Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-11
Zee stove-pipe bust, Mees,"

mouth, and fed. This didn't add to his
amiability He left the kitchen in a
downright savage mood. He had APP
peared before her positively ridicu-
lous, laughable. A woman never can
love man, nor entertain tender re-
gard for him at whom she has laughed.
And the girl had laughed, and doubt
less was still laughing. (However. 1
do not offer his opinion as infallible.)
He stood in the roadway, looking
around for some inanimate thing upon
which he might vent his anger, when
the sound of hoofs coming toward him
distracted him. He glanced over his
shoulder and his knees all
but gave way under him. Caught! The
rider was none other than his sister
Nancy! 1t was all over now for a
certainty. He knew it; he had about
one minute to live. She was too near,
SO he dared not fly. Then brilliant
inspiration came to him. He quickly
passed his hand over his face. The
disguise was complete.
"James!" Miss Annesley was stand
ing on the veranda. Take charge Of
the horse. Nancy, dear, l am so glad
to see you!"
James was anything but glad
Betty, good gracious, whatever is
the matter with this fellow? Has he
the black plague? Ugh!" She slid from
the saddle unaided.
James stolidly took the reins.
1.-THE Kitchen stove-pipe fell down.
Betty replied, "and James stood in the
immediate vicinity Of it,"
The two girls laughed joyously, but
James did not even smile. He had
half notion to kiss Nancy, as he
had planned to do that memorable
night of the ball at the British en-
bassy. But even as the notion came,
to him, Nancy had climbed up the
steps and was out of harms way
James," said Miss Annesley. ego
and wash your face at once"
eyes. Miss"
At the sound Of his voice Nancy
turned swiftly; but the groom had pre-
sented his back and was leading the
horse to the stables.
Nancy would never tell me the SUBJ
stance of her conversation with Miss
Annesley that afternoon, but I am
conceited, enough to believe that a
certain absent gentleman was the main
topic. When she left, it was William
Whn 1nH out hn 10 al
that James was still engaged with soap
and water and pumice-stone. Miss
Annesley's laugh rang out heartily,
and Nancy could not help joining her
"And have you heard from that
younger brother of yours?" Betty
asked, as her friend settled herself in
the saddle.
mot line, Betty, not a line; and
had set my heart on your meeting
him. do not know where he is, or
when he will be back"
Perhaps he is in quest of adven-
lures"
He is in Canada, hunting caribou. y
"You don't tell MEL
What a handsome girl you are, Bet
ty!"-admiringly.
What a handsome girl you are,
Nancy" mimicked the girl on the va
randa. "If your brother is only half
as handsome, l do not know whatever
will become of this heart of mine when
we finally meet" She smiled and drol-
ly placed her hands on her heart.
Don't look SO disappointed, Nan; per-
haps we may meet. l have an idea
that he will prove interesting and en-
tertaining;; and she laughed again.
whoa, Dandy! What are you laugh
ing at?" demanded Nancy.
II was thinking of James and his
soap, water and pumice- stone. That
was all, dear. Saturday afternoon
then, we shall ride to the club and
have tea Good-by, and remember me
to the baby"
"Good-by!"-and Nancy cantered
away.
What blissful thing the lack OF
| prescience is. sometimes!
When James had scraped the SCOT
llOm llo 1dCG anu ucCh dlu uduuS
and had sudsed it from his hair, James
observed, with some concern, that
| Pirate was coughing at great rate
| His fierce run against the wind the day
| before had given him a cold. Sc
James hunted for the veterinarian.
| where do you keep your books
here?" he asked William. pirates
got cold"
In the house library. You just &C
in and get it. We always do that al
home. You'll find it on the lower
shelf, to the right as you enter the
door,"
1t was half after four when James
having taken final look at his hands
and nails, proceeded to follow vii.
liam's instructions. He found no one
about. Outside the kitchen the lower
part Of the house was deserted. Tt
reach the library he had to pass
through the mushroom.
The first thing that caught his at.
tention was movable drawing board