Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-10
THE IRON LORD
BY S. R. CROCKETT.
Copyright 1907 by Crockett. Right. Reserved
BY S. R. CROCKETT.
Copyright 1907 by 8. R. Crockett,

| nothing to spend on me. Besides, the
others all run in pairs, while am
by-product, and must depend on any
thing that may turn up. The 'pater
actually wanted me to become chem.
| list, so as to be handy when Aaron
and Hur took over the business-'k keep
it all in the family, you know. ha,
han"
And he initiated his fathers hearty
manner, for which he was again re,
proved by little Miss NGnsby
ct is horrible of you to do that"
she said; your father is indeed
blameable for letting you run about
like this, with nothing to do but
scribble sonnets to Vida Bryan, or
come down here to chatter about her
while knit. But just the same, DR..
Calme'nt is ready to do all that he
can for you'll"
GRANTED, said Phil cheerfully,
"only that does not happen to be any
thing which I can accept"
In my time," said little Miss Nuns
by, primly, boys were expected to
do as their parents told them. There
| is. believe, q commandment in your
Bible to that effect
YES" said Phil, interrogatively,
but not to be a chemist and drug
gist Even Solomon, who Is pretty
lard on us, draws the line at that.
Why, I should poison the whole par
irh In no time, and you and my father
would be hanged for murder. Be
sides you need not preach to me after
all, you are only a year or two older
'In years, yes" sighed Rose Nuns
by, "but ages and centuries and
aeons cannot express the difference
in outlook"
At this Phillips Calmont moved UNI
easily. His great choir Of privet, I'M
used to such treatment, promptly in
te:tected a thorn which pricked him
sha:p ply into consciousness. He erect
ed himself AMI the balanced chair
stood on four feet.
"Whst would sou have me do,
them" he asked.
Little Miss Nunsby kept her eyes
on her knitting. There was a great
green peace in the hedged guadrilater-
al of the garden. Only overhead a
hawk planed with slow balancings
and swift. short beats of the wing.
Beneath the smaller birds collected
and screamed with one accord, while
motherly old hens in Mr.. Nunsby's
back yard, though for the moment
broodless, nevertheless bristled UP
and dropped their wings over imagln
airy chicks as they gazed at the en-
emy each with one bright eye turn
ed skyward watching his movements.
DO" said Miss Nunsby. Indignantly
replying to Phil Calmont's question,
"do-why every man ought to be able
to decide that for himself"
II daresay-in theory" groaned
Phil dismally; "but in practice it's
jolly difficult, when you happen to be
| man"
The truth OF this seemed to strike
| Miss Nunsby, but she recovered her
self.
"Nonsense!" she cried; "there are
only a few things that women can do,
but man can do anything, be any
uing!"
"For instance" suggested Phil,
King of England, or Pope Of Rome!"
Tut" said Miss Nunsby; "be sens
ible, and set your mind on some
thing"
well, then" said Phil calmly. &c!
set my mind on remaining here, be-
coming an author, and dwelling all
my life among the green things, and
the faces of the kind folk know and
who know me-"
A quick flush passed over Miss
Nunsby's face, something like sheet
lightning seen pulsfng up towards the
zenith on summer nights.
"Ah, you mean the green lawns
about Glebe End Cottage and Vida
Dryau's kind face?"
THAT has not been particularly
kind CT late" owned Phil still, how
ever, shameiessly; Sin fact, never
get a chance to speak to her, ex-
cept with all that Healthy Crowd hut
tering after me-
"And pray, what else can you ex-
pect?" snapped the little music teach
Ell. you do nothing; you DO not try
to do anything. And every evening
Vida has the advantage of comparing
| you with"
with whom?" cried Phil, excitedly
dropping himself back against the
privet hedge.
with Vic Morris"
And at the name, prompt as an
echo, Phil bounded erect with sud
den cry. as if the biggest IL thorns
had pricl-ed him.
"Vic Norris" he repeated; "Vic
| MOTIFS. l. Will SQOW ,uet ltdl an
as good man as any Vic Morris in
tho world"
| And lie went through the wicket
gate rather rudely, and without say
Ing goodbye, though lit'le Miss
Nunsby locked after him, hal amused
and hat wlstful. And Phil Calmcnt
tid not discover till he got to his
room IL his fathers house, mat a
huge hawthorn spike haa indeed
pierced between the neck and the col.
lar hie shirt He fought t was
the comparison with Vic Morris that
was giving him pain.
But. at least, he had left some pain
behind him, though Miss Rose in her
garden suffered from no thorn-save
it may be from the fact that she had
one shoulder higher than the other.
CHAPTER XIII.
Wooers at Glebe End.
AS Miss Nunsby had said, perhaps
in moment of pique with Phil Cal
nlont's easy going ways, Vida Bryar
at old Dicks cottage had ample Oh