Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28

1iCAlNoOi W lllill ll1C ufSul VI tlIe tdlI-
quot. There's a bad undercurrent
here that will never forgive your spoil
ing their plans, and those fellows of
the Seattle, who would have thanked
God for your services at the time, are
now doing the best they know how to
stir up sentiment against you"
But Pm not going with Mr. Chan
ming" said Langdon promptly. They
have offered me good position here"
The landlord was leaning against a
column of the rotunda at the moment,
smoking one of Barclays best. A roar
of applause and alternating currents
of He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and
"Auld Lang Syne" issued from the
swinging portals of the hall, and Boni-
face had been listening with Il comical
grin OH his face. But at Langdons
words the expression of amusement
gave way to one Of deep concern. I'M
pressively he stood erect and placed a
hand on I.angdon's shoulder.
Only dear sir" said he. 81 mustn't be
quoted in this matter. like you, and
l want to see you come out all right,
but-don't think of staying here. I'll
say as much to Mr.. Claiming"
And he did But Claiming was
flushed with victory.
"Who's to harm him? And what's to
prevent?" said he. "Our men are all
with us now, and they swear by him
and will stand by him and will see to
it that he isn't molested," was Chan
ning's answer. He's just the fearless,
reliable man we need for a certain
kind of work, and here's the place for
him"
But the landlord shook his head.
"Mr. Claiming" said he earnestly, II
see and hear things you cannot see and
hear because men look and talk sweet
when you come around. It's their
bread and butter. You manage your
business in the interest Of your stock
holders, and l must do the same for
mine. l must attract custom, not an
tagoniZe it and lose my job. | mustn't
offend those fellows of the other road
for some Of them are stockholders of
this very shop, and they are not fond
OF you, much less of Mr.. Langdon. II
you want to reward and help him, take
him to Chicago. Don't attempt to set
tie him here"
But tie mere idea that ore of his
chosen should be menaced by the enc
My was enough to set Charming solid
" against change of plan. He went
to Melville's room in the morning to
say goodby and found that Boniface
had been there before him, for Mel
vile, too, was anxious. Mrs. Melville
had gone out to do some shopping;
Miss Grahame sat in silence, an abb
sorbed listener. That evening Langdon
knocked, as usual, at Melville's door to
inquire what manner of day his friend
had had and whether he could be Of
service. Miss Grahame was just COM
ing forth, dressed for the street.
THE troops go back to Pawnee to-
night" she said, land some of the Of
ficers are coming up in moment to
I cay goodby. thought I should like a
/ brisk walk"
/ He hesitated a moment. He well
knew TO whom she referred by some
Of the officers" and why she referred tc
I them at all. 1t would be embarrassing
all around for him to meet them there
1t was significant of her own desire to
avoid Nathan and his set that she
should be going out just as they We're
expected. Langdon's first impulse was
to offer to escort her, for night was
falling, and the electric globes were al
l. w Mi no ctr nc.
| and with all her independence and fear
! lessness Miss Grahame might be wiser
not to go forth unattended. But he fal
! tered. The weather had set in sharp
/ er, colder. and he had no civilian over
coat and would not wear the "frogged'
/ and braided garment of his late ranL
and profession now that he no longer
held the commission. He could have
spared himself any scruples as to that
since dozens of civilians east and wes
wear that army overcoat because i
strikes them as handsome, because il
+ gives them an air Of distinction ant
because there is no law to hinder. Il
was not on account of lack of warn
clothing he hesitated. but one glance
! dL Ills WOIu Olu DuSluGSS sui, uluut
three years before and much too SNUG
for him now, banished all thought O.
rendering his services.
II may go in, may I not?" he sale
after a moment.
''Oh, yes" was the answer as sh,
threw open the door to admit him ant
then as he entered stood there, think
ing. Twice her fine, thoughtful eye.
followed him into the room; twice slit
caught herself listening for the SOUND
of their voices and trying to catch TIL
words, then, with heightened color
turned sharply and stood within thu
room. A little party of artillery oth
GERS was issuing from the elevator
Another moment, and they were knock
ing at the door.
Good evening, Captain Nathan
Good evening, gentlemen" was he
placid salutation. yes, the major will
be glad to see you" And, one after an
other, she ushered the quartet into th
dimly lighted apartment where Mrs
Melville came forward to greet them
"Y0u'll come nm q on In tomorrpC ans