Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-10

l
mere bagatelle the depreciation in
value OF thousand or more lots"
Guy started to tell her that he had
hardly dollar he could call his own,
outside of the town, but he bit his
lip and kept the words back.
Miss Vlandingham," he said, in
stead, you and Miss Pinkney must
return at once to Harmony. ] will
get conveyance and drise you back"
Not for worlds would | allow you
to do that! If the Concord people ever
found out what you had done they
would turn against you"
I'll chance it."
perhaps you would, but we won't"
Miss Betty tossed her head.
Guy was desperate.
Really, Miss Vlandingham," he said,
earnestly, 81 must insist that you let
me drive you back to Harmony"
Really" exclaimed Miss Betty,
laughing at him with her eyes. "Well,
sir, we insist on staying here until we
accomplish the work that brought us.
You will not deport us against our
will?"
you are pair of madcaps!"
averred Guy helplessly. eff you came
over here to assist Col. Dingle-"
Eve did not come for that" she in
terrupted, hastily. 81 am sorry YOU
have such poor opinion of us as to
think we would bear hand in such
matter. Had | been informed of Col.
Dingle's purpose he would never have
come here this morning.
"Yet found your bracelet close to
the room from which Col. Dingle es-
capped"
I'VE are quartered across the hall.
After Col. Dingle got into such
predicament we could do no less
than help him out of it. While YOU
and your fellow townsmen were
wrangling in the Office, / left by a
rear stairway and rear door and
had the liveryman saddle and make
ready the horse you rode over from
Harmony last night. The animal
was hitched near the building YOU
propose to use for courthouse.
When Col. Dingle escaped from the
room the coast was comparatively
clear, as nearly all the inhabitants
were at the hotel. For that reason
he had no difficulty in getting away.
In my haste l lost my bracelet and
did not discover that it was gone I'M
til the angry citizens came focking
up the stairs. Then, of course, it
was too late to recover it. 1 am
very much obliged to you, Mr.. Her.
bert, for proceeding SO secretly in
the matter. You had seen that
bracelet before and you knew who
the owner of it must be, so you had
only to raise your voice and direct
the whole pack against us. We're
grateful, aren't we. Lois?"
Very" said Miss Pinkney in
constrained voice.
You are under no obligation to
me-" returned Guy. 'sThe account is
more than balanced by your kind
ness of last night, Miss vlanding-
ham,"
At this juncture Guy heard some
one coming up the stairs three steps
a d UIulC.
"Quick!" he murmured; replace
your wells"
Miss PinlSney's hands trembled as
she once more folded the gray COW
ering across her face. But there was
no trace of alarm in the actions of
Miss Betty. She was as cool and
self-possessed as though presiding
at some social function in her own
town of Harmony.
Barely were the fair faces covered
when Sampson burst into the parlor.
He stopped short on beholding the
ladies and evidenced some confusion.
what do you want, Sampson?"
asked Guy.
''The Colonel wants to see you,
Mr.. Herbert, and in tearing hur-
ry."
Guy turned to give parting salute
to the ladies, but Miss Betty extend
ed her hand. AS he took the little
palm in his she whispered:
"As friend, thank you from the
bottom of my heart, Mr.. Herbert;