Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-01


sleep soundly; never have nightmares
And yet. but for her letters and the
fact that Giovanni heard her sing I'M
der my window, l might almost be-
lieve I've been dreaming 1t is no
were the victim of some fine hoax"
And Sanford mixed up in it, sup
plemented Merrihew.
"Sandford and I are good friends,
but we are not SO intimate that he'd
take the pains to work out hoax of
this magnitude 1t did not originate
with him, and his wife is altogether
out of the picture. If l had only seen
her face, I might have forgotten all
about her in few days. But the mask,
the charm, the mystery! I can't get
her out of my thoughts; am irration-
al in all l do; an absolute failure in
the Office
ut is more than hoax, in my
opinion. Wait till Sanford returns
and finds his silver gone!"
Hillard started.
"And his gold-plate," continued
Merrihew, pleased with the idea. my
boy, that's what it Isl the best dodge
| ever heard of. But how did they get
into the house, she and her maid? 1t
will make good story for the Sun
| day papers. You won't be in it, unless
she ropes you in as an accomplice
That would be rich!"
I'm a romantic asst" Hillard sigh
ed. Leddy Lightfinger! If this turn
| ed out to be the case, he would never
trust human being again; he would
take to breeding dogs.
Lets take that ride on the horses,
Merrihew urged. "That'll clear YOU
brain of this sentimental fog"
MOI" Hillard struck his hands to
gether. I've a better idea than that
and it has Just come to me. l shall
go to Italy in March, and you, my hoy
shall go with me"
Impossible! Why, I'm all bu
broke" Merrihew shook his head de
cidedly
I'll take you as a companion. In
a sick man, Dan. I'm likely to juml
overheard if some one isn't watchin,
me every minute"
I'D like to so, Jack; Heaven ant
earth, but@I should! But l can't pos
sibly go to Italy with a letter o
CISull llo HIoi6 Iue.u ."Sulf -lNe nun
bred, and that's all there is in tn
eXchequer at present
Between such friends as we are
"That racket won't work. I coul
not take a moments peace if did no
feel independent. Supposing want
ed to come home and you didn't, o
you did and didn't? No, Jack
nothing to it that way" And Merr
hew was right.
But I'm not going to give it t
you!" Hillard protested. He was de
termined to break down Merrihew'
objections if it took all night. 81 al
going to lend it to you
And could l ever pay you back if
accepted the loan?' humorousl.
You'll have to invent some othe
scheme"
There's Monte Carlo; you migt
pull down a tidy sum-" said tn
tempter.
, on the soft side" But Merrihew wa
still obdurate. To go to Europe wa
, out of the question.
"Now listen to reason, Dan. If 20
s wait for the opportunity to go
! Europe, you'll wait in vain. You mu:
1 make the opportunity. One must hay
1 youth to enjoy Italy thoroughly. Tt
desire to go becomes less and less {
j one grows older. Besides, it cor
4 pletes every mans education;
broadens his charity and smooth
down the rough edges of his concei
I'll put the proposition in way yc
n can't possibly get around. You'J
q simply got to go. You will alway
Il have that thousand, SO don't worl
Il about that. You have twenty-five hu
II dred on hand, you say. With that yc
D can see Italy like prince for thrt
4 months. l know the tongue and Il