Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-16
The Little Brown Jug
at Kildare
BY Meredith Nicholson.
Copyright 1sos-The Company.
Copyright 1sos-The sohes-Merrl Company
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Jerry and Ardmore sat at long
table in the commodious Ardsley libra
ry, which was modification of a
Gothic chapel. 1t was on the upper
floor, with broad windows that had
the effect of bringing the landscape
indoors, and the North Carolina sky
Is, we must concede, a pleasant thing
to have at ones elbow. A large &C
emulation of mail from the COVER
nor's Office at Raleigh had been for
warded, and Jerry insisted that it
must be opened and disposed OF in
some way Governor Dangerfield was,
1T appeared, a subscriber to a clip
ping bureau, and they had been exam
lining critically a batch of cuttings re-
lating to the New Orleans incident.
Most of them we're in frivolous key,
playfully reviving the ancient query
as to what the governor of North Car
DINA really said to the governor of
South Carolina. Others sought causes
for the widely-reported disappearance
of the two governors; and still other
reports boldly maintained that Cover
nors Dangerfield and Osborne were at
their capitals engaged in the duties OF
their respective offices.
TITS good thing we got hold of
Collins" observed Ardmore, putting
down clipping from New York pa
per in which the reports of Governor
Dangerfields disappearance were an
alyzed and tersely dismissed; for he
knows how to write and he's done A
splendid picture of your father on his
throne attending to business; and his
little stingers for Osborne are the
work of genius
There's a certain finish about Mr..
Collins lying that is refreshing" re-
piled Jerry land l can not help think
ing that he has brilliant future be-
fore him if he enters politics. Nothing
pains me more than careless, III
considered, silly lie, which is the best
that most people can do. But it would
be very interesting to know whether
Governor Osborne has really dlsap-
peared. or just how your friend the
Virginia professor has seized the
reins of state. Do you suppose he got
a lug from somewhere, and met Miss
Osborne and"
do you think-do you think-she
NAV have-er possibly-closed one
eye in his direction?" asked Ardmore
obviously.
'Mr. Ardmore" Jerry pointed
at him with a bronze paper cutter to
make sure of his attention" Mr..
tArdmore, if you ever imply again by
act word or deed that | winked at
you shall never, never speak to you
again. should think that man with
nice sister like airs. Atchison would
have a better opinion of women than
you seem to have! never saw you I'M
til you came to my fathers house to
tell me about the jug-and you know
didn't And as for that Barbara Os-
borne, while l don't doubt that even
in South Carolina q Daughter of the
Seminole War might wink at a gentle
man in moment of extreme provoca-
ton, / doubt if she did, for she lacks
animation, and she has no more soul
than gum overshoe.'
The obvious inconsistency of this
announcement caused Ardmore to
frown in the stress of his thought, and
he stared helplessly along the line OF
the accusing paper-cutter into Jerry's
eyes.
"Oh, cheer up!" she cried in her des
pair Of him; land forget it, forget it
forget it! I'll say this to you, Mr.. Ard
more, that if ever winked at you
and l never, never did-I'm sorry did
it! Some time when you haven't sc
much work on your hands as yor
have this morning just think that owe,
and let me know where you land AnC
now, look at these things, please"
What Is all this stuff" he de
roan5ad bo toccad hin, ,,i1a -
papers.
"They refer to an application for ;
pardon of poor man who's going II
be hanged for murder tomorrow un
less we do something for him; and h
has wife and three little children
and he has never committed any 9th
er crime but to break into a smoke
house and steal side of bacon"
did he shoot in self-defense, or hoS
was it," asked Ardmore judicially.
He killed painless dentist VIII
pulled the wrong tooth" answere
Jerry, referring to the papers.
"If that's all l don't think we ca
stand for hanging him. read a piec
against capital punishment in a mag;
zine once and the arguments wer
very strong. The killing of DENTS
should not be a crime anyhow and
you know how to pardon man, let
do it; but we'd better wait until tn
last minute, and then send Telegram
to the sheriff to stop the proceeding
just before he pulls the string, whic
makes it most impressive and give
better effect
II believe you are right about it
Big Bargains in