Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-10
THE.
| MAN ON THE BOX
/ By HAROLD MacGRATH
\ Author of "Ihe Grey Cloak" "Thc Puppet Crown"
Copyright. 1904. The eobbs-Morr.u Company.

ueTeu WIFI she was Thinking OIL ~ lib
moment, and fell asleep. It was a sign
of a good constitution and decently
white conscience. And thus they found
him in the morning. They touched his
arm, and he awoke with smile, the
truest indication of mans amiebility.
At first he was puzzled as he looked
blinktngly from his jailers to his sur
roundings and then back at his Jail
ers. Then it all returned to him, and
he laughed. Now the law, as repre-
sented and upheld by petty officers, pos
sesses a dignity that Is instantly ruff
fled by the sound Of laughter from a
prisoner; and Mr.. Robert was roughly
told to shut up, and that he'd soon
laugh on the other side of his mouth.
call right officers, all right; only
make allowances for man who sees
the funny side Of things" Warburton
stood up and shook himself, and picked
up his white hat They eyed him in
diligently. In the morning light the
young fellow didn't appear to be such
rascal. 1t was plainly evident that
he had not been drunk the preceding
night; for his eyes were not shot with
red veins nor did his lips lack their
usual healthy moisture. The officer who
had taken him in charge, being a
shrewd and trained observer, noted the
white hands, soft and well-kept. He
shook his head
look here, me lad, you're no groom,
not by several years. Now. what tn
devil was We up to, anyway"
I'm not saying word, sir" smiled
Warburton. Cali I want to know is,
am to have any breakfast? shouldn't
mind some peaches and cream or
grapes to start with, and a small steak
and coffee"
Eye wouldn't mind, hey?' mimicked
the officer what dye think this
place Is, tn Metropolitan club? Yell
have yer bacon an coffee, an be glad
t git it. They'll feed We in the mess
room. Come along"
Warburton took his time over the
coffee and bacon. He wanted to think
out reasonable defense without I'M
masking himself He was thinking
how he could get word to me, too,
The "duffer" might prove friend in
need.
t'Now where?" asked Warburton,
wiping his mouth.
'T' tn court It'll go hard with ye
if ye're handed over t tn grand jury
on tn charge of abduction. Ye'd bet
ter make a clean breast of it. I'll speak
word for yer behavior"
aren't you a little curious?"
tits part of me business, "-gruffly
"I'll have my say to the judge" said
Warburton
That's yer own affair. Come"
Once outside, Warburton lost color
and a large part of his nonchalance;
for an open patrol stood at the curb.
"Have got to ride in hat?"-dis-
gustedly.
"As true as life; an if We make any
disturbance, so much tn worse"
Warburton climbed in, his face red
with shame and anger. He tied his
handkerchief around his chin and
tilted his hat far down over his eyes
"Fraid of meetin' some of yer swell
friends, hey? Ten t one, yer swell an
was runnin' away with tn wrong
woman. Mind. l have an eye on We"
The patrol rumbled over the asphalt
on the way downtown. Warburton
buried his face in his hands. Several
times they passed q cigar-store, and
his mouth watered for a good cigar,
tae taste Of clear Havana
He entered the police court, not lack
ing in curiosity. It was his first ex-
perience with this arm of the civil
law. He wasn't sure that he liked it.
1t wasn't an inviting place with its
bare benches and its motley, tawdry
throng. He was pumped into a seat
between some ladies Of irregular
habits, and the stale odor of intoxi-
cants, mingling with cheap perfumery,
took away the edge of his curiosity.
Hello, pretty boy; jag?" asked one
of these faded beauties. in an under.
mo sweetheart" he replied, smil-
ing in spite Of himself.
"Ah gowan! Been pinching some
ones wad?"
"Nope!"
What are you here for, them"
Having a good time without any
body's consent If you will listen, you
will soon hear all about it,
Silence there, on the benchi"
bawled the clerk, whacking the desk.
"Say, Marie" whispered the woman
to her nearest neighbor. Here's a boy
been selling his masters harness and
got pinched."
"But look at the sweet things coming
in, will you! Amt they swell. though? ?"
whispered Marie, nodding a skinny,
feather toward the door
Warburton glanced indifferently in
the direction indicated, and received
shock. Two women-and both wore
very heavy black wells. The smaller
of the two inclined her body, and he
was sure that her scrutiny was for
him. He saw her say something irto