Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-19

ing irritation, ''she objects to my fam
lily. don't blame ner."
The financier smiled grimly as he
answered.:
"Your family in general me in,
particular, eh? I cleaned that much
when I came in" He looked towards
the door of the room in which Shirley
had taken refuge and as If talking to
himself he added: "a curious girl
with an inverted point Of view-sees
everything different to others want
to see ner before she goes"
He walked over to the door and
raised his hand as If he were about to
knock. Then he stopped as If ne had
changed his mind and turning to-
wards his son he demanded:
do you mean to say that she has
done with you?"
"Yes,' answered Jefferson bitterly.
"Finally?"
Eyes, finally-forever!" NJ
docs she mean it?' asked Ryder,
ST., sceptically.
"Yes-she will not listen to me
while her father is still in peril"
There was an expression of half
amusement, half admiration on the
financier's face as he again turned
towards the door. rs
cts like her, damn IT, Just like
her!" he muttered.
He knocked boldly at the door.
who's there?" cried Shirley from
within.
ut is I-Mr. Ryder. 1 wish to speak
to YOU" .
81 must beg you to excuse me,
the answer, " cannot see YOU
Jefferson interfered.
tWhy do you want to add to the
girls misery? Don't you think she has
suffered enough?"
do you know what she has done?
said Ryder with pretended indigna-
ton "She has insulted me grossly. 81
never was SO Inundated in my lifes
She has returned the cheque sent
her last night in payment for her
work on my biography. l mean to-
make her take that money. It's hers.
she needs it, her fathers a beggar
She must take it back. It's only
Haunting her contempt for me in
my face and l won't permit it.
IT don't think her object in refusing
!. that money was to flaunt contempt in
your face. or in any way; numiliate
you," answered Jefferson. "She feels
she has been sailing under false
colours and desires to make some rel
paration."
"And so she sends me back my
money, feeling that will pacify me,
perhaps repair the injury she has
done me, perhaps buy me into enter
j ing into her plan of helping her father
but it won't. 1t only increases my de-
termination to see her and her
Suddenly changing the topic he ask
ed: when do you leave us?''
Nov at once that isl don't
know" answered Jefferson embarrass-
ed" The fact is my faculties are num-
bed seem to have lost my power
of thinking. Father" he exclaimed,
"you see what wreck you have made
Of our lives!"
| Now, don't moralize." replied his
father testify, "as if your own selfish
, ness in desiring to possess that girl
wasn't the handspring Of all your
actions!" Waving his son out of the
room ne added: Nov leave me alone
with her a few moments. Perhaps
: can make her listen to reason
| Jefferson stared at his father as IL
he feared he were out of his mind
What do you mean? Are YOU"
he calculated.
; Co go leave her to me-" COM
manded the 1nancier. SLAM the
door when you go out and shell
: think we've both gone. Then come up
again presently"
;. The stragem succeed admirably. JEFF
] ferson gave the door a vigorous pull
3 and John Ryder stood quiet, waiting
3 for the girl to emerge from sanctu-
e ary He did not have to wait long.
p The door soon opened and Shirley
1 came out slowly. She had her hat on
: and was drawing on her gloves, for
= through her window she had caught a
glimpse of the cab standing at the
l curb. She started on seeing Ryder
}, standing there motionless, and she
u would have retreated had he not in
q tercepted her.
Continued in next issue.)
q The Bio Special Feature Of