Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-20
CHAPTER IX-(Continued.)

i SI1x1I
Two minutes later the following tele-
gram to Swearengen Jones was await.
ing the arrival Of messenger boy and
Brewster was blandly assuring Messrs
Grant q Ripley that he did not care
rap for the consequences:
New York, Oct q, ~
Swearengen Jones. Butte, Mont:
: No doubt you could do 1t 70. less than
six thousand. Montana Is regarded as tho
best grazing COUNTRY In tho world. but We
don't eat that spe% oe stu6 ia New Ysfk.
That's why z esseg uess % hvs Asee.
Just before leaving his apartments
for Miss Drew.e home he received this
response from faraway Montana:
Butte, Mont, Oct q, -
Montgomery Brewster. New York:
We are 5000 feet above the level of tho
sea- suppose that's why 1t costs us less
to live high. S. JONES.
IT was beginning to despair, Monty .
said Miss Drew reproachfully when
he had come down from the height Of
his evaporation and remembered that
there were things Of more Importance.
The light in his eyes brought the
faintest inge Of red to her cheeks, and
where moment before there had been
annoyance there was now feeling of
serenity. For moment the silence
was fraught with purpose. Monty
glanced around the room, uncertain
how to begin. It was not SO easy as he
had imagined.
You are very good to see me-" he
said at last ut was absolutely neces-
sary for me to talk to you this evening.
I could not have endured the suspense
any longer. Barbara, I've spent three
or four sleepless nights on your ac-
count. Will it spoil your evening if
tell you IN plain words what you al
ready know? 1t won't bother you, will
it?' he foundered.
What do you mean, Monty?" she
begged, purposely dense and with won
derful control Of her eyes.
II love you, Babs," he cried. 81
thought you knew about it all along
or should have told you before. That's
why I haven't slept The fear that
you may not care for me has driven
me nearly to distraction. It couldn't
so on any longer. must know to-
day"
There was CLEAN in his eyes that
made her pose of Indifference difficult
The fervor Of his half whispered words
took possession Of her She had ex-
pected sentiment Of such a different
character that his frank confession dis
armed her completely. Beneath his
ardent abrupt plea there was assur-
ance, the confidence of one who is not
to be denied. 1t was not what he had
said, but the way he had said It, A
wave Of exultation swept over her, tin.
Cling through every nerve. Under the
spell her resolution to daily lightly
with his emotion suffered a check tha4
almost brought ignominious surrender.
Both Of her hands were ciasped in his
when he exultngly resumed the charge
against her heart, but she was rapidly
regaining control of her emotions, and
he did not know that he was losing
ground with each step he took for
ward. Barbara Drew loved Brewster,
but she was going to make him pay
dearly for the brler lapse her CON-
posure had experienced. When next
she spoke she was again the Miss
Drew who had been trained in the
ways of the world, and not the young
girl in love.
Il care for you great deal, Monty"
she said, "but I'm wondering whether
care enough toto marry you
I'VE haven't known each other very
long, Babs," he said tenderly, "but 1
think we know each other well enough
to be beyond wondering"
1T is like you to manage the whole
thing" she said chidingly. Cant you
give me time to convince myself that I
love zou as xou would like and as ]