Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-19

Billy. E.. y i
1T came about from seeing her 80
unprotected. and her window so near
the ground. I was afraid that some
misfortune might arrive!"
"Warnin' Number two! II she
witches like that again, somebody
will have no further trouble in this
sinful world"
The fact Is, Mr.. Finnan," sa,i Mr..
kahn, that have private reason
ior being interested In the SAFETY ol
Miss Vida. ] have long cherished the
intention the hope that is OF
making Miss Vida my wife,
Break off! Dismiss! Dispersal
Inspection over. Only hould on like
a little man It'll open the door,"
cried Billy bryan brilliantly; "co1e
in an have social glass - Of barley
and water best pot product nine
teen years In bottle, considered pow
erfully soothing to the nerves with a
squeeze Of lemon! Recommended by
] the faculty and all temperance socie.
ties - testimonials by every post.
Don't sleep till you have some,'
And Billy's footsteps could be heard
laundering down the stairway, then
crossing the hall. A pause ensued as
ne fumbled with the> bolts, The light
OF the lantern he carried raced hori-
zontally across the little lawn, spark
ling On the dewy grass. and doubtless
astonishing the shut and slumbering
daisies as with the coming of an un.
timely dawn.
Vida had gone to her room (though
| Will not affirm she was not listen.
ing) before Billy Bryan brought his
prisoner In Old Dick hastily attired
to do honor to the second in command
at the Incubus Works, brought up the
rear with couple of candles which
he was about to deposit on the new
piano.
Whoa. there!: cried Billy; IRE,
member Miss Vida's Broadwood. It
was never bought for a stand for your
dirty brass lamp-posts. 1t mas fancv
candelabra of it's own, wan on each
eide. Walt till | get newspaper!"
The candles at last found a resting
place on a side table and Billy contin-
ued to do the honors. "Ye are on your
way to the mansion. but since We did
us the ob|igement to look In, We will
partake So bein as It's likely that We
may be late for supper up yonder at
! the Castle, and the kitchen Are out
But a dhrop OF barley water now, or
cowld coffee, will hurt no man at no
time of night"
BY this time. chiefly from the IN
stinct of obedience, old Dick was in
a kind of tremulous state, half alarm,
half apology.
mr. Kahn" he said II hope that We
will take no offense You have been
a good friend to ME and mine And
Billy means we'll He Is my old mate,
and in sense him an me are part
ners in our little lass upstairs
! ~ quite understand" said James
Kahn. helping himself literally to all
and goodly provisions those prom
Used by Billy. and also to the bread
cheese and cold meat which Dick had
unearthed from Vida's receptacles.
Kahn let his wealth and position
drop away with the Observation-Disclosures
Of a man who. after years Of for
/ etgn tongue, begins to speak his own
language. Indeed, he felt more at
Z home with these two working men
there in the heart of the night. and
having just escaped a very definite
peril, than at great function in the
/ dining room of CORN Castle
Moreover. he had no intention of
backing out of his offer. And as soon
as might be, he put his proposal upon
i a business basis. If Vida would &C
scept him he would settle ten thous-
and pounds upon her on the day OF
her marriage. He would put Dick
/ FiBnnn into cottage of his own and
would tarrange their menage in any
way that Vida might wish. No one
could do fairer than that. Only, hav-
ling regard to his present arrange
ments with Mr. Romer in the way of
business. the master of Corn Castle
, was not to be told till after the mar
rage, and at such time as he, James
Kahn. should decide to be best for the
breaking Of the news.
"Witnesses?" Why, as many as
they liked publication Of intention
1 In the journals OF his country: reg
istrars, parsons bishop II they
wished 1t; everything Of the surest.
loyalist and most binding. 1t was not
that of which he was afraid The con
sent OF Miss Vida--ah-Bryan.
Miss Vida Bryan without the 'ah'
IN you pleased" interrupted Billy, who
was in mood to raise difficulties.
But for all this pleasant feeling, they
were definitely at a standstill.
| It was agreed by all partise that
| bolilHi6 CouIu US uOu9 WITHOUT the
lady. Dick. when applied to, could
shed no light on the condition of the
half Of his daughters heart for which
he was paternally responsible.
1T might be Mr.. Morris" lat this
James Kahn quivered with desire TO
sheath the Serb knife In the broad
back of Vic Morris) Tor again, It
might mot. Mr.. Morris generally: talk,
ed with him about pit work, but ne
had not been there for. some time.
Then there was that young Calmont,
the doctors lad, him that was work.
Ing about the drawing Offices"
"Pshaw!" said Kahn. Diminishing
with a wave Of his hand poor Phil
altogether.
But" continued Dick, "as for Mr.
Kahn ! can't say how Vida took it;
but as for myself, l had never thought
OF such a thing! It has come upon
me like blow!"
well" said Billy chaerfn1lv "uho+