Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-01

Of you, when l told yer you'd better git
out. Where be yer boardin now"
Il am boarding at Mr.. Ezekiel Pet
tengilrs. His sister has got home and
his Uncle Isaac has come back to live
with In"
Lord sakes, do tell" said Mrs. Put.
nam. 81 allus thought that old fool
would die out there in the woods and
they'd bury him in his chicken coop.
But what on airth is Alice home for?
Has she lost her job?"
No" replied Quincy: poor girl, she
has almost lost her sight. She has
been very sick, and as result she is
almost blind, and had to give up work
and come home"
Mrs. Putnam sank back in her chair.
IF | didn't think you were truthful
word you said. My poor Alice. Why.
a human being in all my life that /
liked so much as l have Alice Petten-
gill. Did you ever see her, Mr. Saw
yer?"
mo" said Quincy, "she only arrived
yesterday afternoon, and she did not
appear at supper nor at breakfast this
morning. She was tired and wished
to rest, her brother told me-"
We'll, l hope she won't die" said
Mrs. Putnam. 81 have left her every
dollar I've got in the world, and if she
should die I shouldn't know who on
airth to give it to. Well, there. I've
let the cat out of the bag, and my
daughter Indy, mean as she is about
money, would give a thousand dollars
to know who | am goin' to leave my
money to. | wish | could see Alice.
/ can't walk, and that poor, dear girl
can't see. Why, Mr., Sawyer | think
she's the PROTEST, sweetest girl, ever
sot eyes on in my life. and I've seed a,
good many on EN-. Now you tell me
what you think of her the next time
yon come up. won't you. Mr.. Sawyer?"
81 certainly will" said Quincy, "and
if she will come with me I will bring
her over to seetyou. If she came from
Boston with her brother. she can sure
ly, ride as far as this" he. added.
"Tell her l shall count every minute
till she comes over here. but don't say
word to her about my money said
Mrs. Putnam.
Certainly not" Quincy answered.
ssYou did not intend to tell me-"
mo, | didn't acknowledged Mrs
Putnam, cit slipped out before |
thought
Quincy arose. Il must go now, Mrs.
Putnam. | have business at Eastbor-
ough Centre. and don't know how
long it will take me, besides, I am an
xious to see Miss Pettensill after your
glowing description of her beauty and
her virtues"
well, haven't nut the paint on half
rs thick as it would stand" said Mrs.
Putnam. ''Well. good-by, Mr.. Sawyer.
It's very kind of you to come and see
two old folks like us. No use saying
good-by to Silas; he's stone def and
besides he's sound asleep
When Quincy took up the reins and
started towards Eastboroueh Centre it
was with conflicting emotions. If there
had been no Alice Pettepaill to see, his
thouehts, no doubt would have relat-
ed chiefly to Indy Putnam. who had
never attracted his attention before
rs she had that morning Could Alice
Pettengill be as pretty and as good
rs Mrs. Putnam had portrayed? And
ottC VCtfo " DC Ilt " spl-
nv that Mrs. Putnam had told him
When he was talking to Miss Petten
Gill what he knew would be continually
in his mind. He was glad that she
was to have the money but very sorry
that he knew that she was to have it;
he had promised not to tell her, but
he had promised to tell Indy Mrs
putnam had not told him not to tell
Indy. but she had said Indy would
rive thousand dollars to know. Now
was that the same as requesting him
not to tell Indy, and should he tel
Indy for nothing what her mother
said she would give thousand dollars
TO know? ANYHOW, that ouestionmust
he decided within the next twenty-foul
hours.
Then he began to think of his intend
cd visit to marlborough poorhouse
Would the Jim Sawyer that he fount
there turn out to be his own uncle
What a sweet morsel that would be
for Strout if it proved to be true. Any
how. he would follow his fathers in
structions and do all he could for hi!
uncle, come what might.
| Since he had arrived at Mason's Cor
| ner everything that he had done seem
| ed to give rise to gossip. and a littl'
more of it could do no harm.
Quincy reached the poorhouse ant
INQUIRED for the keeper. A very stout
red-faced man answered the summons
He informed Quincy that his nam
was Asa Waters, and that he had beef
keeper of the town poorhouse for tn
last ten years.
Quincy thought from his size, as h
evidently weighed between three an