Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
with hand that never made mis-.
BY. S. R. CROCKETT
copyrleh, 1907 by s. R. Crockett, All Rights Reserved

ta'- hc-,a t;oL $50 t.e,r.,, ~, ~,
sway of feeling, pleasure or displeas.
j-s:S, lil..tl ms ,lIi.uotn LOucn as slIely
as the magnet turns the hidden
needle.
phil" she went on, "are we to be
poor For myself I don't mind
please remember that! But your
father said that he had better tell
81 wish my father would mind his
own bust, began Phil angrily.
NO" said Vida, you must not say
that! He meant WE'LL"
Worst kind!' grunted Phil with
his fathers exact manner, Vida
stamped her foot with hers.
'He is your father, and he only
said that my father, Mr.. Romer,
n,iTht never get better and that as
things looked now, he had lost all his
money. We might have to support him
all his life. But I believe he only
said that to try me. could see him
watching, and he was nice to me be-
fore he went away"
"And what did you say?" Phil de-
manded.
well. I answered for you-for nv
lad-for my husbands you would II
you had been here!"
my little grill"
mo, not now! Let me tell you'll"
she held him off moment.
Nevertheless. II, was some time be-
fore Vida-4with, of course, the best
will in the world to expedite matters.
could resume her story.
"You see, Phil, it's all right for me
because he is my father. And it's
all right for you, because you are 60
ing to have mel But it's not right as
| see it, that the present expense
should come off Dick, and Billy, who
have been so kind to me all their
nves!"
ooh, they-they can stand it," said
Phil carelessly
Il know Billy is rich Cor was be-
fore he began to put up that light
house,, but all the same I'm not GO
ing to have. lido you not see? In a
way they had got to think themselves
my two fathers. 1t was funny but
true. They always treated me as a
daughter-only better And now,
when my real father comes. who has
never done anything-well to tell the
truth, l think they feel it. Yet we
can't turn him out-you and -"
Il have no doubt that they do feel
like that" said Phil. drawing the girl
beside him down upon a little seat
under the rowan shadow. "but do not
let that trouble you.
"I.ook up yonder." Phil pointed
where the pit-wheels made a steady
whirling). and in the wind from off
the sea the smoke from the brick
chimney stacks of Portogarten Mine
curved down landmarks, and dispers-
ed far away from Portogarten Cove.
"I don't say there is another Incu-
bus UP there. We haven't the space
but there is fortune of two, suff-
cient, at least. to pay any hospital
charges, and to keep your father in
comfort all his days."
Already the girl looked brighter.
Phil was so comforting. Some men
are.
eve have shares. haven't you-1
mean you have?" she queried.
Sold most of them!" said Phil
sharply.
what for?' She looked at him
quickly, with spark in her eye which
might be anger. He had made her a
present or two, concerning the proven
ance of which he could not always
give clear account And if-well,
with things as they were-she would
fling them in his face. He ought to
have known better. She would leacn
him so to do. Presents, indeed!
Eyes. 1 sold them he said calmly,
and do YOU know why-to pay the
mems wages till we got the corner
turned Billy needed all his money
for the lighthouse. Now the corner is
turned and well turned. We ara
making each week. and with the de-
mand for our class of coal for ships
on the perhaps even from the
Navy
''Who bought your shares, Philo
They must have known you are in
need? They would give you juss moth
ing for them?" She threw the cues
lions at him.
your father bought them-Mr.
Romer," he said; "he gave me ten
thousand pounds, and l /. have sunk
every penny of it in the Heugh ND
there! Now, are you content?"
And, after that, what was there to