Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-10

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"That's right; laugh, you old piratel
wish you had been in my boots a
few hours ago. Lord"
l laughed again.
Have you got that 1852" he asked.
why, your fine has been pnid," I
replied, rather surprised.
"And didn't you pay it?"
"Not 1! The clerk told me that 1t
had just been paid"
Warburton's jaw sank Imply. Gust
been paid?- Who the deuce could
have paid it, or known?"
First, tell me what you've been up
to-"
He told me snatches Of the exploit as
he changed his clothes, and it was a
question which Of us laughed the more
But he didn't say a word about the
stolen kiss, for which / think none the
less of him.
"Who were the women?" asked.
He looked at me for a space, as If
deciding Finally he made negative
sign
Don't know who they were, eh?"-
incredulously.
He shrugged, laughed, and drew on
his shoes.
II always knew that was the jack
ass Of the family, Chuck, but I never
expected to do it so we'll. Let's get out
of this hole. l wonder who can have
paid that fine? No, that would
not be possible!"
What would not be?"
Nothing, nothing, Laughing.
But could see that his spirits had
gone up several degrees.
"The, whole thing is likely to be
in the evening papers," said He
needed a littl worrying. And knew
his horror of publicity.
"The newspapers? In the newspa-
pers? Oh, l say, Chuck, can't you use
your influence to suppress the thing?
Think Of the girls"
"I'll do the best can. And there's
only one thing for you to do, and that
is to cut out Of town till your beard
has grown. 1t would serve you right,
however, if the reporters got the true
facts
I'm. for getting out of town, Chuck;
and on the next train but one"
Here our conversation was inter-
rupted by the entrance of a policeman
"a note for Mister Osborne, "-ironi-
cally. He tossed the letter to War
burton and withdrew
Mister Osborne eagerly tore open an
end of the envelope-a very aristocrat-
lie envelope, as 1 could readily discern
and extracted the letter. closely
watched his facial expressions. First,
there was interest, then surprise to be
succeeded by amusement and Certain
exnltation. He slapped his thigh.
"By George, Chuck, I'll do it,"
do it? Now what?"
Listen to this" He cleared his
throat, shifted of the family scented
paper and cleared his throat again.
| He looked up at me drolly.
"Well?" said I, impatiently. I was
as eager to hear it as he had been to
| tCdu L. U0llCSSu GhdI lllC LILY olSlJ
was about to be solved.
flames Osborne, Sir: have been
thinking the matter over seriously, and
have come to the conclusion that there
may have been mistake. Undoubt-
eddy my groom was primarily to blame.
have discharged him for neglecting
his post of duty. distinctly recall the
manner in which you handled the
horses last night. 1t may be possible
that they ran away with you. How-
ever that may be, find myself in need
of a groorx. Your Craftsmanship saved
us from serious accident If you will
promise to let whisky alone, besides
bringing me a recommendation, and
are without engagement, call at the en-
closed address this afternoon at three
o'clock l should be willing to pay as
much as $40 a month. You would be
expected to accompany me on my
morning rides
"She must have paid the fine" said
l. "Well, it beats anything ever heard
of. Had you arrested, and now wants
to employ you! What name did you
say?" asked carelessly.
81 didn't say any name. Chuck
smiling. "And I'm not going to give
any, you old duffer."
"And why not?"
For the one and simple reason that
am going to accept the position, -
with GOODNESS that staggered me.
"What?" I bawled.
"Sure as life, as the policeman said
last night"
you silly ass, you! Do you want to
make the family laughing stock all
over the town." l was really angry.
Neither the family nor the town
will know anything about it,"-imper-
turbably.
But you will be recognized" l re-
monstrated. tits clear case of in.
sanity, after what has just happened
to YOU"
81 promise not to drink any whisky,
soberly.