Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-22

knows-Hello; | wonder what your
good uncle wants of US
Mr.. Corbrith was standing up in
his PLACE in the leading blackboard
and making signals to the rear guard
of two. Ford shook the reins over
his broncos and drove around.
The president was lingering his thin
beard and waving an arm toward the
track-,ayers.
"Mr.-ah-Ford.'' he began critical
". SIS it necessary to have such a
vast army of men as hat to lay the
track?"
81 don't think we are oyer-maned.'
said Ford good naturecly. 1t was
comparatively easy TO be patient with
Alicia looking on and listening.
But it was against Mi. Colbrith's
! principles TO let a man off with a sin
gle rebuttal.
~ am no at all convinced OF the
worth of these new tangled ideas. Mir.
Ford; not at all. We built the Pacific
main line in the old. approved way
. rail at a tine--with less thar one
quarter of the men you have over
there"
81 don't question il: and you were
three years building some six hundred
miles in & prairie country. We are TO-
day lust sig weeks olt Of Saints
Rest with the track gang. and in six
more, If the weather holds. we shall
be laying the switches ii the Green
Butte YARDS. That is the difference De
; tween the old way and the lew"
The president was turned aside but
not stopped.
81 understand" he objected raucons-
ly. "But your expense bills are some
thing. tremendous; tremendous Mi.
Ford! You have spend mere money
in three months than we spent in a
full year on the main line.
quite likely agreed Ford, losing
interest in the pointless discussion.
But with us, time is an object; and
we have the results to show fer the
} expenditure"
ct this. Nj. Colhrith tcok refuge in
innuendo, as seemed to Be his lately
acquired habit.
;, "You are very ready with your
answers, Nj. Ford; very ready, in
deed. Let us sac il you can continue
as you have begun
u II was Miss Alicia who resented
; this final speech OF the presidents
when the b%uckboards We're once mere
) in motion, following the unrailed
grade around The swelling shoulders
of the huge hills.
= II think that last remark OF Uncle
Sidney's was rather unoalled Tor" she
! said, after Ford had driven i'll grim
l silence at the tail Of the procession
| for & full mile.
: 1T is one OF the good many un,
called.for things he has been saying
10 me since the dag before yesterday
) was Ford's re5oinder.
+ yet You can still assure me that
| YOU are not vindictive."
, 81 am not-at the mere actors in
the play. But I confess TO an unholy
: desire 10 get back at the prompter-
, the stage. manager OF he, little COM
> edy. am only waiting for your de-
cis:on."
Please she said: and he saw that
e the blue eyes were growing wistfli
9 again.
{ I'm done" he said quickly. Il
? shan't put it up TO you any more. I'll
] do what | think I ought to do, on my
own responsibility"
l But now. woman-like. she crossed
Y quickly to The other side.
: NO: you mustn't deprive me OF my
chance" she protested soberly. after
I a little while | shall tell what I think
what | think you ought to do. Only
you must give me time"
His smile came from the depths o.
3 q lovers heart.
/ t"You shall have al the time there
is-and then some. il I car compass
il. Now let's talk about something
else. I've been boring you with this
despicable business affair ever since
you gave me leave on that foot-racf
Ia down Plug Mountain Tuesday after
n nooE."
What shall it be-" she inquired
e gaily. And then: "Oh, I know. One
y day last suTnmer-iust as We Were
leaving Chicago in the Nadia-you hat
begun to tell me about a certain youns
o woman who had money, and who Was
who was"
who was without her peer in al
this world" he finished for her. Yes
I remember"
e DO you still remember her. as yoI
do the conversation? ?" she went OF
e teasingly.
81 have never lost q day since
s first met her"
II Good Sir Gaiaiad!" she Knocked
And is she still worth all these sac
rihces you said you would be willing
to make for herr
Il "Ail, and several more"
. Silence for a little lime. while th'
h~oof-beats Of a horse fox-trotting be
hind them drew nearer. 1t was tn
sinister-faced Mexican who ambled II,
! to view, and when he overlook tn
= rearmost of the buckboards he was
= long time in passing.
= That dreadful mani" murmure'
Alicia; and she did not go back to tn
suspended subject until he had trot
ted on past the a Then sh'
= said slowly. taking her companion
complete understanding for granted
ut must be delicious to be away on
over ones depth, like that
"It is said Ford solemnly. 1T
Ike-well, I've never been sick a da,