Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-21
CHAPTER XIV, continued.)

Billy said all this to the vivid pune
tuation Of his clenehed fist on the
table. so that the candles on the
sheet of The Border Advertiser were
we'll nigh jolted out of their places.
James Kahn. however. was as gen
tie and sauve as ever. He was far too
much man Of the world to allow
himself to be led into side issues He
had made up his mind what he would
say. and was determined that he
would not leave the room without
saying it.
Certainly. Mr.. Bryan he said,
i"no one dreamed Of anything else. All
that meant to imply was that |
should be ready to consider every in
terest. if Miss Vida did me the honor
Of becoming my wife. I need not
again repeat what I have previously
told Miss Vida. This is an affair be-
stwixt men. and If Miss Vida will give
me favorable answer, or even a
hope Of such an answer, I will easily
arrange the details with those WHO
have every claim to be considered
her natural protectors"
He stopped a moment as If to al
low Vida time to speak, but fnding
that she remained silent = with the
light striking upward on her face
4 from the candles on the table. and her
hair falling In dark mass on tie
shoulders Of her cream-colored dress
ing-gown he went on again, eX.
actly as If making a speech at d blsi-
ness meeting.
'In fact. as I have already mad the
honor of informing these gentlemen.
charge myself with everything. All
that ask in return is that the fact
Of the marriage be kept secret till
IT have fulfilled the present arrange.
Hfents I have with my esteemed chief
and principal Mr.. Jacob Romer.
ask the right for reasons that Ar. at
once simple and private. of telling bin
of the marriage at my own tiine =
but within a very brief period If De
lay, certainly not exceed ng Sis
months in all. that being the perio.
over which our present arrangements
rum"
Dick looked at Vida bes,ecangly
He was clearly on he side Of his mas
ter: The mere proposal see'ced yer!
wonderful to MIN. He certainly con
.sidered Vida a most fortunate girl.
but in a very differ ent spirit III
merely wanted to be sure to which
side Vida's desires il clined. in oI,ie
to lend her all the weight of his SUP
iport-backed, if necessary. by the re
5ivolver which had frst induced Jane
Kahn to speak out lis mind tina
night.
well, Vida" said Billy encourae
&. H.. t,,Aa t,,~ WIFI yA h
Srich in the cracking of f1nger an
thumb. or will We stay poor yet
While longer? Yes or no, lass. o.,
with 1t! And speak just as w fee
honey. To the pol with yor like
free elector in the county OF Tjppel
airy. where they care for neithe
priest nor parson.
my answer. NJ" Kahn" saio Vida
with a grave, severe restrain. rs, a
Z told you before MOI
You have nothing to adj = n
hope - no reason
''None," said Vida "at least no rrs
son that can give. bid you GO
right
And yhs passei cut of sight Up II,
stairs.
Then Billy Bran broke 'o,s "
actually danced sig.
''The brave young lass" he criet
,t"she deserves coronet of diamond
she has chosen to be poor!"
Meantime Dick, sorelv disappointe,
was showing James Kahn to the doc
II hope,' he said, that this wi
make no difference between u.s."
But James Kahn took himself Q
into the darkness without a word.