Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-25


ton of amazement.
The house was closed showing a
blank face to the street-blinds drawn
close down in the windows, area gate
padlocked, an estate-agent's board pro-
jecting from abover the doorway, ad-
vertising the property ITO be let, fur
nished."
kirkwood looked back, craning his
neck round the side of the cab. At the
moment another hanson was breaking
through the rank of humanity on the
Strand crossing He saw one or two
figures leap desperately from beneath
the horses hoof Then the cab shot
out swiftly down the street.
The American stood up again.. catch
ing the cabbys eye.
Drive on" he cried excitedly.
Don't stop-drive as fast as you
dare!"
Were to, sir?"
Eyes, sir!' The driver looked
briefly over his shoulder and lifted his
whip. Don't worry SIR he cried pa-
tering into the spirit of the game WITH
over'aul you, sir Mind your 'ead!'
And as Kirkwood ducked, the whip
lash shot out over the roof with
crack like the report of a pistol.
Startled, the horse leaped Indignantly
forward Mcmentarily the cab seemed
to leave the ground, then settled down
to a pace that carried them round the
Avenue Theater and across North
cumberland avenue into Whitehall
Place apparently on single wheel.
A glance behind showed Kirwood
that thye had gained, the pursuing
hanson having lost ground through
greater caution in crossing the main
travelled thoroughfare.
Good little horse!' he applauded
A moment later he was indorSing
without reserve the generalship of
their cabby; the quick westward turn
that took them into Whitehall, over
across from the Horse Guards, like
fic; a practically impregnable press Of
vehicles closed in behind them ere
Calendars conveyance could follow
out of the side street.
That the same conditions, but slight
ly modified, hemmed them in ahead,
went for nothing in Kirkwoods esti-
nation.
Good driver!" he approved heartily.
'*He's got head on his shoulders!"
The girl found her voice How"
she demanded in a breath, face blank
with CONSERVATION, "how did you
dare?"
"Dare?" he echoed exultantly; and
in his veins excitement was running
like liquid fire. "What wouldn't
dare for you, Dorothy?"
what have you not?" he amended
softly, adding with shade of timid-
ity: Phillip
! The long lashes swept up from her
cheeks, like clouds revealing stars,
unmasking eyes radiant and brave to
her lips dropped with disappoint
ment. And she sighed. +" For
he was not looking. Man-like, hot with
the ador of the chase, he was deaf and
| blind to all else.
She saw that he had not. even
heard Twice within the day she hao
forgotten herself, had overstepped the
rigid bounds Of her breeding in using
| his Christian name. And twice he had
been oblivious to that token of their
maturing understanding. So she
sighed, and signing, smiled again
resting an elbow on the window-sill
and fiattening one small gloved hand
against the frame for a brace against
the jouncing of the hanson. 1t swept
on with undated speed, upstream be.
side the tawny reaches of the river
and for time there was no speech be-
tween them, the while the girl lost
consciousness of self and her most
imminent peril, surrendering he1
being to the lingering sweetness OF
her long, dear thoughts
'I've got scheme!' Kirkwood de,
clared so explosively that she caught
her breath with the surprise of it.
There's the Pless; they know me
there, and my credits good. When
we shake them off, we can have the
cabby take us to the hotel. I'll regis
ter and borrow from the management
enough to pay our way to Chilterr
and the tolls for cable to New York
I've friend or two over home who
wouldn't let me want for few mis-
cradle pounds So you see,' he
explained boyishly. we're at the enc
of our troubles already"
She said something inaudible, hold
ing her face averted He bent nearer
to her, wondering II didn't under
stand,' he suggested.
Still looking from him, Fl said you
were very good to me- she said in 6
quavering whisper
Dorothy" Without his knowledge
or intention before the fact, as in
stinctly as he made use of her giver
name, intimately, his strong finger:
dropped and closed upon the little
hand that lay beside him. what i
the matter, dear?" He leaned still
farther forward to peer into her face
till glance met glance in the endin,
and his racing pulses frightened will
sheer delight Of the humid happiness
in her glistening eyes. Dorothy
child, don't worry So No harm shall
come to you. It's all working out-al
:, working out right. Only have lii
tie faith in me, and I'll make every
thing work out right, Dorothy