Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-04
you be kind enough to leave me

alone
For breath Calendar glowered
over her; then. 81 presume he OBJ
served, that all these heroics are in
spired by that whipper-snapper Kirk
wood. Do you know that he hasn't a
brass forthing to bless himself with?'
What has that" cried the girl
Indignantly.
why, it has everything to do with
me, my child. AS your doting parent
Ixcan't consent to your marrying moth
ing-a-year. = For I surmise
you intend to marry this Mr.. Kirkwood
don't you?"
silence, while the warm blood famed
in the girls face and the red lips
trembled as she faced her tormentor
Then, with quaver that escaped her
control IF Mr. Kirltwood asks me,
shall" she stated very simply.
That" interposed Kirkwood, is
completely understood" His gaze
sought her eyes. but she looked away.
''You forget that l am your. father"
sneered Calendar; and that you are
a minor I can refuse my consent
But you WON'T Kirkwood told
him with assurance.
The adventurer stared. mo" he
agreed, after slight hesitation; mo, I
shan't interfere. Take her, my boy
if you want her-and a fathers bless
ing into the bargain. The Lord knows
I've troubles enough a parents lot is
not what it's cracked up to be-" He
paused, leering ironic "But, ''-delib-
erately. there's still this other mat
ter of the gladstone bag. I don't mind
abandoning my parental authority,
when my child's happiness is concern
ed, but as for my property"
1T is not your property" interrupt
ed the girl.
''It was your mothers, dear child.
It's now mine
sT dispute that assertion Kirkwood
put in,
"You may dispute it till the cows
come home, my boy; the fact will re-
main that intend to take my property
with me when leave this room,
whether you like 1t or not. Now are
disposed to continue the argument, or
may count on your being sensible?"
"You may put away your revolver,
| if that's what you mean" said Kirk
wood eve certainly shant oppose
you with violence, but warn you that
Scotland Yard"
ooh, that be bowed" the adventur-
er snorted in disgust. II can sail cir
cles round any tee that ever blew out
| of Scotland Yard, Give me an hours
start, and you're free to do all the fun
ny business you've a mind to, with
Scotland Yard"
Then you admit" queried Brent,
wick civilly, chat you've no legal
right to the jewels in question .,
LOOK here, my friend, chuckled
Calendar, when you catch me admit
I ting anything, you write it down in
your little book and tell the bobby on
the corner. Just at present I've got
other business than to stand round adj
hitting anything about anything.
- Cap'n, let's have that bag of
my dutiful daughters 49, S#e:
Ere you are" Stryker spoke for
the first time since entering the room,
taking the valise from beneath the
chair and depositing it on the table.
We'll, we shan't take anything that
doesn't belong to u.s. laughed Calen-
dar, fumbling with the catch; mot
even so small a matter as my own
child's travelling bag. A small-heavy
gladstone bag" he grunted, opening
the valise and plunging in one greedy
hand, will just-about-do for
mine!" With which he produced the ar
| ticle mentioned. This for the discard,
Cap'n,'' he laughed contentedly. push
ing the girls valise aside; and, rumb-
ling with stentorian mirth, stood
beaming benignly over the assembled
company.
! (To be Continued)