Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23

b any other narcotic, poison
n 0.ls or harmful drug. IN
mondsey or Stairs, hover that quid
you promised, didn't 1? Sing it! My
heye!"
"Quid, cabby?' And then, remem-
herring that he had promised the fellow
a sovereign for fast driving from
Quadrant News, Kirkwood grinned
broadly, eyes twinkling; for Mulready
must have FALLEN heir to that cove
nant But YOU got the sovereign?
You got it, didn't you, cabby?"
The driver affirmed the fact with
unnecessary heat and profanity and an
amendment to the effect that he would
have spoiled his fares sanguinary
conk had the outcome been less sat
isfactory.
The information proved so amusing
that Kirllwood. chuckling, forbore to
resent the manner of its delivery, and,
abandoning until more favorable
time the chase of the coy sovereign
purse, extracted from one trouser
pocket half handful of large English
small change.
Three shillings. sixpence," hn
counted into the cabby's erimy and
bloated paw: and added quietly: The
exact distance is rather less than
four miles. my man: your fare precise
| ly two shillings. You may keep the
extra eighteen pence. for being such
conscientious blackguard- Or talk if
over with the officer here. Please your
self"
He nodded to the bobby, who, ia
vorably impressed by the silk hat
which Kirkwood by diligent applica-
| tion of his sleeve during the, cross
town ride. had managed to restore to
a state somewhat approximating its
erstwhile luster, smiled at the cabby
cod. hard smile. Whereupon the
latter, Sinking in unabashed triumph,
spat on the pavement at Kirkwood's
feet, gathered up the reins, and
wheeled out.
"A ard lot sir" commented the
policeman. jerking his helmeted head
towards the vanishing four-wheeler
Fright you are" agreed Kirl1wood
amiably. still ticllled by the knowledge
that Mulready had been obliged to pay
/ three times over for the ride that end.
ed in his utter discontinue. Some
| bow, Kirlwood had conceived no lili-
/ ing whatever for the man; Calenda:
| he could. at a pinch. tolerate for MS
| sense of humor, but Mulready-! "a
surly dog" he thought him.
| Acknowledging the policeman's
salute and restoring two shillings and
a few fat copper pennies to his pocket,
he entered the vast and echoing train.
shed In the act, his attention was at
tracted and Immediately riveted by
the spectacle of burly luggage navy
in blue jumper in the act of making
off with a large, folding signboard, OF
which the surface was lettered ex-
! pansively with the advice, in red
against white background:
Boat train leaves on track three.
Incredulous yet aghast the young
man gave instant chase to the navy,
overhauling him with no great diff
Guilty. For your horny-handed British
workingman is apparently born with
two golden aphorisms in his mouth:
Look before you leap" and Haste
makes waste He looks continually
seldom if ever. leaps, and never is
prodieal OF his leisure.
Excitedly Kirkwood touched the
mans arm with OBTAINING hand
''Boat train?" he gasped, pointing at
the board.
Left ten minutes ago, thank you
sir
"Wel-l. but OF course
can get another train at Tilbury?
For yer boat? No sir, thank you
sir Won't be another tryne till morn
in, sir"
Aimlessly Kirkwood drifted away
his mind blank.
Sometime later he found himself CT
the steps outside the station, trying
to stare out of countenance a glarirs
mineral water advertisement on tn
farther side of Euston Road.
He was stranded.
/ Beyond the spiked iron fence tina
enhedges the incurving drive. III:
roar Of human, wheel and hoof ross
high for all the lateness Of the hour
sidewalks grooming with the restless
contact of hundreds of ill-shod feet
the roadway laundering hansoms
four-wheelers, motor-cars, dwarfe'
costermonger donkey-carts, and pom