Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-17

HI, what's all this?" the notice.
man called out roughly.
10 what do you refer?" Hillard
counter-questioned, putting. He slip
PED MS hands into the pockets Of his
jacket. -
Il heard woman singin', that's
what" explained the guardian of the
law.
$50 did u
on, you did, huh?"
Certainly 1t is patent that my
ears are as good as yours"
Huh! See herr"
For a moment" Hillard admitted.
We'll, we can't have none o. this
In the streets. It's disorderly.'
My friend, "$said Hillard. rather an.
noyed at the policeman's tone, you
don't think for an instant that I was
directing this operetta?''
Think? Where's your hat?"
billiard ran his hand over his head.
me policeman had him here. II did
not bring it out"
TOO warm and summary; huh? 1t
don't look good. I've been watchin'
these parts fer Teddy. They call her
Leddy Lightfnger; an she has some
the gents done to pulp when It
comes to liftin' iools an trinkets.
Somebody fergits to lock the front
door, an she finds it out. Why did
you come out without yer lid?"
Just forgot 1t, that's ALL.
Which way'd she go?"
You'll need map and search
light. | started to run after her N.Y.
self. heard voice from my win
dow; saw woman; made for the
street; niente!'
"Huh?"
"Niente, nothing!"
oh! I see; Dago. Seems to me
now that this woman was singin'
l-taly-an, too" They were nearing
the light, and the policeman gazed In
tently at the hatless young man.
Why, it's Mr.. Hillard! I'm surprised.
Well, well! Some day I'll run in a
bunch O. these chorus leddies, ies' fer
lesson. They git lively at the res
taurants over on Broadway an thin
they raise the dead with their singin',
which, often as not, is anythin' but
singin'. An here it Is, after one"
But this was not chorus lady"
replied Hillard, thoughtfully reaching
wv
Sure, an how do you know" with
renewed suspicious.
The lady had singing voice."
Huh! They all think alike about
that. But mebbe she wasn't bad at
the business. Anyhow ~"
1T was rather out of time and place
eh?" helpfully.
That's about the size Of 1t. This
I,nd T fnh E,,rr t., ~
us all thinkin' on our nights off, Clev-
er an edjicated, an jabbers in half
dozen tongues. It's thousan' to
the man who jugs her. But she don't
sing; at least, they amt any report
to that effect, Perhaps your Teddy
was jes' larl1in' bit But it's got is
be stopped"
Hillard passed over the cigar, and
the policeman bit off the end, nod
ding with approval at such foresight.
The young man then proffered the
coal of his pipe and the policeman
took his light therefrom, realizing
that after such a peace-offering there
was nothing for him to do but move
on. Yet on dismal lonesome nights,
like this one, 1t is a godsend and
comfort to hear ones own voice
against the darkness. So he lin.
gered
Didn't get peep at her face?"
mot a single feature. The light
was behind her" Hillard tapped one
toe and then the other.
AN how was she dressed?"
I'm fog, for all I could see."
"On the level now, didn't you know
who she was?" The policeman gave
Hillard sly dig In the ribs with his
club.
"On my world"
Some swell, mebbe.''
Undoubtedly lady That's why
1t looks odd, why it brought me into
the street. She sang in classic Ital-
ian. And what's more, for the privi-
lege of hearing that voice again, I
should not mind sitting on this cold
curb till the milkman comes around
in the morning."
That wouldn't be fer long" laugh
ed the policeman, taking out his watch
and holding it close to the end Of his
cigar. Twenty minutes after one.
Well, | must be gittin' back to me
beat. An you'd better be goin' in;
it's cold. Good night"
1oou HlBHl, 1lllaTu RESPONDED
cheerfully.
"Say, what's I-taly-an fer good
ntght?" still reluctant to go on.
"Buona notte."
"Bony notify; huh. sounds like Chin
ese fer rheumatism. Been to Italy?"
II was born there" patiently.
MOI" Why, you're no Dago!''
mot SO much as an eyelash The
stork happened to drop the basket
there, that's all.
"Ha! I see. Well, Ameriky is good
enough fer me an mine," complacent-
w.
81 dare say!"
"An' if this stogy continues t. be-
have, we'll say no more about the van
ishin' Teddy" And with this the DO
liceman strolled off into the fog, his
suspicious in nowise removed. He
knew many rich young bachelors like
Hillard. If it wasn't a chorus lady.
1t was prima donna, which was not
far in these degenerate days from be-
ing the same thing.
Hillard regained his room and lean
ed with his back to the radiator. He