Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-16

said Jerry. There's an old pardon
right here in this bundle which we
can use. 1t was made out for another
man who stole horse that afterwards
died, which papa said was mitigat-.
ing circumstance; but the week before
his execution the man escaped from
Jail before papa could pardon him"
Suppose we don't let them hang
anybody while we're running the
state" suggested Ardmore; Its al
most as though you murdered man
yourself, and l couldn't tie my neck
ties afterwards without guilty feel
ing. | can't imagine anything more
disagreeable than to be hanged.
heard of a Tristan and Isolde once,
those were hard things to bear, but
suppose hanging would be just as pain
full and there would be no supper after
wards to cheer you UP"
you shouldn't speak in that tone of
Afterwards. Mr.. Ardmore," said Jerry
severely. 'It isn't religious. And while
we're on the subject of religion, may
ask the really, truly wherefore Of
Miss Daisy Waters sudden return to
Newport" and Jerry's tone and man
ner were carelessly demure.
"She went home" replied Ardmore.
grinning; "she left Ardsley for two
reasons, one of which she stated at
the breakfast table and the other she
handed me privately"
| "She said at the breakfast table
that she was called home by incipient
whooping cough in the family of her
brother-in-law's cousins family
"As she has no brother-in-law, that
can not be true. What she said to me
privately was that the house party
had grown very much larger than Mrs.
Atchison had originally planned it and
that am so busy that so many guests
must be burden"
Jerry stroked her cheek reflectively.
81 though Miss Waters wouldn't last
long after | asked her If rusty nail
water really would remove freckles.
My own freckles are exactly seven in
number and I am not ashamed of
them. but Miss Waters seemed very
sensitive on the subject, though
thought her freckles useful in divert
ing attention from her drugstore
hair
Did you say seven?" inquired Ard
more, gazing eagerly into Jerry's face.
II make it only six, and there's one
away over there under your left eye
that seems very lonesome, as though
it suffered keenly from being so far
away from It's brothers and sisters
on the other side of your nose"
/ "Mr. Ardmore"-and Jerry again in.
dictated the person addressed by
pointing with the paper-cutter-"Mr
Ardmore, it is downright impudent OF
you to talk to me about my appear
ance in any terms. but when you
speak of my face as though it were a
map in geography and of my
freckles as though they We're county
seats, or lakes, or strange places in
China then l must protest with all
my strength. If you don't change the
subject Immediately I shall refuse tc
pardon this person who killed the
painless dentist, and he shall be hang
ed by the neck till he be dead and
you. Mr.. Thomas Ardmore, will be
guilty of his murder" =
The discussion Of Miss Jerry Dan
gerfield's freckles ceased abruptly or
the appearance Of Big Paul, the for
ester.
"a body Of South Carolina militia is
marching across country from tn,
south. One of my men heard of it dow1
at Turner Court House last night ant
rode to where the troops were en-
camped He learned that it was prac
tice march for the militia There's sew
eral companies of infantry, so he re
ports, and a piece Of artillery"
Bully for Old Grissy!" exclaimed
Ardmore. They're coming this way
, are they, Paul?" And the three ben
over the map.
"That is the place, sir. They seen
to be planning to get around Turne
without stirring up the town. But /
would take good deal to wake u
Turner'S" laughed the big German.
> Jerry placed her finger on the stat
line
: "If they dare cross that-if they a
much as dare!"
Y "If they dare we shall show them
few things. Take all the men you neet
0 Paul, to watch their movements. Tha
i will do
The forester fingered
n You remember that we spoke til
e other day Of the log house on Raccoo
l. Creek, where the Appleweights ha
e driven off our man."
It yes, Paul. 1t is where the stat
f line crosses the heavy woods and tn
S farthest outpost, so to speak, on N
e property. When you cross the litt
n creek, you're in South Carolina. Yc
s said some of these Appleweight fe
h lows had been cutting off the timbt
IS down there, if remember rightly"
Yes. sir" replied the foreste
)" twirling his cap awkwardly. "B,
: some of the people on the estate hay
said"
He broke off in an embarrassmel
SO unlike him that Jerry and Ardmo
looked at him curiously.
well, Paul, what's the matter?
the cabin has been burned down il
=. no serious matter"
f. why, sir: some Of the men passil
at there at night say they see lights al
w hear sounds in the cabin, though
one from the estate goes there.
child died in the house last spri
and-well, you know how some
these people are"
fIgT7