Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-09

WIZ lolu, oSiiCdle, Ilne anu ITdSllS,
and the lips beneath the dropping
white mustache at times trembled, al
most imperceptibly, with the generous
sentiments that come with mellow age.
He held his back straight and his
head with an air-an air that was not
a swagger but the sign.token of sea.
soned experience in the world. The
most carping could have found no flaw
III the quiet taste of his attire. To
sum up, Kirkwood's very good friend
and his only one then in London
Mr.. Brentwick looked and was an Eng.
lish gentleman.
"Why?" he persisted, as the young.
er man hesitated Il am here to find
out Tonight leave for the continent,
In the meantime -"
And at midnight l sail for the
states" added Kirkwood. ".That lis
mainly why l wished to see you--to
say good-by, for the time
You're going home" a shadow
clouded Brentwick's clear eyes
To fight it out, shoulder to shoulder
with my brethren in adversely"
The cloud lifted That is the spir-
it, declared the elder man For the
moment did YOU the injustice to be-
lleve that you were running away. But
now | understand, Forgive me. !. :.
Pardon, too, the stupidity which |
must lay at the door of my advancing
years; TO me the thought of you as a
Partisan fixture has become such a
commonplace, Phillip, that the news OF
the disaster hardly stirred me- Now
remember that you are Califor-
MAN"
Il was born i'll San Francisco, af-
tirmed kirkwood a bit sadly. MY
father and mother were buried there
And your Fortune
i inherited my fathers interest in
the firm of kirkwood & Vanderlip:
when came over to study painting.
left everything in Vanderlips hands.
The business afforded me a handsome,
living
You have heard from Mr.. Wander
1tp?'
Fifteen minutes ago Kirkwood
took a cableform, still damp, from his
pocket, and handed 1t to his guest, I'm.
folding it, the latter read:
"KirkWood, Pless, London Stay
where you are no good coming back
everything gone no insurance letter
follows vanderbilt
When ] got the news in Paris
kirkwood volunteered, Il tried the
banks; they refused to honor ny
drafts. ! had a. little money in hand
enough to see me honle--so closed the
studio and came across. I'm booked
on the Minneapolis, sailing from Til
bury at daybreak; the boat-train leaves
at eleven-thirty had hoped you
might be able to dine with me and
see me off,
In silence Brentwick returned the
cable message. Then, with a thought.
full look, You are sure this is wise?''
he queried
Its the only thing ] can see"
But your partner says
Naturally he thinks that by this
time | should have learned to paint
we'll enough to support myself for a
few months, until he can get things
running again, Perhaps | might
Brentwick supported the presumption
with a decided gesture. But have a
right to leave Vanderlip to fight it out
alone? For Vanderlip has a wife and
kiddies to support; I"
Your genius
my ability, such as it is-and that
only. 1t can wait No; this
means simply that must come down
from the clouds, plant my feet on sol
i'd earth. and get to work
THE sentiment is sound,' admitted
Brentwick, 1.-THE practice of it, folly.
Have you stopped to think what part
a rising young portrait-painter can con.
trjh,1tn a1f tho no Ii,,or Of Il
vastated city,"
Kirkwood Il can work like other
men,
you can do yourself and your gen
ius grave injustice. And fear me
you will, dear boy. It's in keeping
with your heritage of American obstin-
acy. Now if it were a question of
money
Mr. Brentwick." Kirkwood pro-
tested vehemently. I've ample for
my present needs he added
"Of course" conceded Brentwick
with sign. Il didn't really hope you
would avail yourself Of our friendship.
Now there's my home in Aspen Villas.
You have seen it?"
IN your absence this afternoon
your estimable butler, with commend
able discretion, kept me without the
doors" laughed the young man.
Its a comfortable home. You
would not consent to share it with me
until
''You are more than good; but hon
estly, I must sail tonight I wanted
only this chance to see you before l
left. You'll dine with me, Won't
you?"
If you would stay in London. Phil.
lip. we would dine together not once
but many times; as it is, L myself am
booked for Munich, to be gone week,
on business. I have many affairs
needing attention between now and
the nineteen train from Victoria. If
you will be my guest at Aspen
Villas"
"Please." begged Kirkwood with 2
little laugh of pleasure because of the
others insitsence. 81 only wish
could Another day
"Oh, you will make your million in a
year, and return scandalously indie
pendent. It's i'll your American
blood F'rail white fingers tapped an
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