Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-04
copyright-By Bobbs, Merrill Co.


CHAPTER XxIx-Continued
There was nothing to be seen of
their prosecutors.
The car continued to crawl. Five
minutes dragged out tediously. Gradu-
ally they drew abreast a tavern
standing back q distance from the
road, EMPOWERED in a grove of trees
between whose ancient boles the tap
room windows shone enticingly,
hglow with comfortable light. A
creaking signboard, much worn by
weather and age, swinging from a
roadside post, confirmed the accuracy
of Brentwick's surmise, announcing
that there stood the Crown and Mitre,
house of entertainment for man and
beast.
Sluggishly the car rolled UP before
1t and came to a dead and silent halt.
Charles, the mechanician, jumping
out, ran hastily up the path towards
the inn In the car Brentwick turned
again, his eyes curiously bright in the
starlight, his forehead quantity fur
rowed, his voice apologize.
1T may take a few minutes he
said undoubtedly, plainly endeavoring
to cover up his own dark doubts. "My
DEAR to. the girl, 'tif I have brought
trouble upon you in this wise, shall
never earn MY own forgiveness"
Kirkwood stood up again, watchful
attentive to the sounds of night; but
the voice of the pursuing motor car
was not of their company Il hear
nothing" he announced.
You will forgive me,wont you, my
dear?-for causing you these few min
utes Of needless anxiety?" pleaded the
old gentleman, his tone trenulous.
CAS- if you could be blamed" pro
tested the girl "You mustn't think OF
it that way. Fancy, what should we
have done without you.'
I'm afraid have been very clum.
sy,'' sighed Brentwick, clumsy and
impulse = Kirkwood, do you
hear anything y.
Not yet, sir
Perhaps suggested Brentwick, q
little later, perhaps we had better
alight and go up to the inn. 1t would
be more cosy there, especially if the
petrol proves hard to obtain, and we
have long to wait
81 should like that" assented the
girl decidedly.
ed the door and jumped out to assist
her; then picked up the bag and fol
lowed the pair-Brentwick leading
the way with Dorothy on his arm.
At the doorway of the Crown and
Mitre, Charles met them evidently ser
iously disturbed. mo petrol to be had
here sir" he announced reluctantly
''but the landlord will send to the next
inn, mile up the road, for some. You
will have to be patient, I'm afraid
SIR
VERY we'll. Get some one to hell
you push the car in from the road,
ordered Brentwiok; eve will be wait
ing in one of the private parlors.'
eyes sir, thank you, sir The me
chanician touched the visor of his cal
and hurried off.
Come, Kirkwood" Gently Brent
wick drew the girl in with him.
kirkwood fingered momentarily or
the doorstep, to listen acutely. But the
wind was blowing into that quarte1
whence they had come, and he coult
hear naught save the soughing in tht
trees, together with an occasional
burst of rude rustic laughter from the
tap-room. Lifting his shoulders il
dumb dismay, and endeavoring to com
pose his features, he entered the tav
ern.
1.-THE Crown and Mitre.
A rosk- checked and beaming land
lady met him in the corridor and, al
bows and smiles, ushered him into
private parlor reserved for the party
Immediately busting off in a despeI
ate furry, to secure refreshments de
Sired by Brentwick.
The girl had seated herself on on
end of an extremely comfortles
lounge and was making palpable 81
fort to seem at ease Brentwics stoo
at one of the windows, shoulder
rounded and head bent, hands claspe
behind his back as he peered out int
the night Kirkwood dropped the tray
cling bag beneath chair the farthes
removed from the doorway, and too
to pacing the floor.
In a corner Of the room tall grand
fathers clock licked off ten intermiI
able minutes. For some reason unco1
sciously delaying, the landlady did nc
reappear. Brentwick, abruptly turnin
from the window, remarked the fac
ENORMOUSLY, then drew chair UP to
marble-topped table in the middle {
the floor.
eMy DEAR he requested the cir
will you oblige me by sitting owe