Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-01
brain the freest rein of 1t it's exsist'
eice, urging 1t with every fiber in him
to hit upon the correct theory.

eice, urging It with every fiber IN him
to hit upon the correct theory.
And then, eyes opening, it almost
seemed that he had hit upon it. These
two, Dalton and Fry, were doubtless
associated in business, whatever the
supposed rivalry. Was it not thinkable
that the devlish messes of one or the
other had ruined the health Of the
Prentiss boy? Was 1t not possible
that Anthony, Turing him to his home
had been trying to buy him off from
| q threatened suit-get q quft-claim or
something of the kind? For that mat
ter, could it be anything else? The
boy had refused and-big business
had wiped out another Individual!
He might well enough be wrong,
but il wrong he were, why was VIII
hns taking the trunk straight into
the premises of Theodore Dalton?
He had done that now, and the gate
had closed upon him, and Hobart
Hitchin, suddenly determined on the
most spectacular act Of his life, tap
ped his driver on the shoulder.
go around to the front of this
Ihouse-yes. the corner one!" he said
ard there was q little shake in his
voice.
his path was clear enough, Anthony
Fry would not escape as yet; they
never did at this stage when they
fancied the crime itself safely out OF
the way. Anthony would be there
when wanted-and single-handed, Ho.
bart Hitchin meant o~take into Gus
tody the two most sensational muir.
dororc NJ thoir ponorati0nl
It was a tremendous thing. BY the
time he had stepped up to the spac-
ious door Of Theodore Daltons house,
the tremendousness of it had so over
come Hobart Hitchin that he could
not have reasoned out the two times
two multiplication table! He was for
time a man bereft of what most OF us
consider senses, SO that he walked
straight past Bates and said:
"Mr. Dalton!"
You're bringing word, sir?" Bates
cried.
II wish to see Mr.. Dalton. He is at
home" said Hitchin.
Bates considered for a moment and
then nodded it was no morning for
quibbling.
I'm here, sir" he said, pattering of
quickly to Dalton's study.
He battered out again az quickly.
and Hobart Hitchin, having taken a
chair, rose from it at once and took
to walking, brief-case still clutched in
his hand and an exalted smile on his
lips. So Theodore Dalton found him
when he entered, fifteen seconds later
"a mighty man, deep of chest, saw
age Of eye, square Of chin, with great
hairy hands and a shaggy gray head.
Not more than single second did
Dalton look at Hitchin before he
barked:
well? Well? You are bringing
word Of herr"
Herr smiled Hobart Hitchin, with
calm.
my daughter!" Theodore Dalton
Numbered. what"
Il know nothing about your daugh-
ter, Dalton" Hitchin said with his icy |
smile "Will you be seated?"
"No!" said tibet master Of the house. |
"what the devil do you want here, II
It isn't about my daughter?"
ton with you, on a matter which con
Germs you most vitality"
Theodore Dalton closed his hairy
fists.
"Look here, sir" he said, with a |
calm of his own which was decidedly |
IF you're jackass enough |
to come in here on the morning when |
my daughter-my daughter-has dis
you're clown enough to
try to sell me anything
I'm not trying to sell you any
thing; I'm trying to tell you some
thing!" Hitchin said, and there was
something so very peculiar about his
smile that even Theodore Dalton post
poned the forcible eviction for few
minutes.
,"Tell me what?"
Dalton" said Hobart Hitchin, the
game is up"
"What?'' rasped Mr.. Dalton.
1.-The boy, David Prentiss-or what |.
remains of the boy. David Prentiss-
has Just been brought into your house.
Theodore Dalton said nothing; for a
he could say nothing. Hitch
ms teeth showed in triumphant
smile.
Murder win OUT" said he. 'Mur-
der"
"Murder!" Theodore Dalton snarled.
What the"
David Prentjss, who was murdered
last night, has been brought here"
the palpable lunatic pursued. Don't
shout! Don't try to strike me!
Look!''
Already he had opened the brief
case; now, with a dramatic whisk,
he spread the trousers on the table
ITO be continued.)
WILL WORK CONVlCTS.
Siouy City Dec 90 ALL DersonS seD-'