Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-07
THE IRON LORD
By S. R. CROCKETT.
Copyright by Crockett. Rights
By S. R. CROCKETT.

Copyrish, 1907 by s. R. Crockett. Ri
CHAPTER IN Continued

manifest that she was delivering
little lecturette. The uplifted fore
finger, menacing, said as much.
Though Jacob could see that 1t in
Inundated nobody. Good again! No
self-will. She would do as Jacob
Romer ordered. He should have no
ditiiculties of any kind. Better for
nim If she had.
Presently the infant mistress reap
peared She bore a cake of soap, a
sponge, while a rough towel was over
her arm. Then the line of small five
year olders began to swerve and
dodge. They got one behind the other.
There were cries of Come out O. that,
you Joel" please. mother washed
me juss fore come! She did indeed.
ma'am."
But nothing availed. In very bust
ness-like way, and as one used to the
task. the tall girl called them forward
one by one, and in spite of their pro
tests, washed Tor re-washed) her flock,
paying no attention to the eyes. all
screwed up into twists for fear of
soap. furthermore, she behaved like
very Stanley in the trackless wastes
Of darkest Africa behind their ears.
Still, not one cried and not one re-
fused the ordeal. Indeed, each stood
to attention so soon as their own
scrubbing was done. and enjoyed to
the full the sufferings of their com
rades-as good little Sunday school
children ought to Go.
Good and better" thought Jacob
Romer as he halted moment OH his
heel to peer through the gate of the
playground. Wnereupon a tail boy,
acting the part of janitor and magni-
flying his Office, shut the door in his
face. but Jacob, for once nothing an
gered, only murmured. She has
enough firmness to manage children.
what can man wish for more?"
He congratulated himself that he
was not the prey to any foolish senti-
ment. such as igorant and youthful
persons can love" He never did
anything more calmly in his life. He
was suffering from a disease. that
was all. He had diagnosed it, he had
found the remedy, and now he was
going to apply it.
He stepped all tne way to the cor
ner of the road, where Newcastle
highway ran long and straight to the
horizon, with its length almost clear
of the weekday traffic of wagons, and
the pavements only encountered by a
few Sunday stroliers, and belated
school children in their best array.
He discovered that the street was
named Ryan street and so by sim
pie reasoning process the building
which interested him would be called
Ryan street Sunday school.
"Good," he said. after little, ."
will Qnd 1nnl, thaf cI1narnf a ID
ent."
He fumbled in his pockets for &
card. His name was a good introduc
ton in Thorsby and the neighborhoot
people were wont to look twice at {
err" upon 1t. He heard the hymn rise
and fall, the scuffling hush of the
prayer. Then to his ear came the
scurry and drumming clatter Of the
classes dismissing to their work. HI
let this settle bit. and then strollec
to the door. With roll-book and {
sneaf of papers in his hand the super
intendent-a small, eager, black-eyet
man-was boiling across the little
bricked courtyard when Jacob stop
ped him, big and strong
you are the superintendent o
Ryan street Sunday SCHOOL," he asked
The quick, bird-like little man nod
ded, caught in mid-stride and slowl.
letting the arrested front-foot sink tt
the ground. Jacob put the card bacl
in mis- pocket.
Then, since we are face to face.
he said. 81 need not trouble you will
this piece of pasteboard | am MI
Jacob Incubus CORN Romer-"
''Ah," said the superintendent flush
ing, "the nephew Of
Precisely" Jacob cut his short
recognizing him as clerk an,
collector under the Thorsby board O
Guardians. II have been much inter
ested in your work here. having t
pass this way to my uncle's office
from my rooms"
"Ah, indeed Delighted: What cal
l do for you"
The superintendent scented afar OF
subscription for struggling Rya
street. and the nephew of their groun
landlord was certainly not to be bowe
to the door like the first conner
would you like to see our wor
in action, sir?'
Jacob would, and in a minute h
was 'DeluS Introduced 10 MISS fr9nCI
"who SO ably and Conscientious
teaches our infant-class" AS the
went out Jacob, as if impressed b
the long array Of awe-struck chubb
face, all now clean, remarked: "Ths
is difficult task; who did you sd
was the young lady 1eacher?"
She is a Miss French said th
superintendent Her father is a r,
tired country postmaster and schoo
master. She has been well brougt
up, sir. and lives in Cliff Square"
$50 | see, so | see,' said Jaco
meditatively.
He glanced at the other depar
ments, said some kind things as t
arrangements, asked the superinteI
ent to allow him to send him a chez
in aid of the funds. and got ava
much more eXpeditiously than tie SUI
erintendent had expected. He though
he had captured a sympathetic liste
er for the whole hour and half +
might even be persuaded to give the
little CLOSING address" The supc
intendant was a1W1Vc IN the Io0kO