Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-26

CoACS, - StA1AuAAul WHICH uS uTdllh
with Baizacisn frequency and relish.
Besides these accomplishments. he
played q very smooth hand at the great
American game. While Mr.. Roberts
admiration was not aroused, it was
surely awakened.
Mr.. hero had no trouble with the
customs officials. A brace Of old
French dueling pistols and Turkish
simitar were the only articles which
might possibly have been dutiable.
The inspector looked hard, but he was
finally convinced that Mr.. Robert was
not professional curio-collector.
Col. Annesley and his daughter were
old hands; they had gone through all
this before. Scarce an article in their
trunks was disturbed.
Once outside, the colonel caught the
eye of a cabby, and he and his daugh-
ter stepped in.
Holland House, sir, did you say?"
asked the cabby.
The colonel nodded. The cabby
cracked his whip, and away they rolled
over the pavement.
Wsrburton's heart gave great
bound. She had actually leaned out
Of the cab, and for one brief moment
their glances had met Scarce know
ing what he did, he jumped into
another cab and went pounding after.
1t was easily ten blocks from the pier
when the cabby raised the lid and
peered down at his fare.
do you want t. folly them. ahead?"
he cried
mo, MOI" Warburton was startled
out OF his wild dream. Drive to the
Holland House-no-to the Waldorf.
Yes, the Waldorf; and keep your nag
going?"
waldorf it is, sir!" The lid above
closed.
Clouds had gathered in the heavens.
1t was beginning to rain. But War
burton neither saw the clouds nor felt
the first few drops of rain. All the
way uptown he planned and planned
as many plans as there were drops of
rain; the rain wet him, but the plans
drowned him-he became submerged.
II he could find some one he knew at
the Holland House, some one who
would strike up a smoking-room ac-
quaintance with the colonel, the rest
would be simple enough. Annesley-
Annesley; he couldn't place the name.
Was he regular, retired or veteran
OF the Civil War? And yet, the name
was not totally unfamiliar. Certainly,
he was f1ne-looking old fellow, with
his white hair and Alexandrian nose.
And here he was, he, Robert Warbur-
ton. In New York. simply because he
happened to be in the booking office of
the Care du Nord one morning and
overheard a very beautiful girl say:
Then we shall sail from Southamp-
ton day after tomorrow" OF truth,
1t is the infinitesimal things that count
heaviest.
So deep was he in the maze Of his
tentative romance that when the cab
finally stopped abruptly, he was total
ly unaware Of the transition from ac-
tivity to passivity.
Hotel, sir!"
"Ah. yes!" Warburton leaped out,
fumbled in his pocket, and brought
fourth a five-dollar note, which he
gave to the cabby.
Warburton rushed into the noisy,
gorgeous lobby, and wandered about
till he espied the desk Here he turned
over his luggage checks to the clerk
and said that these accessories of
travel must be in his room before eight
O'Clock that night, or there would be
trouble. 1t was now half after five.
The clerk eagerly scanned the register.
Warburton, Robert Warburton; 1t
was not name with which he was
familiar. A thin film Of icy hauteur
spread over his face.
Very we'll, sir. Do you wish a
bath with your room?"
Certainly" Warburton glanced at
his watch again.
The price"
Hang the price! A room, a room
with bath-that's whatI want. Have
you got it?" This was said with a
deal Of real Impotence and hauteur
that overtopped the clerks.
The Aim Of ice melted into gracious
smile. Some new millionaire from
Pittsburg, thought the clerk. He
swung the book around.
"You have forgotten your place Of
residence, sir" he said.
place of residence!"
Warburton looked at the clerk in
blank astonishment. Place Of resi-
dence? Why, heaven help him, he
had none, none! For the first time
since he left the army the knowledge
came home to hina and it struck rather
deep. He caught up the pen, poised
1t an indecisive moment, then hastily
scrubbed Paris: as well Paris as any,
where.