF the moment, the maid
Falice could satisfactorily be in but
one place-and that right here!
Had she merely been out for a little
time he could have taken the trunk to
har room and opening the lid bit
could have ned with his task accomp-
lished: she was. however. out perma.
Asnuy-so that the very best wilkins
had accomplished at the end Of . full
minute was:
"Out! Quite so. But where has the
young person gone, II you please?'
Mr.. Bates scowled angrily.
We don't know, I've told you!" he
said sharply. when one of the helps
dismissed under circumstances like
that. We don't trouble to ask where
she's going and we don't keep her ad-
dress"
But she might be having mail
to forward" Wilkins essayed hope
fully.
"Any mail that comes for her II be
handed to the carrier again." Bates
snapped. "And now will you get her
box out of here, you? I can't have 1t
about, and I've no time this morning
to argue with you. The masters
daughters's disappeared and we're all
on edge"
And not q soul in the world know
ing where she's gone, poor lamb"
sniveled the under laundress. laying
hand on the trunk that held Mary.
sAnd her that home-loving she never
-"
Hush" said Mr.. Bates.
The woman subsidized into her apron.
"Whatever's taken her, she's trying
to get home! She's trying she sob.
bed.
well. whateyers taken her. get
that trunk out OF here!" the Dalton
butler snapped.
Was there anything else to dot wills
ktns, having thought until his head
oehed. could not sec it II the girl had
. friend among the help, it might be
laft with the friend; but the only
woman Of the household present had
taken pains to look properly scanda-
lt1ed at each mention of Felice. Or
II Mary hadn't cautioned him particu-
larry against this Bates, he would have
risked taking Bates aside and com.
A,unicating the astounding truth.
But since things were as they were,
and not as they might have been;
since Bates was actually glaring at
him now, and would, in another min
ute, be banging the trunk back into
the street himself, there was really
nothing left for Wilkins but to grip
the wide handle and start for the door
again.
Il was bad! Oh, II was very bad,
with Mary in there and very likely
sitting to death, but Wilkins shu&Iled
slowly back to the taxicab with his
burden, slowly and carefully put it
aboard oncee more.
Whats wrong" asked the driver.
"The party it was for had left"
said Wilkins.
Where to-"
wilkins pondered heavily.
BACK again WneTe We came rom
he sighed. But you might 30 rather
slow, think. Like enough I'll change
my mind and decide to take it some |
where else. l can't say at the mo-
ment."
Clambering after himself, he looked !
about while the man hoped out and |
cnnked his motor. Failure had leaped
out and blasted the flower of success, :
Just as every petal had opened wide,
Utter failure was the portion Of Will !
kins--and the policeman on the far
corner was watching him in the most |
way.
Squirting over there in the sun
shine, the blue coats instinct was
telling him there was something
wrong about the trunk. He moved to !
the other side Of the lamp post and
stared on; and just here his sergeant
appeared from the side street and the
officer addressed him. even pointing
with his club at the taxi!
Faithful Wilkins heart stopped!
When an oficer approaches and asks
me to open q trunk or bag, one opens
4 0p 9npR I'm Having Ononod TIT. 0u>