Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.
A FINE LOVER.

the following Tuesday; after that day
he was seen no more in Washington.
From time to time some news of him
filters through the diplomatic circles
of half dozen capitals to Washington.
The latest | heard of him, he was at
Port Arthur. 1t was evident that Rus
sia valued his personal address too
highly to exile him because Of his fail
ure in Washington Had he threat
ened or gone about noisily, we should
all have forgotten him completely. As
vivid as his actual presence. Thus,
give him what dramatists call an
agreeable exit.
was in the Baltimore and Potomac
station the morning after that unfor-
getable night at Senator Blanks house.
I had gone there to see about the Ge-
parture of night trains, preparatory 10
making flying trip to New York, and
was leaving the station when a gloved
hand touched me on the arm. The
hand belonged to Mrs. Chadwick. She
was dressed in the conventional travel
ing gray, and but for the dark lines
under her eyes she would have made
picture for any man to admire. She
looked tired, very tired, as women look
who have not slept we'll
"Good morning, Mr.. Orator." she
said, saluting me with smile
"You are going away?" 1 asked,
shaking her hand cordially.
"Way, way away! I am leaving
for Nice, where I intend to spend the
winter. Il had intended to remain in
Washington still the holidays; but
plead guilty to rowing disposition,
and frequently change my mind"
'Womans most charming preroga-
tive" said I gallantly.
What mask the human countenance
is! How little dreamed that I was
testing with woman whose heart
was breaking, and numbed with ter
rible pain!
Her maid came up to announce that
everything was ready for her reception
in the state-rcom, and that the train
was about to draw out of the station
Mrs Chadwick and babe each other
L
saw her again.
At eleven O'Clock I returned to my
rooms to pack a case and have the
thing off my mind Tramping restless
" UP and down before my bachelor
apartment house I discerned M'sieu
thames. His face was pale and trou-
bled, but the angle of his jaw told
ma $ha$ M ~ -
something or other.
'"Ha!" said railingly. He wore
decently respectable suit of ready-made
clothes: Lost your job and want me
to give you recommendation?
IT want a few words with you,
Chuck, and no fooling. Don't say that
you can't spare the time. You've sim
ply got to-"
with whom am to talk, James,
the groom, or Warburton, the gentle
man."
"You are to talk with the man whose
sister you are to marry
i became curious. naturally. mo
police AFFAIR.""
''No, it's not the police. can very
well go to a lawyer, but desire alb
solute secrecy. Let us go up to your
rooms at once"
(, led the way. was beginning to
desire to know what all this meant.
"Has anybody recognized your" II
asked, unlocking the door to my apart
ment.
"No; and shouldn't care hang if
they had"
"Oho!''
Warburton flung himself into chair
and lighted cigar. He pulled it rap
idly, while I got together my shaving
and toilet sets.
"Start her up" said I.
"Chuck when my father died he
left nearly quarter of million in
five per cents; that is to say, Jack,
Nancy and l were given yearly in
come of about s4,500 Nancys portion
and mine are still in bonds which do
not mature till 1900. Jack has made
several bad investments, and about
half Of his is gone, but his wife has
plenty, so his losses do not trouble
him. Now, have been rather frugal
during the past seven years. l have
lived entirely upon my army pay.
must have something like $4,000 ly-
ing in the bank in New York On Mon
day, between three and four o'clock,
Col. Annesley will become practically
beggar, pauper."
WHAT" My shaving mug slipped
from my hand and crashed to the floor,
where it lay in hundred pieces.
Eyes. He and his daughter will not
have roof of their own: all gone,
every stick and stone Don't ask any
questions; only do as ask Of you"
He took out his check-book and filed
out two blanks. These he handed to
me. "The large one want you to
place in the Union bank, to the credit
of Col. Annesley."
looked at the check. Twenty
thousand dollars?" I gasped
"The Union bank has this day dis
counted the colonels note. 1t falls