Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-30

grasped his case and leaped up the
steps two at bound, and pressed the
bell. A prim little maid answered the
call.
Does Mr.. John Warburton live
here?" he asked breathlessly.
Eyes, sir"
Fortunate John" he cried, pushing
past the maid and standing in the hall
of his brothers. household unheralded
and unannounced "Jack!" he bawled.
The maid eyed the handsome in
truder. her face expressing the. utmost
establishment. She touched his arm.
"sir!" she began.
tits all right, my DEAR" he inter-
rupted.
She stepped back, wondering
| whether to scream or run.
Hi, Jack! Il say, you old henpecked,
where are your"
| The dintng-room door slid back and
tall, Misunderstanding gentleman,
rather plain than otherwise, stood on
the threshold.
Jane, what is all this Why, Bob,
you scalawagH'-and in moment they
were pumping hands at a great rate,
The little maid leaned weakly against
the balustrade.
Kit, Kit! say, Kit, come and see
who's here!" cried John.
An extraordinarily pretty little
woman, whose pallor any woman
would have understood. but no man
on earth, and who was dressed in a
charming pink negligee morning
gown, hurried into the hall.
why, it's Bob" She flung her
arms around the prodigal and kissed
him heartily, held him away at arms
length, and Rugged and kissed him
again. I'm not sure that Mr.. Robert
didn't like it.
Suddenly there was swish of
starched skirts on the stairs, and the
most beautiful woman in all the world
(and l am always ready to back this
statement with abundant proofs!)
rushed down and literally threw her.
self into Mr.. Roberts eager, out.
stretched arms.
''Nancy!'
Bob! Bob! you wicked boy! You
almost break our hearts, Not a line in
two months!-How could you'll You
might have been dead and we not know
it!"-and she cried on his shoulder.
Come now, Nancy; nonsense!
You'll start the color running out of
this tie Of mine!" But for all his Jest
Ing tone, Mr.. Robert felt an embarrass-
Ing lump wriggle up and down in his
| throat
Had your breakfnst?" asked the
humane and practical brother.
"Yep. But shouldn't mind another
emp of coffee"
And thereupon he was hustled into
the dining-room and pushed into the
best chair. How the dear women
fused over him. pressed this upon him
and that; fondled and caressed him,
just as if the beggar was worth all
this trouble and love and affection
Hang it, girls, it's worth being an
outlaw to come to this" HE cried. He
reached over and patted Nancy on the
cheek, and pressed the young wifes
hand, and smiled pleasantly at his
brother. "Jack, you lucky pup, you!"
1.-TWO years. murmured Nancy;
"and we haven't had glimpse of you
in two long years."
"Only in photograph" said the
homeless one, putting three Jumps
of sugar in his coffee because he was
SO happy he didn't know what he was
about
"And you have turned 49," said Kit,
counting on her fingers.
"That makes you "a, Man," Jack
laughed. O.
"And much care!" replied Nancy
shaking her head defiantly. I've a
sneaking idea that she was thinking
of me when she made this declaration.
For if didn't care. why should she?
"a handsome, stunning girl like you,
Nan, ought to be getting married." OBJ
served the prodigai. Whats NE mat
ter with all these dukes and lords and
princes, anyhow?"
An embarrassed smile ran around
the table, but Mr.. Robert missed it
by several inches.
Jack threw a cigar across the ta-
BILE. Now" said he, where the
deuce did you come from?"
Indirectly from Arizona, which is
synonym once removed for war"
Jack looked at his plate and laughed;
but Mrs. Jack wanted to know what
Bob meant by that
"It's word used instead Of war,
as applied by the late Gen. Sherman"
Jack replied. "And am surprised
that brother-in-law of yours should
So far forget himself as to hint 1t
even"
Continued in Tuesdays Edition.)
1t is wonderful what a little careful