Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-26

you is to get Caroline and her too
lively daughter out of this place as
soon as possible. You cannot do. this
too soon to suit. Dear Jacob.
"Your affectionate brother"
Thomas Romer."
Mr.. Jacob Romer Of CORN House
was red-faced man, Of middle stat
ure, somewhat repete with protuber-
ant eyes and q whitisn bristle of hair
in which could be discovered no par
ticular parting or arrangement. AS
he went on reading through the letter
his fac gew redder, and he rubbed up
his nackle furiously as if his very fin
gers were electric with spite. A pair
of remote porcine eyes snapped and
sintilliated. and ne put all the terse
vigour of the master of many thou
sand workmen into the pendulum to.
and-fro Of his walk A scared man
servant peeped carefully round the
corner Of the door,
go awy!" shouted his master,
bending suddenly as if seeking some
thing to throw at him. But another
idea struck Mr.. Romer at the moment,
and he called out, Where is Kahn?"
Send Kahn to mel"
The man appeared round the door,
obviously holding himself ready to
dodge, and faltering his belief that
"Mr. Kahn had gone to the office"
well, send for MIN, can't you,"
shouted Mr. Jacob Romer. "And see
here, if you don't have him up within
five minutes-Pll-!'
But the man-servant, Gregson, who
hic 11yac oil Iv of
ing the page boy upon his cycle, with
Kahn to nurry-that the master want
ed fundamentally indeed
very much sooner
Scenes like this were all in the
days work at CORN House, and, as
Gregson truly said, it was not every
self-respecting man-servant who would
stand it, But the pay and the place
had their advantages, therefore Greg
son remained-and did his grumbling
out Of business hours.
Mr. Kahn-James Kahn-was known
both at the House and at the COM
pany's pits as ''The Confidential" He
was little. ,fairish man of indefinite
age. indefinite everything
In fact-anywnere, that is, between
TWENTY-FIVE and forty. He had brisk,
hateful look, as II the people about
amused him, and he was thinking ut
the same time what ill-trick he could
safely play them. His small, grey,
deep-set eyes dwelt an instant on your
face and then syeved aside Had
Kahn worn poor clothes instead of be-
ing fashionably attired, he would at
once have been arrested for a vaga-
bond, broad shoulders on such short
body that they gave him the look of
being slightly deformed. He hid ex-
IRENE bodily force under the flaccid
languor Of q used-up man about-town
When he entered the morning-room
at the house, Mr.. Romer motioned him
to shut the door Then without the
slightest salutation or Introduction,
he demanded. What boat lying just
now at Port Incubus can be got ready
for sea the quicl1est?"
"Ore or cargo?" inquired James
Kahn, WITH equally little surprise
Cargo said his master impatient
ly. land belonging to the firm
The little thick-set man with the
grey eyes that so consistently fed the
regard, appeared to ponder a nom ent.
''The Good Intent!" he said at last.
And her maSter!
Captain Warner"
put Warner on the Golden Swan"
said Mr.. Romer. shift Captain Hell
stone to the Good Intent and let him
choose his own crew. You are to be
Supercargo, and to do as l tell you"
very well, sir" said James Kahn.
He knew very much better than to
ask question or even to smile. He
was on his promotion, though ne pur-
sued knowledge rather than minted
gold. Afterwards-well, James Kahn
would see. knowledge was power
also money. He bowed and withdrew
with his orders for the day. He was
to go on cruise-a little private ex-
cursion, with Captain Helstone as
master and the crew specially chosen
"Ah!" thought James Kahn, "there
should be something worth knowing
in this. I wonder what is the old
mans game? would wager there is
not much cargo and good deal OF
| premium on the Good Intent. 1t is a