Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-28
CHAPTER XIII.
A Visit to the Victim.

1t was not until Quincy had reached
the Pettengill house and helped Uncle
Ike get his things in order, that he
finally decided to accept Uncle Ike's
offer If he went to Eastborough Gem
tire to live at the hotel he knew Strout
would consider he had won a victory.
He had thought of going to Mr.. and
Mrs. Putnam about a room and
board. but then he remembered Lin
dy. and said to himself that Miss Put
nam was a pretty girl and it would
be the same old story over again. Then
he thought, There won't be any dan
ger here with a blind girl and Mandy
Skinner, and if Uncle Ike can arrange
matters it will be the best thing 1 can
do.'
And SO he drove UP to Deacon Ma
sons with Cobb's twins, saw Mrs. Ma
son, went upstairs and packed his
trunk quickly, and the Cobb boys
perhaps only temporary, lodgings.
When Quincy went downstairs, Mrs
Mason was in the parlor and she
beckoned him to come in. He entered
and closed the door,
II want to speak to you a few min
| utes," said she, ''and I want to tell
you first I don't blame you bit
| the tip-over was all your carelessness
but Huldy says it amt SO. She said
she was driving, though you didn't
want her to, and the accident was all
her fault. Now, believe my daughter
| tells the truth and the Deacon thinks
| SO, too"
''Well, Mrs. Mason" said Quincy
| what your daughter says is perfectly
true, but still l am to blame for al
| lowing her TO drive horse with which
| she was not accustomed"
"That warn't the trouble, Mr.. Saw
| yer," said Mrs. Mason. "Huldy told
me the whole truth. You said some-
thing to her about going away. She
had heard what the village gossips
were saying. Huldys,got a high tenn
| per and she was so mad that she got
| illustrated, and that's what caused all
the trouble. / like you, Mr.. Sawyer
and Huldy likes you. She says you
| has allus been a perfect gentleman
and the Deacon now is awful sorry
you are going, but I hope you will
come and see us often while you stay
| at Masons Corner"
! II certainly shall, Mrs. Mason" re-
| piled Quincy. How is Miss Mason?'
''oh, she is fust rate" said the Dea-
| cons wife. THAT doctor from the
city fixed her arm all UP in what he
called a jacket, and that nurse that
you sent just seems to know what
Hubby wants before she can ask for
| IL. near tIGiu liulSSo ellS awful CA
pensive and don't think she better
stay but a day or two longer"
"She can't leave till the surgeon
comes from Boston and says. she can
| CO." he remarked, thinking this was
| the easiest way out of it. MAY
/ see Miss Mason?" he added.
Certainly" replied Mrs. Mason
1 'She is in the front chamber We
moved her in there cause there is q
| fireplace in the room and the nurse
objected to the wood stove that Huld!
| had in her room. She said it was
| either too hot or too cold and thai
1 Huldy must have an even temper
| arure"
AS Quincy entered the paofn Huld!
| looked UP and Faint smile Hghtet
1 her face. Her usually rosy cheski
showed only faint touch of pink Tht
helpless left arm, In fts plaster on Pa.
ris Jacket, rested on rha outside OF tft
4. white quilt. the fingers on her nttls
hand projecting beyond the cover.
| ing.
4 quincy advanced to the bedside ant
1 took Y vacant chair. The nurse wa'
sitting by the window Sha alansel