Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-22
lief of the poor fellows afforded hir

lief of the poor fellows afforded him
little consolation. Ills carelessness
and possibly his indifference had
brought suffering to these men and
their families, which was not pleasant
to look back upon. Lawsuits were
avoided by compromise. Each OF the
Injured men received $4,000.
At this time every one was interested
In the charity bazaar at the Astoria.
Society was on exhibition, and the pub
lie paid for the privilege Of gazing at
the men and women whose names
filled the society columns. Brewster
frequented the booth presided over by
Miss Drew, and there seemed to, be
no end to his philanthropy. The bazaar
lasted two days and nights, and after
that period his account book showed
an even profit of nearly $4,000.
Monty's serenity, however, was con-
siderably ruffled by the appearance of
new and aggressive claimant for, the
smiles of the fair Barbara. He was a
Californian Of immense wealth and I'M
bounded confidence in himself, and
letters to people in. New York had given
him a, certain entree. The triuInphs IN
love and finance that had come with
his twoscore years and ten had. de-
molished every vestige Of timidfty that
may have been born With, him. He
was successful enough In the world of
finance to have become four or five
times q millionaire; and. be had fared
so we'll in love that twice he had been:
a widower. Rodney Grimes was. start
| Ing out to win, Barbara with the same
dash and impulsiveness that overcame
Mary Farrell, the cook In the mining
camp, and Jane Boothroyd, the school
| teacher, who came to California ready
| to marry the first man who asked her.
He was penniless prospector when he
married Mary and when he led Jane
to the altar she rejoiced in having
| captured a husband worth at least
$4,000.
He WED with Brewster In patronizing
| Barbara's booth, and he rushed into
the conflict with an impetuosity that
seemed destined to carry everything
before It, Monty was brushed aside,
Barbara was pre-e1npted as if she were
a mining claim, and ten days after his
| arrival in New York Grimes was the
most talked OF mara in town. Brewster
was not the sort to be dispatched with
out a struggle, however. Recognizing
Grimes as an obstacle, but not as a ri
val, he once more ddnned his armor and
beset Barbara with all the zest of a
champion who seeks to protect and not
to conquer. He regarded the Caltfor-
nian as an fEnposter, and summary ae-
ton was necessary. Il KNOW all about
him, Babs," he said one day after he
felt sure Of his position. WHY, his
father was honored by the V. G. on the
coast in 40"
1.-THE Victoria CROSSE" asked Barbara
mnocently.
NO. the vigilance committee"
Ia this way Monty routed the enc
my and cleared the field before the end
of another week Grimes transferred
his Objectionable affection, and Barba.
"a was not even asked to be wife No
8. Brewster's campaign was so ardent
that he neglected other duties deplora.
bly,, falling far behind his improvident
average. With Grimes disposed of, he
once more forsook the battlefield OF
love and gave his harassed and undt
vided attention to his own peculiar
| business
+! The fast and loose game displeased
Miss Barbara greatly. She was at first
surprised. then piqued, then resentful
Monty gradually awoke to the distress
ing fact that she was going to be In
tractable, as he put it, and forthwith
undertook to smooth the troubled sea
To his Amusement and concern, she
was not to be appeased.
docs it occur to you, Monty" she
said, with gentle GOODNESS that wal
infinitely worse than beat, that YOU
have been carrying things with a pref
ty high hand? Where did you acquire
the right to interfere with my privf
leges? You seem to think that an
not to speak to any man but you"
"Oh, come, now, Babs," retortet
Monty, I've not been quite as IN
reasonable as that And you know
yoaFsefI tudt IfIueS ~ I1c WokSb hftas
of a beulder."
, II know nothing of the sort" repliet
the lady, with growing irritation. "Yot
say that about every man who give:
me smile or flower Does it indi
cate such atrocious tasteT'
Don't be silly, Barbara. You know
perfectly well that you have talked Il
Gardner and that idiot Valentine BY
the hour, and I've not said a word
, But there are some things / cam
stand, and the impertinence Of Grime
, Is one Of them. Jove! He looked a
you out of those fishy eyes sometime
as though he owned you. II you knew
, how many times I've fairly ached t
knock him down"
Inwardly Barbara was weakening