Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-22
! T h e Spoi1er
By REX E. BEACH.
y REX E. BEA CHI.

man tc man. I won't stand to have
d girl like Miss Chester cold-lecked b..
a bunch of mining-camp swells aud
tnat goes as IL les In his excite.
ment, Mcnamara reverted to his west.
ern idiom.
The other did not reply at once,
Tor 1T Is embarrassing to deal with a
person VINO disregards the conventions
utterly, and at the same time has the
inclination and force to compel obedi.
ence. The boss's reputation had gone
abroad.
"Well-er-I know about 1t in a
general way. but of course don't go
much on such things You'd better let
1t DROP
Go on
There has been lot Of talk among
the ladies' about-well, er--the fact Is,
It's that young Glenister. Mrs. Cham
plan had the next state room to them
-er-him-I SHOULD say-on the way
up from the states and she saw things.
Now, as far as I'm concerned, girl
can do what she pleases, but Mrs
Champlan has her own ideas of pro-
priety. From what. my wife could
learn. there's some truth in the story,
too, SO you can't blame her.
With a word Mcnamara could have
explained the gossip and made this
man put ais wife right forcing through
her an calculation of the silly affair in
such way as to spare Helen's feel
1ngs and cover the busy-tongued mag.
pies with confusion. Yet he hesitated
1t is wise skipper who trims his
sails to every breeze. He thanked his
informant: and left him. Entering the
lobby, he saw the girl hurrying to.
wards him
Take me away, quick! l want to
80 home"
You've changed your mind?"
yes, let us co. she painted. and
when they We're outside she walked so
rapidly that he had difficulty in keep
Ing pace with her. She was silent
and he knew better than to question,
but when they arrived at her house.
he entered, took off his overcoat, and
turned up the light In the tiny parlor
She flung her wraps over a chair,
storming back and forth like little
fury. Her eyes were starry with tears
of anger. her face was flushed, her
hands worked nervously. He leaned
against the mantel, watching mar
through his cigar smoke.
You needn't tell me-" he said, at
length II know all about It,"
II am glad you do. l never could
repeat what they said. Oh, 1t was
brutal" Her voice caught and she
bit her lip. What made me ask
them? Why didn't keep still? After
you left, went to those women and
faced them. Oh but they were brutal!
Yet, why should carer" She stamp.
ed her slippered foot.
II shall have to kill that man some
day." ne said, fecking his cigar ashes
into the CRATE
What man?' She stood still and
looked at him.
"Glenister, of course. If had
thought the story would ever reach
you, I'd shut him up long ago."
"1t didn't come from him." she cried,
hot with indignation. Hes gentle
man. It's that cat, Mrs. Champian."
He shrugged mis- shoulders the slight.
est bit. but it was eloquent, and she
noted it. "Oh, don't mean that he
did 1t intentionally-he's too decent a
chap for that-but anybody's tongue
will wag to a beautiful girl! My lady
Malotte is a jealous trick"
"Malotte! Who is she?" Helen
questioned, curiously.
He seemed surprised. 81 thought
every one knew who she Is. It's just
as we'll that you DON'T
81 am sure Mr.. Glenister would not
talk Of me-" There was pause.
"Who is Miss Malotte?''
He studied for a moment. while she
watched him. What a splendid figure
he made in his evening clothes! The
cosey room with its shaded lights en-.
HANGED his size and strength and rug
ged outlines. In his eyes was that adj
miration which women live for. He
lifted mis- bold handsome face and met
her gaze.
II had rather leave that for you to
find out, for I'm not much at scandal.
l have something more important to
tell you It's the most important
thing have ever said to you, Helen"
1t was the first time he had used that
name, and she began to tremble, while
her eyes sought the door in panic.
She had expected this moment, and
yet was not ready.
mot tonight-don't say 1t now"
she managed to articulate.
Eyes, this is a good time If you
can't answer, I'll come back tomor.
row. want you to be my wife.
want to give you everything the world
offers, and want to make you happy,
girl. There'll be no gossip hereafter
I'll shield you from everything unpleas-
ant, and IL there is anything you want
in life, I'll lay 1t at your feet. can
do It," He lifted his massive arms,
and in the set of his strong. square
face was the promise that she should
have whatever she craved If mortal
man could give TITO her-love, protec-
ton, position, alteration
She stammered uncertainty till the
humiliation and chagrin she had suf.
fered this night swept over her again.
This town-tnis crude, half-born min
ing camp-had turned against her, mis-
Judged her cruelty. The women were
envious. clacking seandal-mongers, all
of them. who would ostracize her and
make her life in the northland mis-.
cry, make her an outcast with nothing
to sustain her but her own solitary
pride She could picture her future
clearly, pitilessly, and see herself
standing alone. yilifed. harassed in