Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-19

lor door, lean over and kiss Abner
Stiles. The thought of course ran
through his mind that he had been
subjected to the same treatment. He
was on the point of protesting at this
way of conducting the game when the
idea occurred to him that it would be
a huge satisfaction to have that city
chap subjected to the same treatment,
and he decided to hold his peace
The next one called was Ezekiel Pet
tengill, and he was treated in the same
manner as the Professor and Abner
had been; but as Hiram leaned over to
kiss him, 'Zekiel's foot slipped upan
the floor and struck against Hiram's,
Hiram being in front of him. Ezekiel
then put up both of his feet and kicked
with them in such a way that Hiram
was unable to approach him.
Ezekiel called out, Its Hiram Max
WELL" and the room rang with the
laughs and cries of the girls.
Ezekiel having guessed who it was,
was marched off to the right of the line
of girls.
strout called out. Lets play some
thing else," but the sentiment of the
company seemed to be that it wasn't
fair to the others not to give them a
chance SO the game continued. Quincy
was the next one called, and to still
further increase the disgust of Strout
and Abner, instead of Hiram leaving
the door as before, one of the girls
stepped out from the line. at signal
from Hubby, and kissed Quincy. He
guessed that it was Miss Hubby Ma
son, and was greeted with the same
cries that Strout had heard He took
his place at the left with the latter.
Strout leaned over and whispered in
Abner's ear, "That was a put-up Job.
I'll get even with Hiram Maxwell be-
for / get through
the game continued until all the
men had been called in. With the ex-
ception of Emmanuel Howe, none of
them were able to guess who 1t was.
When Emmanuel took his place by the
side of Ezekiel he conflded the fact to
him that he guessed it was Miss Put
nam on account of the perfumery
which he had noticed before he left the
house with her.
After this game others followed in
quick succession. There were "Pil-
low" Roll the Cover" Button, But
ton, Who's Got the Button?" "Copen.
hagen" and finally Post Office" From
all of these games Alice begged to be
excused. She told the Professor that
she was not bashful nor diffident, but
that her eyesightw was SO poor tnat she
knew she would detract from the plea
sure of the others if she engaged in
the games The Professor demurred
at first, but said finally that her ex-
cuse was good one Then he turned
to Abner and remarked that he sup
posed Mr.. Sawyer would ask to be ex-
cused next cause his girl wasn't going
to play.
But Quincy had no such intention.
After leading Alice to seat beside
Mrs. Mason, he returned to the COM
pany and took part in every game, en-
tering with spirit and vivacity into
each of them. He invented some for
feits that one girl objected to the for
felt exacted Of her as being all out of
proportion to her offence, the matter
was referred to Quincy He said that
he would remit the original forfeit
and she could kiss him instead. But
she objected, saying that forfeit was
worse than the other one. This pleas
ed Strout greatly. and he remarked to
Abner, who kept as close to him as the
tail to kite. that there was one girl
in town who wasn't afralu to speak her
mind.
The game Of Post Office was the
most trying one to Quincy OF his
own free will he would not have called
either Hubby or Indy, but Strout and
Abner and all the rest of them had let
tiers for both of these young ladies'.
He was afraid that his failure to call
them out might lead to remark, as he
knew that Strout and Abner and Rob-
ert Wood were watching his actions
closely. So, near the middle of the
game, when he had been called out,
he had letter from England for Miss
Indy Putnam.
AS she raised her face to his for the
kiss on the cheek that he gave her,
she said, Il was afraid you had not
forgiven me, after all"
sob. yes, have" said Quincy, and
carried away by the excitement of the
occasion. he caught her again in his
time upon the lips.
At this instant Abner Stiles, who
was tending door, opened it and called
OUT, lakes d long lime 10 pay CQo
postage on one letter."
A little later Quincy was again call
ed out. and this time he had letter
from Boston for Miss Mason. He kiss
ed her on the cheek, as he had done
with Indy. !iuldy looked up with a
laugh and said, Were you as bashful
as that with Miss Putnam"
YES" said Quincy. at first, but
there was do hle postage on her letter,
the same as on yours" And though
Hubby tried to break away from him
he caught her and kissed her upon the
lips, as he had done to Indy.
Again Abner opened the door and
cried out that the mails would close in
one minute, and he'd better get the
stamps on that letter quick"
All sucn good times come to an end,
and the signal for the close was the
return of Deacon Mason from his visit
to town. He was popular with all par
ties. and Stroulites and Anti-Strout-
ties, and neutrals all gathered round
him and said they we're having beau
tiful time, and could they have a lit
tie oance after supper?
Ito be Continued Tuesday,