Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-08
hundred and fifty thousand, didn't

|
They were all living in October.
sir. One of them was Ill, and not ex-
pected to live long
| Thanks, Smithson. That will DO
4 for the moment Don't send any Of
those cablegrams tonight I'll speak
about them again tomorrow. No, You
needn't post these letters. I'm not
sure yet that shall send them"
Smithsen retired and Trafford be-
gan to turn over the papers before
him. He did not read them censecu-
tivey A word here and there would
arrest his attention and send him off
| dreaming.
TITS curious" he reflected. II was
| in the right throughout this case, and
| yet it's one about which public opin-
ion has given me no quarter. Ali
the laws of supply and demand, Of
cause and effect, were on my side,
but because old Marshall shot himself
leaving four daughters unprovided
for, I've been made to appear as the
instrument of the disaster. | don't
feel SO myself-not wholly so. at any
rate; but Paula would agree with the
public, if she knew about it. Well.
I'll try to patch 1t up before she does
| The wind will be taken out of that
| sail. at any rate"
He sighed and went on with his de-
sultory inspection of the Marshall
papers. He was still occupied in do
ing so when knock came to the
door. Before he had time to look UP
and say Come in the door was
| pushed open and Paua entered, fol-
lowed by Winship. Trafford remained
seated. They advanced together till
they stood before his desk.
We've cHme to say that we can't
do it, papa" Paula began, abruptly
81 can't go and leave you alone"
II will not take her from you like
this" Winship added. 'It seems to
me a sort of robbery. 1t wouldn't
be blessed. If there's sacrifice To
be made, it must be ours. We're
younger and stronger
"Stop" Trafford said, softly. "Stop"
Winship ceased and there was q
long silence Trafford still remained
seated. gazing absently at the papers
Winship and Paula waited in motion
, less attention. There was no sound
but the lick-click-cliclz Of the type.
| writer in the adjoining room.
Still without speaking Trafford
rose. Coming to them, he passed one
hand through Paula's arm and one
through Winship's.
J, MY little girl is willing to stay
with me, after all, is she?"
I'm not only willing papa, but
want to-"
"Then daring, you can't. You can't
) because I'm going on a long jour
) ney."
!, AS he spoke he turned them gently
: round, and began leading them to
: wards the door.
: "A long journey, papa?"
2 Eyes, dear-a journey that will
r take me all round, and round anf
n round the United States. mean q
d go to New York when you go, afteI
y you've been married Then l shall
u have to leave you"
r But where are you going. papa
n dear?"
! I'm going first to place called
!. Turtonville, Wisconsin,"
y mot to see the old Miss Mar
i. shalls?" came from Paula like {
3 ong stifed cry.
l. Trafford started
h "Ah! What do you know abou
t them9'
+ 81 know all about them"
o "Then I'm going to see them r,
0 hurried on. "After that, I'm going t
J. see more people-then-mo
l. more. When it's all over, I shall
n come back to you. Now kiss me-
II kiss me-and-go.
:: "oh, papa, darling, how good yo'
Il are!'
4 She kissed him. clinging to him. bu
he released her arms from about nj
!. neck.
I: Nov go--both of you" he insisted
II opening the door.
First let me say, Winship begar
70 that beg your pardon for any
d thing -
d ooh, you needn't winship," he in
r terrupted, with a weary smile.
1t know how you've felt. ! should hav
Id felt that way myself You're bee
sr a good fighter, and you've onl
10 found out what all we fighters hay
" to learn in time-that when we'v
III struck, the blow hasn't given us tn
ID satisfaction we expected. Don't thin
n. any more about 1t. I'll do nlyse
le the Justice to say that I've always re
st pected you. even at the worst {
n times. Now-go-go off togethe
n I've great deal to do that can on
re do-alone."
We He forced them gently from tt
~ room. closing the door behind Their
lit For second he leaned against
t? as If for support. till his habitu
IS energy came back.
t? "That I can only do-alone,'
a? repeated to himself 'By God!
Y? shall do ito the bitter end"
ss He strobe back firmly to his des
and sat down again. With head ere
:" and lips set he was for an instant iii
en- Paul Trafford Of aid.
It "But the end may not be bitt
Sc one,' he reflected In the hair shi
as and penitence Chares V. found som
to- thing better than he had ever know
lg upon the throne. Well, why should
at I? True, the hair-shirt will lot
on --------.- --------
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