Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-27

himself, told him something of the i'm.
portance attached to his report.
We'll, Petrie, well? Speak-man.
Don't you see you are killing me?
Hobbes-what Of Hobbes?"
TTuthfully. Petrie answered: "Hob.
bes is fugitive-the whole scheme
was gigantic swindle. Every penny
invested is irremediably lost"
Almost before he had finished speak.
ing from the various side-paths lead
Ing toward them came the sound Of
voices. Henry made a staggering
movement as though to escape to-
wards the house, but his way was
blocked by Sadie Jones, who had gone
at the Bishops request to fetch Diana
AS Henry stared at the advancing
groups he saw himself already convict.
ed. What was the meaning of this I'M
usual gathering of officers and men
silently falling into lines behind. the
circle of friends who surrounded him?
He supported himself by his chair.
Petrie quickly realized the situation rs
he saw sergeant approaching with all
open case containing the gift of the
big loving-cup. He tried to reach
Henry. but Lady Elizabeth anticipated
him. She had recalled too late the de,
monstration arranged to take place at
tea-time. There was moments hush.
A little way off the servants were
gathering to witness the honor shown
to their master, and the enclosure
about Henry was quickly crowded.
Henry chung to his support He
could distinguish all the faces quite
plainly, except Jim's. Where was
Jim? Muf1ed, as though coming from
a long distance, he heard the Bishops
voice:
MY lord am so overwhelmed with
the significance of this delightful occa.
sion and my own imperfections as
speaker, that could have wished my
task to have fallen into better hands.
But when was approached in the sac.
red name of charity and of that noble
cause so dear to all our hearts, the re.
lief and succor Of the widows and or
phans OF the brave men who have
given their lives in the smoke Of bat.
tie, felt ought to be sustained by
your own noble example. will not
dwell on the lofty nature of your lord
ships service to the Fund"
Henry's impassiveness began to de.
sert him: Liar! liar" shrieked the
little demons as they came in swarm
towards him. He closed his eyes.
I'm accepting this very beautiful
loving-cup," droned the Bishop.
But 1t had gone too far. His great
est pride-his regiment, his men, their
Fund-was his greatest dishonor
Better discovery-anything rather
than this awful continuation. He
saweyd-Petrie caught him; there was
q moments surprised ejaculation from
the crowd.
Lord Kerhill was Ill. The heat had
been intense during the afternoon
drill. It was noticed then that he was
unwell-and SO the tactful excuses
went from one to another as Henry
was assisted by Petrie to the library.
But Lady Elizabeth, with some hurried
orders to Petrie, turned to the assem-.
bled guests.
MY Lord Bishop, some one has said
speech is but broken light falling on
the depths Of the unspeakable.' This
II thanks for the great honor done our
house. am sure my sons inability
to reply Is more due to your eloquent
tribute than to his slight indisposition.
Wont va uallow the tea to be served?"
Lord Kerhill will, am sure, join you
very shortly"
Imperiously she took command If
the situation, and soon the waiting
servants were dispensing tea, while
the guests discussed the beauties of
the cup that lay in its velvet case. as
II nothing unusual had happened. Then
quietly she made her way to Henry.
Shs found him alone, and motioned
him to follow her into a small room
adjoining the library; it had been
prayer-closet in the past for a devout
Kerhtll. but during recent years 1t had
been used as smoking-den, with old
sporting-prfnts and curious whips and
spurs in place of the prie-dieu and the
crucihx. Drawing the bolt across the
oak door, Elizabeth Kerhill turned and
faced her son.
Henry, what is it,"
The South American Security Com
pany-a swindle. Hobbies a fugitive
for me exposure"
Lady Elizabeth realized that If sal
walton were to come to him 1t must
be through her.
ITO prevent this exposure, you
must not lose your self-control. We
must thfnk-not feel-tnink what we
can do" she began.
And Henry answered calmly, "I
must blow my brains out!''
Dear God" her heart prayed as she
watched him. His dull impassiveness
frightened her more than any madness
of rebellion; he meant this-it was no
Luz, boast. Had she only delayed, not
prevented. the contemplated tradegy
Of the night before? Tightly she buck
led on her armor of mother-love. She
must fight--fght him-the world, If
necessary, but she must win. She put
all the sickening hurt and broken
courage behind her. She must obtain
nelp-from whom? In the mean time
she must distract and arouse him from
this awful apathy of resignation to his
disgrace. While these things were
flashing through her brain she answer
ed:
Eff" she paused, she could not
say the word. 'If-that-" she half
whispered, would cover up the shame
but 1t wouldn't. No; no Earl of Ker-
hill must go into history as a.
"Thef!" Henry supplied the word.
1t was relief to speak it. "You