Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-17


about any of it? / do want you to
read just that one short paper, Mr..
Westover."
She handed to him the slip Of paper
over which she had pored in growing
p~erplexity for half an hour before his
coming. She watched him while he
read it. and she knew from the quick
mounting Of the hot blood to his tenn
pies that she had not overestimated it's
Importance. He looked up at her pres
emily with knitted brows.
"By Jove!. And this was among the
papers that Matthews allowed to be
lost?"
II don't know that we ought to say
that he allowed it to be lost You
see, Mr.. Westover, it was my fault that
his horse SHE'D and made him drop his
bag just outside u gate. How moth
er ever got hold of them IS one of the
mysteries that can never be solved
now. 1t was only when that poor, I'M
happy child came here begging me to
search for them that 1 did it Just to
quiet her"
Westoyer made it clearer. "She said
something the other night about Jim
mie Martin finding them and her pur-
posely keeping you in the dark for
fear you would give the papers she
wanted Broxton to have to Mr.. Mat
thews."
(Which is Just what 1 should have
done, just what l shall do as soon as
he gets better"
Chat is what he will never do said
Westover gravely. "Govan gives him
only a few days more"
Dear Lord! And that poor child"-
Evil not be left entirely without
friends" said Ollie's lover stifHy.
ooh, I know it,, I know that she is
just as fond of you as can be. But
about these papers. What am 1 to do?
I don't eve know where Tom Broxton
is"
Neither do 1. But this paper"-he
was folding the oldest sheet of writing
into compact shape-"concerns my IA
ther as purchaser of Broxton Hall
more nearly than it does any one else
just at present. I should like to show
it to him, Miss Malvina."
Miss Malvina looked wistfully from
the pile Of papers to the young man.
Westoyer interpreted the look prompt
ly.
you are afraid you are not doing
the right thing by your friend, Mr..
Broxton. I respect your anxiety and
pledge YOU my word Of honor as a gen.
tleman that his interests shall not suf-
ferineIny- hands. Flow such aweighty
paper asTthis should have been left to
mischance it is useless to conjecture
now. Mr.. Matthews is done with all
worldly cares and responsibilities. Il
simply ask. you to lend nj this paper
long enough to show it to my father.
If it is genuine, his title to Broxton
Hallsis' not worth the paper it is writ
ten on"
Ma:vina locked her thin fingers nerv-
ously~ about each other. II was just
thinking that for Ollie's sake and
Toms sake
May I take this paper?" Westover
rose with it in his hands.
why, yes. 1t don't belong to me,
does it,"
by right of discovery, in the pres
ent mixed state of affairs, 1 suppose
you could hold on to It. Possession is
nine points of the law. But''-here
such a winning smile broke over the
young fellows handsome face that
Miss Malvina forgava Ollie's infatua-
ton for him-"if l promise you that no
use shall be made Of it that does not
take Tom Broxton's best interests into
consideration will you trust me with
it and believe in mew
II trust in you, and I believe in you,''
said Miss Malvina, holding out a rati-
flying hand. "And the inventories
what shall l do with them? There is q
catalogue Of paintings, too, and
Westover waved the proffered papers
back.
with them the Westovers have
nothing to do. Keep them, or send them
to Broxton, rather. They have belong
ed to him ever since he came of age.
Perhaps you might hold on to them un-
tip
He left the sentence unfinished. Miss
Malvina knew that he meant until Hor-
ace Matthews should be beyond the
fret and worry of all things.
"Ah, well, just as you choose about
the rest of the papers! l thought may
be you could talk them all over with
Tom. Dear me! These inventories
stand for inexhaustible wealth to me.
What an extravagant fellow our dear
Tom must have been as q college boy!'
college boys are not an ascetic class,
as a rule,"ssaid Clarence and with it
good night"
Miss Malvina sat where he had left
her a long time. She found the papers
describing Thomas departed ,glories
intensely interestingereading Poor
old mother!! She had been right oil the
way through, even to the description Of
Lucetta Broxton's necklace" She laid
her hands upon the package of papers
and sighed.
Sin spite of all this, Thomas Broxton
is q pauper. The Hall could not be
sold, but it is sold. How do men man
age to blunder so"
Not vat WIS her Ioyal sonJ ready IN