Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-08

Short I'm bob, he did, when he got
in. Such luck don't seem ever to
come my way"
"Where is the Short I'm, as you
call him?" I inquired, thinking that
it might be to my advantage to in
terview that gentleman.
"A-drinkin' of his bob in there"
the man answered. where dye
think ye'd be a-seein' i'm? Bearin'
ITSELF proud like real tori, and at
closen' time they'll be chuckin' i'm
out into the gutter, and then is
wife'll come down, and they'll fight.
an most like both of emil get
jagged before they knows where they
is. and come before the beak in the
mornin'."
Look here" I said, "if one of you
will go in and induce the gentleman
of whom you speak to come out here
and talk to me, I would not mind
treating the four of you to half
CROWN
The words had scarcely left my
lips before deputation had entered
the house in search of the gentleman
in question. When they returned
with him one glance was sufficient to
show me that the Short I'm was in a
decidedly inebriated condition. His
friends, however, deeming it possible
that their chance of approaching my
ton being such as he could answer
questions with some sort of intelli-
gence, proceeded to shake and pum-
mel him into something approaching
sobriety. In one of his lucid inter-
walls | inquired whether he felt equal
to telling me in what direction the
gentleman who had given him the
shilling had ordered the cabman to
drive him. He turned the question
over and over in his mind, and then
arrived at the conclusion that it was
some hotel close to Waterloo
This was certainly vague, but it
encouraged me to persevere.
Think again" / said; 'she must
have given You some definite address,"
Now l do remember" said the
man, 'it seems to me it was Fox
wells hotel Waterloo Road That's
where it was, Foxwell's hotel. Don't
you know it?
'Foxwell's Hotel Is a merry merry place,
When the jolly booze is fowin', flowin'
free
Now chorus, gen'men."
Having heard all l wanted to,
gave the poor wretches what | had
promised them, and went IN search
of cab AS good luck would have
it L was able to discover one in the
City Road, and in it drove off in the
direction of Waterloo. If Hayle were
really going to stay the night at
Foxwell's hotel, then my labors had
not been in vain, after all. But /
had seen too much of that gentle
mans character of late to put any
trust in his statements, until / had
verified them to my own satisfaction
was not acquainted with Foxwells
hotel, but after some little search
discovered it. 1t was by no means
the sort of place man of Hayle's
wealth would be likely to patronize,
but remembering that he had par
ticular reasons for not being en- evil
dence just at present, I could under.
stand his reasons for choosing such
a hosiery. l accordingly paid oft
my cabman and entered the bar.
Taking the young lady found there
little on one side, inquired wheth-
er gentleman had arrived within
the last half-hour, carrying a bag
and heavy traveling-rug.
Much to my qualification she re-
piled that such a gentleman had GER
tainly arrived within the past half
hour, and was now at supper in the
cotfee-room. She inquired whether I
would care to see him. I replied in
the negative, stating that l would
call next day and make myself
known to him.
I'VE are old friends" I said, land
for that reason / should be glad if
you would promise me that you will
say nothing to him about my coming
tonight
Woman-like the idea pleased her,
and she willingly gave the promise
/ asked.
IF you want to see him you'd bet
ter be here early" she said. HE
told me when he booked his room
that he should be wanting to get
away at about ten o'clock to-mor-
row morning"
'PH be here well before that" I
replied. IF all goes right, / shall
call upon him between eight and nine
o'cock."
Feeling sure that, after what I had
said to her, she would say nothing
to Hayle about my visit, / returned
to my own hotel and retired to rest.
Next morning l was up betimes,
had breakfasted, and was at Fox
wells hotel before eight o'clock had
struck. | proceeded straight to the
bar, where | discovered my ac-
quaintance of the previous evening,
in curl papers, assiduously busting
shelves and counter. There was
fragrance of the last nights pota-
tions still lowering about the place,
which had the dreary, tawdry APP
pearnnce that was sO different to tha