Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-12

THAT you have been" she took
him up quickly, and there was swift
Indignation in the blue eyes.
lying to gain a personal end
he finished for her.
Penfield had apparently been listen
ing avidly to the presidents praise OF
the high attitudes as sure cure for
consumption. but now he had his face
in his plate. Ford devoted himself
for the moment to the deaf Miss Van
Bruce, and when he turned back to
Miss Alicia he was telegraphing with
his eyes for discretion. She under
stood, and the low-toned tete-a-tete
was not resumed Later, when they
had a moment together in the disper-
sion from the breakfast table, he
tried to apologize for what ne was
pleased to call his playing of the
baby act" But she treasured him in
a low spoken word.
Brother told me l know more
than you give me credit for, Mr..
Ford. Mr.. North doesn't like you-- he
would be glad If you would resign.
You must not resign!"
The others, personally conducted by
Mr.. Colbrith, were crowding to the
rear platform for an fter-breakfast
view of the headquarters camp. Ford
and Alicia followed, but without
haste.
"You have CHANGED upon the word,
Miss Adair." Ford was saying. 81 de-
icided last night that l should re-
sign
mo" she objected.
eyes; hIst sometime may tell
you why
81 say you must not That was the
last word in brothers letter; and he
wished NE to repeat it 10 you.' she
insisted.
where is you brother?" he asked.
He was in London when he
wrote
HE has thrown up his hand" Ford
was pessilnistic again.
Miss Adair looked about her des.
pairingly for some means of prolong-
ing the whispered confidence. Pen
field, deferentially in the rear of the
platform g,cup, was never safely out
OF earshot.
81 want to see the engine that so
nearly plunged US into collision last
night" she said aloud and Penfield's
visible ca" betrayed the listening
mind
Ford tooE his cue promptly. I'VE
can go out the other way" he said ::
and the secretary pro temDore had
no excuse for following.
They found the cab of the 1912 de.
serted. with the steam In the huSe
boiler singing softly at the behest of
the banked fire. Miss Adair lost her
curiosity as soon as Ford had lifted
her to the foot plate.
Nov you are TO tell me al about it
quickly she commanded. "Uucle
Sidney will be calling for YOU as sooa
as he misses you. Why are you so
foolish as TO talk about resigninc
Don't 90 see what they will say
;hCn?-that you We're afraid?" ta
Ford Wa leaning against the cen.
tered reversing-lever, and his face
was gloomy again.
Possibly I am afraid" he suggest
ed.
you should be more afraid of dis
honor than of-of other things Do
you suppose Mr. North will be con-
tent with your resignation now?'
Ford looked Up quickly. Here was
a new revelation an unsupported
facet of the precious gem. He could
hardly believe that this steady-voiced
far-seeing young woman was the in
souciant, school-girlish- though none
the less lovable- young person with
whom he had tramDed to the wind
swept summit Of Plug Pass in the
golden heart Of the yesterday
"You mean" he began.
s'I mean that you will be discredit.
ed: disgraced. if possible. Are you
sure YOU haven't been doing anything
over here that you wouldn't want I'm
Gle Sydney to find out?"
Not consciously. yoi may be sure, y
he asserted hesitatingly.
Think; think hard" she urged
SIS there nothing at all?"
He could not help smilingly loving.
lv at her scarce-concealed anxiety =
though it was merely the anxiety of
a noble soul unwilling to stand by
and see injustice done.
my methods never get very far
underground" he ayerred. mot fay
enough for my own safety, Frisbie
says If had been keeping diary |
think I should be quite willing to let
Mr. Colbrith read it or print 1t, il
he cared to-"
"And yet there is something" she
asserted, and the straight brows went
together in "a little frown of perplex.
'ity. "You don't ask me, how know
I'm going to- tell you, Mr.. Ford =
though it's rather shameful. Three
days ago. while we were in Denver
Mr.. North came down to the car to
see Uncle Sydney"
yes" he encouraged.
"They were closeted in Uncle Sgd.
ney's state~room for long time,' she
went on I'll was walking with
Miss Van Bruce, UP and down On the
station platform, beside the Nadia
Uncle Sidney had told me not to &C
very far away because We were likely
to start at any moment. The-the
car windows were open"
Her embarrassment was growing
painfully apparent, and Ford came to
the rescue.
you We're not even constructively
to blame" he fastened to say. '"They
must surely have seen you passing