Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-11
CHAPTER XII (Continued)

Monte Carlo!' O'Mally brought
down his fist resoundingly. That's 8
good idea. If you should break the
bank, think of the advertisement when
| you go back to New York. La Signor
ina Capricciosa, who broke the bank
at Monte Carlo, will open the"
/ BE STILL" said Worth.
Dash 1t, business is business, and
without publicity there isn't any bust
ness O'Mally was hurt.
"Mr. O'Mally is right" said La
Signorina. ut would be good adver
tisement. But your combined opinion
is what want"
The three men looked at one an
other thoughtfully, then drew cut
made UP purse Of exactly one hun
dred and fifty dollars, not at all pro
pitious sum to trap elusive fortune
But such as it was, O'Mally passed it
across the table. This utter confidence
in her touched La Signorina's heart;
for none OF them knew aught Of her
honesty. She turned aside for mo-
ment and fumbled with the hidden
chain about her neck. She placed her
hand on the table and opened it
O'Mally gasped, Smith opened his
mouth, and Worth leaned forward. An
emerald, a glorious green, emerald
free from the usual cluster of dia
monds, alone in all it's splendor, lay in
the palm of her hand.
81 shall give this to you, Mr.. O'Mal
ly,'' said the owner, "till l return. 1t
is very dear to me, but that must not
stand in the way
Eye gods!" cried O'Mally in dismay
nights with that on my person. Keep
it. You haven't the right idea. Well
trust you anywhere this side of jail
No, no! 1t wouldn't do at all. But
you're brick all the same" And that
was as near familiarity as O'Mally
ever came.
She turned to Smith, but he put out
a hand in violent protest; then to
Worth, but he smiled and shook his
head
"O'Mally< is right" he said. eve
need no guaranty"
She put the ring away. 1t was her
mothers. She would never smile in
secret at these men again. They
might be vain and artificial and al
ways theatrical, but there was never
theless a warm and generous heart
beneath.
Thank you," she said quietly. eff |
lose your money we will all go to
Florence. have another plan but that
will keep till this one under hand
proves failure. None of you shall re
greet your confidence in me-"
.'Pshaw!" said O'Mally
"Nonsense" said Smith,
And Worth smiled reassuringly.
"O'Mally beckoned to waiter.
"Oony bottle vino dee Asti, caldo
frappe!" he said loudly. SO that all
might hear him give his order. A
month in Venice, and he would be
able to talk like native. True, if any
Italian spoke to him. he was obliged
to shake his head; but that was tri-
fling matter.
"Tom!" warned Smith.
"You let me alone" replied O'Mal-
ly. "a quart of Asti won't hurt any
body.
So the thin sweet wine Of Asti was
served. and La Signorina toasted them
all gratefully.
Idi ~ t1le hSAt lllol llAS SLY dliu IAil
ty departed for Monte Carlo in quest
of Fortune. Fortune was there, wait
ing. but in a guise wholly unexpect-
ed
CHAPTER XII.
On the way to Rome Hillard and his
pupil had second class compartment
all to themselves. The train was a fast
one; for the day of slow travel has
passed in Italy and the cry of speed is
heard over the land. The train stop
ped often and rolled about a good
deal; but the cushions were soft and
there was real comfort in being able
to stretch out full length. Hillard,
having made this trip many times,
took the forward seat and fell into a
doze.
Merrihew was like city boy taking
his first trip into the country. He hung
out of the window, and smoked and
smoked. Whenever the train swept
round curve he could look into the
rear carriages; and the heads stick
ing out of the thirds reminded him of
chicken crates. Never had he seen
such gardens, such oranges and lemon
groves, such forests of olives. Save
that it was barren rock, not a space
as broad as mans hand was left I'M
cultivated; and not farm which was
not in good repair. One saw no broken
fences, no slovenly out-houses, no
glazing advertisements afield; nobody
was asked impertinently if Soandso's
soap had been used that morning, nor
did the bambini cry for soothing syr-
ups. Everything was of stone (for
wood is precious in Italy,, generally
whitewashed, and presenting the smil-
ing countenance of comfort and clean
illness. The Italian in the city is sci,
dom clean; there, it Is easy to lie in
the cutters under the sun. Reared and
bred in laziness for centuries, dirt has
no terrors, but water has. With his
brother in the country it is different
Labor makes him self-respecting
Merrihew had seen so many dirty
Sicilians and Neapolitans working on
American railways that he had come
to the conclusion that Italy was the